DM> neighborhood, they rarely use  the multiple gears and many were not
 DM> happy with calipers (wishing for the old  coaster brakes!). I'm not
 DM> moving fast and will continue my homework phase a bit more!  .......I
 DM> appreciate all answers!   ....seems the range of opinions is very
 DM> WIDE!!!
I think I may have posted to this effect before, but I'll do it again.
If your only fear is the breaks, you have nothing to fear so long as you
buy a bike and not a toy from a department store.  Quality bikes (and
even some toys these days) no longer use caliper breaks.  They sort of
faded out around 1990 on quality bikes.  Bikes use cantalevered breaks.
Each pad is anchored to the fork/rear triangle by a small lever on
either side of the wheel.  Two cables are cantelevered above the two
break mechanisms.  When you pull the break lever, the pads are forced
into the wheel, and you come to a stop -- much faster than you would
with coaster breaks because you can use the front wheel also.  Don't
worry about water either, as long as you have aluminum wheels and
cantalevered breaks you will stop just as well as you would with coaster
breaks.  Shifting is simple with a good pair of rapidfire shifters, and
the derailers require little to no maintenence. Even if you don't use
multiple gears too often in the course of your casual riding, at least
you'll have them when you need them if you go on a trip with your bike
or ride on a particuarily windy day.  It is easier to not use a few
gears than to buy a new bike when you realize that buying a three speed
was a mistake.  Additionally, if you do get hooked on cycling and decide
later to upgrade, you won't be able to upgrade components on a three
speed to fit your needs.  If you buy a three speed and decide the next
year that it was the wrong choice, you will have a very hard time
finding a buyer. Very few people are interested in buying a used three
speed.  You'd be lucky to get $5 for it in mint condition.
I actually had a three speed once in my early cycling days (grade
school). It was nothing but problems.  It seldom shifted properly, the
coaster breaks went out after a few months, it needed repair within the
first month, and after about four months I got rid of it (ie junked it,
no market for a bike like that).  I now have 24 LX controlled gears
(four bikes later), and I'd never go back.  I'm not saying that everyone
needs 24 gears, but three speeds are simply a bad idea from my
experiences.
Lucas
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