If you dont want to go SS Mr P why not go for an 8speed hub gear like a Shimano Alfine hub. No need for a deralier plus no getting clogged up with mud.
I didn't like the idea of SS and hated it in practice even more. Strangly I kept going back to it and now love it. Its so liberating to just pedal and steer. No faffing with gears, no chain slapping about, low maintainance and cheap. I was going to run SS just over the winter but will keep on all year round now.
Give it a fair try and you won't look back.
Pretty sure you'll love it , first time out i can guarantee you will instinctively go to change gear at the bottom and top of hills though
Collected my Clockwork wheels from "Bikes by Jon", he offered me a Kona frame (dont know which kind, they all look the same to me ), it's a steel frame 16" so it's tiny, pale blue, look's like it's been resprayed, BUT it comes with headset, Syncros forks, Syncros stem (hinged), Syncros seatpin all for £50 :shock: , was very tempted (even to buy it and flip it) but thought i'd pass on the info anyway as i have enough on my plate, he wont post though, collect only.
Good on you RobMac, if the rest of the team (not including me) train that hard then I can drag myself round the course in say 6 hours leaving 4 hours for the rest of you to get a lap, excellent