[Les Crook]

Warren, welcome to the mad house. You realise you have just contracted a disease don’t you? I stripped and rebuilt my K66 4 years back and have fallen into heffalump traps occasionally. If I can be of help please fee free to PM or email me at les.crook@btinternet.com.

With regard to changing to rear derailleur style gears, your biggest challenge is the rear dropout width. To set these out to 130-135mm is a big ask. Older rear hubs are narrower but still a bit on the wide side for F frames. The other way is a bit expensive, grand bois do a 6 speed cassette rear hub with a 120mm OLN.

To get more gears I rebuilt my rear wheel with a wide range Sturmey Archer 5 speed.

[Bob Cordon Champ]

Check it over for safety, lubricate it, give it a polish if you like, but then ride it in standard form.
There is always the possibility that an F-Frame may be not for you. If you like it, rebuild as required.
So many people put so many hours into a bike that they then find is not for them.

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