For around town riding with an unladen bike, I use a 44T chainring and 16T sprocket.  That is geared high enough that I still have higher gears on shallow downhills but it is geared low enough that with an unladen bike I have the gears I need for uphills.

But when I go on a bike tour I need lower gears.  I switch to a 36T chainring, stick with the same 16T sprocket. 

I add or subtract four chainlinks when I make the switch.  With the longer chain, I have two quick links installed.

It would be simpler to swap sprockets now with the splined sprockets, I made the choice to switch chainrings when I initially built up the bike, that was back when the sprockets were threaded.

I do not use a chainglider.  I use a five arm crank with 110 BCD.  So swapping chainrings means removing and reinstalling the chainring bolts.

If I was going to do a tour in flatter country, I might try a 40T chainring instead of the 36T, but have not done a tour in an area like that yet.

Thank you

Maybe.   On another forum someone offered me a set for spares as they know I use them……nothing has arrived yet but if they do appear you would be welcome to them for the postage cost.   No idea if silver or black.

I'm 72 now and I also think butterfly bars are more awkward and useless than any drops. Especially levers are totally awfully placed.
NO grips sold now are any good, IMO. Both early model Ergons I bought turned into tar in short order. Even on a good day they feel like holding tires. Plus the ones without screwed caps are INSANELY tight. I cut them off my latest city bike. And they have grooves inlaid?? Try leaning on them more than half an hour. WTF.

I've had ZERO issues with using full 75d swept comfort chrome bars from 1970s roadster bikes. Mine are between 48 and 54 cm c/c. Contrary to popular LBS old wives tales, I have just as many grip positions as drops. My common position is right hand forward on or near the bend. The brake lever clamp has NO detriment to my hand. Going up hill I often have both hands forward. Yah I have the grip angled down to balance where weight goes. FAR less numbness than on stupid MTB bars with palms down pressure on the carpal tunnel. My shifters are out of the way on the top tube.
>>> I've been using perfectly smooth plastic/ vinyl? grips that have finger nubs, off two 1973 bikes. In 2021 I bought a 3rd bike and was switching between bikes. Then last year I finally figured out how to DIY make a pair. I melted bread bags one at a time around a 7/8" pipe. Added 9 or 10 layers then, pried it loose, cut to size and round the end. Added benefit is they are 1/4" longer and 1/32" thicker. Been using them near 3,000 miles already.
Two of my bars needed longer flats, so again I DIY made quill extensions from 7/8" solid round alu. Yah it takes all day without a drill press.. 
I've never used a helmet, drops or bar tape in my whole life.

Probably a longshot, but is this still available? Looking for a Mercury with discs, even if just the frameset