#gear reduction

i’ve been trying to cut down my gear to the bare essentials and it’s kinda messing with my rides rn tbh i’m not sure if i should ditch the derailleur or just keep a single speed setup

i’m on a road bike with a 1x12 cassette, a full set of brake pads, a bunch of spare tubes and a whole bunch of bolts that i never use

my goal is to keep the bike light and simple but still have enough power for hills and long rides

so i’m wondering if anyone has a good minimalist build that still does the job? maybe a specific cassette or a lighter frame? also any tips on how to keep maintenance low while staying minimal would be great

any recommendations or experiences would be appreciated lol