Three-speed bikes?

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Is there a forum for three speed bikes? I have (ta da!) THREE of them and this is the only forum that seems to cater to lower speed bikes like mine.

As you can tell from my username, I'm also a fan. I like to "modernize" them with 700c aluminum rims (on Raleighs, anyway), more modern brake calipers and good mtn bike levers, and other lighter bars, stems, etc. Oh yeah, Brooks saddles, can't forget those!

I would also like to see a sub-forum for 3-spd or other internal hub-geared bikes and components.

My LBS has thier own line of house-brand bikes. One of them is the "Scorcher" which is a SS/fixie road bike. They are converting a couple of these to three and five-speed coaster brake road bikes. Sounds kind of exciting, can't wait to try one out!

gaansari.com

Great to meet another 3-speed biker, I thought maybe I was the one and only!
I have three bikes...I still own the first one I ever got (my dad bought it for me in 1978)...its a lowend Drake, made in India, but its held up for me all these years well. I've turned it into a utility bike, with panniers on the sides for getting groceries, etc

Then I have a FreeSpirit, also with side panniers for grocery shopping. Finally my Raleigh which is only for recreational rides. I got the last one (Raleigh) just a month ago for fifty bucks in a yard sale! The woman had kept it in her garage for years and its in literal MINT condition. It still had the plastic remnants under the reflector on the back, and the little prickly thingies on the (brand new) tires. Its immaculate and rides like a charm.

I'd like to find a book on how to repair 3-speeds, any idea where to find one? Also, what do you do for parts? The gear switching thing on my Drake is cracked (the plastic part) and Sturmey-Archer is out of business now.

I'd like to find a book on how to repair 3-speeds, any idea where to find one? Also, what do you do for parts? The gear switching thing on my Drake is cracked (the plastic part) and Sturmey-Archer is out of business now.
Sheldon Brown has a couple pages of info (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/english-3.html) and I believe it has some links to pages with service diagrams and such.

I'm another 3 speed fan! I got 5 three speeds Raleighs and 1 Robin Hood All very old 50's 60's 70's all very good shape and all will more than likely out last us all! HA! No kidding theese things are bulletproof almost! Terry S.........

I'm another 3 speed fan! I got 5 three speeds Raleighs and 1 Robin Hood All very old 50's 60's 70's all very good shape and all will more than likely out last us all! HA! No kidding theese things are bulletproof almost! Terry S.........>>>>

I know it! These bikes are almost indestructible! I still have the FIRST 3 speed my father bought me in, the 1970s. I used it years ago for everything, from shopping to going to work every day...and its STILL in good shape! This is one reason why I prefer 3 speeds....they seem to hold up better. I know ppl with newer bikes with all kinds of problems. Worst I ever had was a flat tire!


To Bpm8str, I've been to Sheldon's site before, he has some good info. I printed it out but was looking for more along the lines of a book that tells how to fix all makes of bikes. Maybe Sheldon should write one with what he knows!

your best bet is to probably order one of barnett's books...probably the gearing and drivetrain book...it will tell you more than you care to or need to know about everything...i think the newer versions even come with software with exploded diagrams and whatnot. the books are pretty expensive, but are worth it. that being said...three speed hubs aren't too difficult to service...they just require some know how and patience.

I am kind of facinated by three speeds myself and I know of one company that still makes one. NYCBikes in NYNY makes one called the tricity. Its the only one I've seen off the top of my head. They are pretty well known for there SS bikes and I think you might like what you see. Its pretty "old school" as we like to call it in the states.

I am kind of facinated by three speeds myself and I know of one company that still makes one. NYCBikes in NYNY makes one called the tricity. Its the only one I've seen off the top of my head. They are pretty well known for there SS bikes and I think you might like what you see. Its pretty "old school" as we like to call it in the states.The website is:

http://www.nycbikes.com/item.php?item_id=499 (http://www.cyclingforums.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=2583418)

Hey there I also have a three speed a 1959 Raleigh that was my older brothers that he left to rust , So in memory of my Mom my Dad and I brought the the bike back to life with the help of my LBS , I took me four hours apiece to clean the rust off each steel rim and the forks had a bend so I replaced them and replaced the tires but I did save them, the bike is a blast to ride I commute to work and do long rides on it but Dam heavy , right now I am working on a SingleSpeed Pinarello but I replied to the post because I know the love of the old Raleighs I'll post some picture links , http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7364/791/1600/new2.jpg (http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7364/791/1600/new2.jpg)
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7364/791/1600/2005_0611June12Sun05ride00052.jpg

Nice bike. I'm still going to find myself a SS to comute with. I'm using a Marin Mill Valley right now. Its a carbon/aluminum frame and its fast but I dont like riding it on my rough commute. Plus I'm only going about 10km a day back and forth. I'm going to keep looking but right now I'm still looking.

I like what you did with this bike. I think it fantastic that you took and recycled it into something functional.

Nice bike. I'm still going to find myself a SS to comute with. I'm using a Marin Mill Valley right now. Its a carbon/aluminum frame and its fast but I dont like riding it on my rough commute. Plus I'm only going about 10km a day back and forth. I'm going to keep looking but right now I'm still looking.

I like what you did with this bike. I think it fantastic that you took and recycled it into something functional. Thank you ,The bike really fly's along the gearing is super easy to beautiful cruise to big time hammer gear, :) nothing rides like a steel frame and it turns on a dime,, Once you start driving a SingleSpeed around and get used to it you'll be want a Fixed Gear next these bikes are awesome and perfect for training, Find some one with a SingleSpeed and try to take it for a spin ,here is some links for my 1988 Pinarello SingleSpeed (http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7364/791/1600/2006_0324March27rides060003.jpg)http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7364/791/1600/2006_0324March27rides060003.jpg http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7364/791/1600/2006_0330March31Pinarello060017.jpg http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7364/791/1600/a11.jpg http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7364/791/1600/a33.jpg

Thank you ,The bike really fly's along the gearing is super easy to beautiful cruise to big time hammer gear, :) nothing rides like a steel frame and it turns on a dime,, Once you start driving a SingleSpeed around and get used to it you'll be want a Fixed Gear next these bikes are awesome and perfect for training, Find some one with a SingleSpeed and try to take it for a spin ,here is some links for my 1988 Pinarello SingleSpeed http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7364/791/1600/2006_0324March27rides060003.jpg http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7364/791/1600/2006_0330March31Pinarello060017.jpg http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7364/791/1600/a11.jpg http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7364/791/1600/a33.jpgThat looks like what I plan on doing. I going with mustache bars and probably make the rear wheel a flip flop. That is till I get used to just a plain old fixed. Orlando Florida is crazy for bikes.

That looks like what I plan on doing. I going with mustache bars and probably make the rear wheel a flip flop. That is till I get used to just a plain old fixed. Orlando Florida is crazy for bikes. You might have already seen this bike before but this is a super cool bike here is the link http://www.redlinebicycles.com/adultbikes/925.html

You might have already seen this bike before but this is a super cool bike here is the link http://www.redlinebicycles.com/adultbikes/925.htmlThis is so wierd because this is the bike I have been thinking of getting and I keep coming back to it. This might be fate!:eek:

This is so wierd because this is the bike I have been thinking of getting and I keep coming back to it. This might be fate!:eek: I really wanted to buy that RedLine myself but they did not have one at the bike show and none of the bike shops around Toronto had one ,, it would be a super cool bike , you should buy it :D

Is there a forum for three speed bikes? I have (ta da!) THREE of them and this is the only forum that seems to cater to lower speed bikes like mine.
I've got a Hercules Balmoral 3 speed and absolutely love it,:D I bought it as a reliable back up cycle,in case my mountain bike has problems and I use it more often than the mtb now.
I'm 40 yrs old and therefore grew up with 3 speeders,loved them then and love em now.I think it's the fuss free riding experience and total reliability that makes them so appealing to us.

hbb

I'd like to find a book on how to repair 3-speeds, any idea where to find one? Also, what do you do for parts? The gear switching thing on my Drake is cracked (the plastic part) and Sturmey-Archer is out of business now.You're in luck, Sturmey moved to Taiwan and their new product is great. You can get a brand new 3 speed for $60 (Jensonusa.com, just the hub). I have tried a new Taiwan Sturmey 8-speed because the price was too good to pass up even though it was on a silly "comfort bike". It was smooth, low drag, and had a hand operated drum brake, way better than a coaster brake. (Cadillac AV-8, $300 @ amazon.com)

Their site shows they still make the AW, but I don't think I've ever seen one advertised for sale by a distributor; the 3 speeds I've seen lately are aluminum.

Bikepartsusa advertised a 26x1-3/8 wheelset with 3 speed CB Sturmey, but it seems to be something they carry on again and off again.

I actually bought a part for an old Sturmey-Archer from harriscyclery.com, Sheldon Brown's shop.

Last, you guys who love the reliability must have Sturmey-Archer or Atom or Fichtel&Sachs. The early Shimanos don't seem too strong. Mine pitted up in a year of commuting, another broke the pawls, another snapped the axle, etc. They weren't built for heavy use.

I currently have a SS road bike, but want to build a new mtb. I see it's the new hip thing to rock SS mtb's, but I think that kind of defeats the purpose of a mtb. Trek is bringing out some over engineered ss mtb called the 69er this summer, so I gues it's the thing among the yuppies now. What I want to do is throw a 3-speed Sturmy Archer internal hub on a mtb frame, that way I can still climb and cruise but not have to deal with a messed up drive chain. I'm not worried about a little extra weight on a mtb.

I currently have a SS road bike, but want to build a new mtb. I see it's the new hip thing to rock SS mtb's, but I think that kind of defeats the purpose of a mtb. Trek is bringing out some over engineered ss mtb called the 69er this summer, so I gues it's the thing among the yuppies now. What I want to do is throw a 3-speed Sturmy Archer internal hub on a mtb frame, that way I can still climb and cruise but not have to deal with a messed up drive chain. I'm not worried about a little extra weight on a mtb.You may wind up trashing your hub pretty quick; Shimano and other sources say not to off road those things.

SRAM.com used to talk about the P5 "CARGO" version of their P5, built extra heavy for delivery bikes, but I never saw one for sale. Maybe they were for Europe. They're not on the site any more.

I've been pedaling around on a 3-speed Next Monterey Bay which goes for $109.00 at Wal-Mart. Sheldon Brown says the new Shimano Nexus 3-speeds are OK, and that's from a Sturmey Archer fan.