I switched from 10 speeds to 3 speeds 6 years ago, find the 3 speeds more comfortable and pleasing to ride.I have 4 at present, a 1969 Robin Hood (6700 miles), a 1983 Peugeot with aluminum 27 inch rims, aluminum stem, seat post, a Huffy Baypointe (5700 miles) and the most recent, A Schwinn suburban (700 miles). All have brooks B-66 saddles with sheepskin saddle covers, generator lights, Pletscher racks with flashers on the rear. The Huffy has the Shimano 333
hubs, the Robin Hood and Peugot the Sturmey Archer AW , the Schwinn has the
Sturmey Archer S3C-came that way. My daily commute is about 15 miles round trip. I have the SRAM 24 tooth cog on all 4 bikes, I live at the top of a good size hill so top gear is 66-68, the other gears are for hill climbing. I commute year round, I live a Snow Belt state but I do not feel the cold. I have 2 cars, they run fine, but they are both big old V-8s, at $3/gallon, The bikes save me
quite a bit, and I really do enjoy cycling. At 4980 I put the Huffy into drydock.
built new wheels with the old hubs, new aluminum rims and spokes, the Schwinn
came with an aluminum rear wheel, built a new front one to match it. Anyone
contemplating getting their old 3 speed back on the road, I definitely recommend new aluminum rims. I build my own wheels, check with your local
bike shop if you don't feel up to that. I used Sun AT-18 rims, I think they are
now out of production, I will try their CR-18 model next.