Utility Cycling - Bring back the English 3-speed

I picked up two Columbia's at local garage sales, $5 each. Both are equipped with S-A AW 3 speed hubs. The yellow one was bought specifically for the purpose of being a flower basket holder in the back yard. The brown one I dunno, there was room in my garage, so why not. It is a garage mate for my wife's 1960 AMF Hercules,also with a S-A AW hub, also $5 at a garage sale.

...the hub was frozen solid and was a mass of rust. Not worth the effort on an AW, considering I have probably 1/2 dozen or so NOS.

Probably would have required two squirts of oil rather than one.

Modern British threespeeds in North America: In addition to the mentioned Breezer Citizen and Freedom and Electra Amsterdam Classic and Sport, KHS offers the basic but bargin priced Urban Green, and Dahon has the Curve D3. Swobo's Otis is expensive and lacks fenders, racks and lights. Trek and RaleighUSA offer cruiser style three speeds (a different kind of bike).

Modern takes on the same idea include the Jamis Commuter 3.0, Bianchi Milano, Specialized Globe City 3.1, Cannondale Street Premium, Novara Fusion, Breezeer Uptown, Dahon MuXL & Ciao and Rocky Mountain Metropolis, all with 8 speed Nexus or Alfine hubs. Some have generator front hubs. Some have classic upright ergos, while others are more like flat bar road bikes.

If somebody just can't abide hub gears, the KHS Urban X and Diamondback Transporter are similar but with derailer gearing.

The recent North American Handbuilt Bicycle Show was chock full of city bikes:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2007/shows/nahmbs07/?id=results/nahmbs071

TCS

Modern British threespeeds in North America: In addition to the mentioned Breezer Citizen and Freedom and Electra Amsterdam Classic and Sport, KHS offers the basic but bargin priced Urban Green, and Dahon has the Curve D3. Swobo's Otis is expensive and lacks fenders, racks and lights. Trek and RaleighUSA offer cruiser style three speeds (a different kind of bike).

Modern takes on the same idea include the Jamis Commuter 3.0, Bianchi Milano, Specialized Globe City 3.1, Cannondale Street Premium, Novara Fusion, Breezeer Uptown, Dahon MuXL & Ciao and Rocky Mountain Metropolis, all with 8 speed Nexus or Alfine hubs. Some have generator front hubs. Some have classic upright ergos, while others are more like flat bar road bikes.

If somebody just can't abide hub gears, the KHS Urban X and Diamondback Transporter are similar but with derailer gearing.

The recent North American Handbuilt Bicycle Show was chock full of city bikes:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2007/shows/nahmbs07/?id=results/nahmbs071

TCS

Wow--nice pics of some amazing commuter bikes!:)

Modern British threespeeds in North America: In addition to the mentioned Breezer Citizen and Freedom and Electra Amsterdam Classic and Sport, KHS offers the basic but bargin priced Urban Green, and Dahon has the Curve D3. Swobo's Otis is expensive and lacks fenders, racks and lights. Trek and RaleighUSA offer cruiser style three speeds (a different kind of bike).

Modern takes on the same idea include the Jamis Commuter 3.0, Bianchi Milano, Specialized Globe City 3.1, Cannondale Street Premium, Novara Fusion, Breezeer Uptown, Dahon MuXL & Ciao and Rocky Mountain Metropolis, all with 8 speed Nexus or Alfine hubs. Some have generator front hubs. Some have classic upright ergos, while others are more like flat bar road bikes.

If somebody just can't abide hub gears, the KHS Urban X and Diamondback Transporter are similar but with derailer gearing.

The recent North American Handbuilt Bicycle Show was chock full of city bikes:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2007/shows/nahmbs07/?id=results/nahmbs071

TCS

What great bikes.:D

I love the ANT bikes, both the blue and the black ones.

Regarding style, which I think is key to a revival of sorts for the commuter bike, these well done racks hit the nail on the head. I love them integrated into the bike like that. To me, the rack and fenders are essentials, and the lights, too, although to a lesser extent.

I picked up two Columbia's at local garage sales, $5 each. Both are equipped with S-A AW 3 speed hubs. The yellow one was bought specifically for the purpose of being a flower basket holder in the back yard. The brown one I dunno, there was room in my garage, so why not. It is a garage mate for my wife's 1960 AMF Hercules,also with a S-A AW hub, also $5 at a garage sale.

If you ever find more $5 Columbias, you can send them to me.

. . . but they would never due for West Virginia, which is not called "the Mountain State" for no reason. We have some streets here in Charleston with a greater than 19" grade. Unless one is very atheletic, a singlespeed or three-speed is just not practical here.

I love the ANT bikes, both the blue and the black ones.

Regarding style, which I think is key to a revival of sorts for the commuter bike, these well done racks hit the nail on the head. I love them integrated into the bike like that. To me, the rack and fenders are essentials, and the lights, too, although to a lesser extent.

My favorite was the fork mounted full thermos mount. :)

There's a whole generation of kids in North America who haven't ridden on well equipped bikes, like the English 3-speeds. They riide mountain bikes, even if they live in the plains. They don't know that a bike can be transportation.

I concur. I did not learn what a pleasure a bicycle could be until I purchased my first road bike as an adult. And I did it on a whim, not knowing how awesome it would be.

I remember my first bike. It was a five-speed 'motorcycle'-styled yellow one with butterfly handlebars and a banana seat, from Montgomery Ward; I was eleven (I had balance issues so didn't learn to ride a bike until later than many of my peers). When I was fourteen I replaced it with a three-speed 'English racer' type, also from Wards. That took me through HS and college. Then, for many years, I didn't bike at all, or very occasionally using a friend's machine. At 40 I started again with a Trek mountain bike I bought second hand. After it got stolen, I bought my current machine which I've been riding for about five years now, a Fuji Monterrey Hybrid, which back in February I converted to an Xtracycle.

I have four bikes, including a Mikado (a Canadian company, but the bike was made in Taiwan despite the Japanese name) 3 speed from the early 90s (all cromoly steel, purchased in 94 for $119 band new). It is one of the last English 3 speed style bikes made and sold before the new generation.

For some reason, I always default to that bike when riding for transportation and/or commuting around the city (Chicago). The upright position, sprung saddle, generator light, fenders, chainguard and internal gearing are just the right combination for most of my urban tansportation and also for some light recreational riding (anything under 35 miles at a pace below 16 mph). Lots of folks ask me where I got my bike and if they are still available. Unfortunately, they are no longer made. The new Breezers are beautiful, but why the thick tires and high end price for a basic transportation bike. Computers are cheaper and better than they used to be. Bicycles should be cheaper and better now too.

I have four bikes, including a Mikado (a Canadian company, but the bike was made in Taiwan despite the Japanese name) 3 speed from the early 90s (all cromoly steel, purchased in 94 for $119 band new). It is one of the last English 3 speed style bikes made and sold before the new generation.

For some reason, I always default to that bike when riding for transportation and/or commuting around the city (Chicago). The upright position, sprung saddle, generator light, fenders, chainguard and internal gearing are just the right combination for most of my urban tansportation and also for some light recreational riding (anything under 35 miles at a pace below 16 mph). Lots of folks ask me where I got my bike and if they are still available. Unfortunately, they are no longer made. The new Breezers are beautiful, but why the thick tires and high end price for a basic transportation bike. Computers are cheaper and better than they used to be. Bicycles should be cheaper and better now too.

Interesting post. I strongly agree with the thought--a good, low cost basic transportation bike is called for. The Breezer is fairly high end, although they are a good value. I think you can buy the Freedom for around $325, but it doesn't have lights. Regardless-- I still hope others could beat that price.

I initially had a tough time buying the Breezer because of the 1.5" wide tires (which actually are 1.75"), so it's funny you state that. There are a couple of points the salesman made, however, that convinced me these were ok. The wheels are smaller --so a wider tire is appropriate. He said that the small wheeled recumbants run faster with wider tires than they do with narrow ones. I don't know if that's the truth or not, but I bought into it. The other thing that convinced me is that you can put 75 psi in them. That's a lot of pressure.

I got to say that I enjoy riding on these wheels more than I do on the 32's I have on my hybrid. They just handle road variations better; also, it's nice being a little closer to the ground. Note that these new generation commuter bikes are not modified English 3-speeds. They use modified mountain bike frames and if you ride those bikes, you will recognize the feel of these bikes. It is significantly sportier and more responsive than the old style Raleigh 3-speed.

A store in Vancover sells those "Amsterdam" style bikes and is doing very well.

Jorg & Olif is the only company in North America to sell Dutch city bikes. Their bicycles, sourced from a small traditional factory northeast of Amsterdam, are priced from CAD 875 for a 1-speed Oma (hers) or Opa (his) version. Three and eight speed versions are also available. The company currently only ships within Canada, and operates from a gallery-like lifestyle store in Vancouver. (in downtown Vancouver, about 33 per cent of people travel by foot and bicycle, approximately 28 percent take transit, and 39 per cent drive)

Guess Napa Style wanted in on the action.
http://www.napastyle.com/store/product.jsp?sku=4607&cmCategoryId=S001

Got their catalog today and was floored by this bike in it.

While I love the looks of that Opa 3 speed, I can never get over that double top bar. Why does it need it? Isn't that twice as heavy:eek: as a single bar?

Irregardless, that is a piece of transportation. No doubt about it.:)

While I love the looks of that Opa 3 speed, I can never get over that double top bar. Why does it need it? Isn't that twice as heavy:eek: as a single bar?

Irregardless, that is a piece of transportation. No doubt about it.:)
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I don't really get what everyone's saying about good old 3-speeds' being expensive or hard to come by. Here in beautiful Somerville, Mass., I see Raleighs, Robin Hoods, and other brands all the time - at bike shops, on craigslist, and in the trash (for several years, I had a 40-year-old 3-speed that I found in the garbage with a perfectly working hub and decent frame).

Maybe the Boston area, having strong ties to the old country and being generally a repository of old stuff, is different than the rest of the U.S.?

I don't really get what everyone's saying about good old 3-speeds' being expensive or hard to come by. Here in beautiful Somerville, Mass., I see Raleighs, Robin Hoods, and other brands all the time - at bike shops, on craigslist, and in the trash (for several years, I had a 40-year-old 3-speed that I found in the garbage with a perfectly working hub and decent frame).

Maybe the Boston area, having strong ties to the old country and being generally a repository of old stuff, is different than the rest of the U.S.?

Must be...two of mine have come out of MA:D We have NOTHING of any real quality in my part of the Deep South when it comes to vintage British stuff. My theory is they didn't sell very many of them down here because people couldn't afford them. The wage base and education level was much lower down here for many many years.

Aaron:)

They're so expensive here in Portland because the demand is so high. Even the Chicago Schwinn electroforged bikes are quite spendy.

I'm always amazed at how many 3-speeds you can see on the street in lower Manhattan, or in Greenwich Village at least. And yeah, Somerville/Cambridge/Boston too.
In Honolulu the only one I've ever seen is mine (scored in Massachusetts and brought over from NY)...

location location location I guess

Hey! That's my bike, 'cept mine's blue. I'd rather have had the red, but that's life. Mine came with those utterly STUPID Woods valved tubes which I swapped out for schraeders at first flat time - but otherwise I love my bike!

[QUOTE=tcs]Modern British threespeeds in North America: In addition to the mentioned Breezer Citizen and Freedom and Electra Amsterdam Classic and Sport, KHS offers the basic but bargin priced Urban Green




Anyone know the retail price of the KHS? I was very interested in the Electra Amsterdams but now I think I prefer the geometry (no "Flat Foot technology"), front brake and overall "English" appearance of the KHS Green.

This is really classic and vintage fodder, but I thought some of you here might enjoy seeing a project I'm working on. It's to be a lightweight version of the classic Raleigh sports. I started with a nice old Dawes Galaxy 531 frame, with gorgeous half chrome stays and forks, and a chrome fork crown. A 40 year old Brooks, a set of lightweight Bluemels mudguards (with a chrome effect strip down the middle for more blingage), a Sturmey Archer AG (3 speed, with a generator rear hub) wheelset, bars, and shifter from a 3 speed I got from the tip for £5, a Pletscher rack I had laying about, and I'm nearly there. The rear wheel needs a spoke replacement, I've got a stuck cotter in the old cranks (going to fit cotterless), I have to transfer the chainguard from the other bike, and I need a rear light to go with the fabulous front one, but it's looking good already. There's no need to ask for new 3 speeds, when so many are already out there!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/P4020008.jpg

This is really classic and vintage fodder, but I thought some of you here might enjoy seeing a project I'm working on. It's to be a lightweight version of the classic Raleigh sports. I started with a nice old Dawes Galaxy 531 frame, with gorgeous half chrome stays and forks, and a chrome fork crown. A 40 year old Brooks, a set of lightweight Bluemels mudguards (with a chrome effect strip down the middle for more blingage), a Sturmey Archer AG (3 speed, with a generator rear hub) wheelset, bars, and shifter from a 3 speed I got from the tip for £5, a Pletscher rack I had laying about, and I'm nearly there. The rear wheel needs a spoke replacement, I've got a stuck cotter in the old cranks (going to fit cotterless), I have to transfer the chainguard from the other bike, and I need a rear light to go with the fabulous front one, but it's looking good already. There's no need to ask for new 3 speeds, when so many are already out there!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/P4020008.jpg

I love it! Love those old lights, and the looks of a Brooks saddle, especially one that has been worn. I love it in black.

I love it! Love those old lights, and the looks of a Brooks saddle, especially one that has been worn. I love it in black.
Then you appreciate my old Brooks. Comfortable from Day one, better now.

The B-66 is on my current commuter. It was OEM on a 1976 Raleigh Superbe I bought in 1976. The B72 was OEM on a Raleigh Sports I bought in 1972. The rivets in the back all had to be replaced by pop rivets after breaking during years of hard use. No preservation or treatments ever applied to either saddle. Only care was to cover with plastic bags if left outside for many hours when rain could be expected. The B72 was recently retired and replaced by another B66.

Then you appreciate my old Brooks. Comfortable from Day one, better now.

The B-66 is on my current commuter. It was OEM on a 1976 Raleigh Superbe I bought in 1976. The B72 was OEM on a Raleigh Sports I bought in 1972. The rivets in the back all had to be replaced by pop rivets after breaking during years of hard use. No preservation or treatments ever applied to either saddle. Only care was to cover with plastic bags if left outside for many hours when rain could be expected. The B72 was recently retired and replaced by another B66.

Great pics! Love 'em.:)

Just did my first 7 mile commute on a 1954 Rudge Sports I restored so my dad could ride it when he came to town. 2030 tubing; SA AW 3-speed (swapped out the old cog for a 19t, though).

The bike works pretty darn well, although I definitely got a sweat on lugging the frame on the uphills; downhills and flats were fun, what with so much momentum.

The Brooks mattress saddle, however, sucks bobo, as do the so-out-of-true-they-might-have-been-made-by-a-blind-drunkard steel rims and rusty spokes.

Still has a 1974 parking pass for the National Academies of Science on the top tube, though.

All in all a fun ride, although the frame's a bit small for me. I have a hand and a half of post showing.

Just did my first 7 mile commute on a 1954 Rudge Sports I restored so my dad could ride it when he came to town. 2030 tubing; SA AW 3-speed (swapped out the old cog for a 19t, though).

The bike works pretty darn well, although I definitely got a sweat on lugging the frame on the uphills; downhills and flats were fun, what with so much momentum.

The Brooks mattress saddle, however, sucks bobo, as do the so-out-of-true-they-might-have-been-made-by-a-blind-drunkard steel rims and rusty spokes.

Still has a 1974 parking pass for the National Academies of Science on the top tube, though.

All in all a fun ride, although the frame's a bit small for me. I have a hand and a half of post showing.

Pics!!!

Granted, its heavy for a commuter bike. Switching to aluminum rims would lighten the ride somewhat and perhaps a Shimano Nexus hub would give you wider gearing choices. The only issue then is whether you want to switch to 26" or 700C rims for more tire options. But Raleigh Sports type bicycles will last virtually forever with reasonable care. More modern commuter bikes made in Europe are much lighter than the old All Steel Bicycle was.

Just last year I gave my 35 year old Rudge 3-speed away to charity and replaced it with a modern flat bar road bike. I found the Rudge useless on the hills around here. Do you guys ride where it is really flat or am I just that out of shape?

nope, I have some pretty okay hills here in DC/Maryland, and the 3 speeds with a 19t cog (as opposed to the ~15t stock) are ample for me, even geared a bit on the low side.

yeah, I realize the steel rims are heinous (and out of true), but the true pooper on the bike is the seat. Brakes even function okay, but I wouldn't trust them in a serious emergency stop, especially because I had to jury rig cable stops for the calipers.

oh, the pedal spindles are also slightly bent.

cosmetically, it's pretty beat up as well.

and one of the chainstays is pretty chewed up.

but for a $25 rescue I'm not complaining. And she's still a lot of fun. The SA was awesome to take apart and put back together.

Just last year I gave my 35 year old Rudge 3-speed away to charity and replaced it with a modern flat bar road bike. I found the Rudge useless on the hills around here. Do you guys ride where it is really flat or am I just that out of shape?

Need to change the rear cogs out. I have no clue why they were geared so high to begin with. I put a 22t on my wife's Raleigh Colt and it made a night and day difference. My Superbe has a 18 or 19t on it now, but a 22 is on order along with a couple of spare 24t. IIRC MnHPV Guy is trying to weld up a 28t hybrid cog for the really hilly stuff:D
+1 on alloy rims. I have kept my Superbe stock except for the cogs. My Dawes build up is going to be done my way ;)

Aaron:)

Electra produces modern bicycles with 3-speed internal hubs. The LBS sells more of them than any other bicycle in his inventory.
You can easily purchase old 3-speed bikes at your local thrift store as well. I picked up one with a CC3 hub that only required pumping up the tires for $1. The CC3 hub is 3-speed with a coaster brake. I modified the drive sprocket to accept narrow chain and use a 52-42-30 crank and front derailleur and an old rear derailleur locked in position for chain adjustment.
Please tell me how you did that. Thanks.

I learned to ride on my mom's Raleigh 3 speed, and I kept it until I was through university. I CRIED when I had to leave it behind when I moved to Calgary (I couldn't imagine biking here). I gave it to a charity shop... I really hope someone recognised its loveliness and fixed it up.

The Boy's parents have a couple of old 3 speeds in their garage. I am thinking of begging the bikes off them, just for day rides and errands. I don't think I can give up my 21 speed hybrid for my ride to work though - I pretty well use the whole gear range depeding on the day!

I've got a bunch of 3 speeds, but at the moment, I'm more excited about the 4 speeds. I've got a Horace Bates race bike from 1940 with an FM 4 speed of later vintage fitted, and a Raleigh roadster on the way, with the FG four speed generator hub. Having used one of these on a Rudge that's on the way to a fellow BFer, I'm really excited. It shifts better than the AW, and gives a much more useable range. I'd think the average rider should discover what sort of gear inches they like on a single speed, and then take one of two courses of action. If you live in a flat area, equip it so that 2nd is like your standard single speed ratio, so that you get one hill climbing gear, and two higher gears to let you scream around faster. For hilly areas, I'd make 3rd like your SS gear, so that you get two climbing gears, but still have a little higher you can kick it up for more speed.

When I ride my hybrid, I pretty much use the entire range of gears, too. But you don't need them as much as you think you do. I use the range on my 7 speed internal gear hub, but I'm sure I'd get by with a 3-speed (actually, I've tried it, by just using my middle 3 gears and it wasn't too bad).

Once you have that hub and enjoy the fact you can change gears at an intersection and don't have to worrry about your chain, you don't think about the range of a 21 speed. That said, I live in a fairly flat area.

It's way too hilly around here to ride a 3 speed bike.

I'll stick with my trusty 18 & 20 speed road bikes.

It's way too hilly around here to ride a 3 speed bike.

I'll stick with my trusty 18 & 20 speed road bikes.

It's never too hilly to ride a 3-speed (unless you live in the Himalayas!):D

I've got a bunch of 3 speeds, but at the moment, I'm more excited about the 4 speeds. I've got a Horace Bates race bike from 1940 with an FM 4 speed of later vintage fitted, and a Raleigh roadster on the way, with the FG four speed generator hub. Having used one of these on a Rudge that's on the way to a fellow BFer, I'm really excited. It shifts better than the AW, and gives a much more useable range. I'd think the average rider should discover what sort of gear inches they like on a single speed, and then take one of two courses of action. If you live in a flat area, equip it so that 2nd is like your standard single speed ratio, so that you get one hill climbing gear, and two higher gears to let you scream around faster. For hilly areas, I'd make 3rd like your SS gear, so that you get two climbing gears, but still have a little higher you can kick it up for more speed.

I have an Bianchi Brave steel frame that I'm thinking of making into a 3 speed. The axle is spaced at 135 mm but I'm not sure which AW-3 hub to buy?


1. Specs for 175.0mm Axle with 126.8mm OLD

2. Specs for 175.0mm Axle with 118.8mm OLD

3. Specs for 162.7mm Axle

4. Specs for 148.0mm Axle

When I ride my hybrid, I pretty much use the entire range of gears, too. But you don't need them as much as you think you do.


Hah, tell me that when you see me walking the bike up Edworthy hill :P I do like the idea of being able to change gears at a stop, but I think my legs need more conditioning before I can handle 3 gears around here! (I have to climb out of a river valley at least once a day - and if I take the "short" route, I have to do it twice, with a bonus hill in the middle!)

A few years back I bought an Electra Commuter 7 for $400.00. It's been discontinued, however.

It's never too hilly to ride a 3-speed (unless you live in the Himalayas!):D...sez the guy from Ohio. :)

I have an Bianchi Brave steel frame that I'm thinking of making into a 3 speed. The axle is spaced at 135 mm but I'm not sure which AW-3 hub to buy?


1. Specs for 175.0mm Axle with 126.8mm OLD

2. Specs for 175.0mm Axle with 118.8mm OLD

3. Specs for 162.7mm Axle

4. Specs for 148.0mm Axle

I'd love to pretend I'm an expert, but I'm not. However, if you're dropouts are spaced at 135, I'd for sure go for the widest spaced hub I could - #1. Why would you go for anything smaller? The nuts will pull your dropouts in.

I have an Bianchi Brave steel frame that I'm thinking of making into a 3 speed. The axle is spaced at 135 mm but I'm not sure which AW-3 hub to buy?


1. Specs for 175.0mm Axle with 126.8mm OLD

2. Specs for 175.0mm Axle with 118.8mm OLD

3. Specs for 162.7mm Axle

4. Specs for 148.0mm Axle

Have you seen this part of Sheldon's website?

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html

I used his "cold spacing" method on my beater so that I could put a modern cassette hub in an old Raleigh frame my friend saved from the garbage. I've been riding the bike for about 6 months and nothing bad has happened yet...

He also mentions using washers to put a narrower hub on a wider frame. That might be the best solution if bending your frame seems a little too extreme.

A co worker of mine gave me a rideable and very good shape Raleigh sport ladies model cause he knows my youngest daughter loves old school stuff. Brian Backus at Trailside bikes in Orting Washington worked some magic on it for me by replacing the hub with one I bought off e-bay and now it shifts like a dream and put on two new tires and tubes, new nipples on the rear wheel, he cleaned and re-used the old spokes not a one was broken front or back. He trued up the front wheel and installed a period style chrome pump and a rear spring loaded carrier. This bike still has the old cables and they work fine with a little lube and then I proofided the saddle and the kid is thrilled with it. None of her friends have anything close to it and they love it too. If I knew how to post pictures I would but I keep screwing it up

I have read some of this thread with great interest - and not without a little nostalgia too.

When I was 16 (back in the 1970's) I had an O'Brien Challenge bike with the internal 3 speed gears. I used to cycle 8 miles to work and 8 miles back. It was a very heavy bike. I didn't have it long when the gears packed in and it remained in permanent 2nd gear. I lent it one night to my brother-in-law to get to his work as his car had broken down. Unfortunately, it got stolen so that was the end of that bike. I learnt to drive shortly after that and didn't bother with another bike for many years.

I then bought a second-hand Raleigh Rose, again with the 3 speed internal hub. A very heavy bike that I didn't really like so I didn't bother with it. It's gears were also permanently stuck in 2nd. I moved house and left the bike for the next owners.

I took up cycling again late last year. Found this Raleigh at the local market and bought it for £18. I now commute to work and go everywhere on this bike. I really love this bike and it has inspired me no end. She has five gears (Huret) and is lightweight compared to the last two bikes I've ridden. This bike has inspired me so much to ditch my car in favour of bikes that a couple of weeks ago I put down a deposit on a Specialized Dolce Elite which I hope to collect from the shop in a few weeks time. I will still keep my Raleigh as she's such a good bike and still use her regularly.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/fionakidd/Bike/PICT0104.jpg

I've got a bunch of 3 speeds, but at the moment, I'm more excited about the 4 speeds. I've got a Horace Bates race bike from 1940 with an FM 4 speed of later vintage fitted, and a Raleigh roadster on the way, with the FG four speed generator hub. Having used one of these on a Rudge that's on the way to a fellow BFer, I'm really excited. It shifts better than the AW, and gives a much more useable range. I'd think the average rider should discover what sort of gear inches they like on a single speed, and then take one of two courses of action. If you live in a flat area, equip it so that 2nd is like your standard single speed ratio, so that you get one hill climbing gear, and two higher gears to let you scream around faster. For hilly areas, I'd make 3rd like your SS gear, so that you get two climbing gears, but still have a little higher you can kick it up for more speed.

I happen to believe the most underrated hub is the Sprinter 5 speed. My Dahon Vitessee uses this hub and I've set it up so that 3rd gear is my SS (I call it direct drive) giving me two high gears and two low gears. I'm thinking of getting a slightly larger cog so that I'll have one high gear and three low gears for mountain climbing! I'm still debating this because 1st gear is so low at the moment, it feels like a touring bike gear.

http://www.broadwaybicycleschool.com/broadwaybike1.html

This is the link I said I couldn't find earlier. This is a small shop that rebuilds 3-speeds using the old frame, so they're compatible with modern components. They also make their own new steel English-style bike.

Whimper.

I've been thinking about a conversion like this. I have an old Columbia 10spd in the basement, with drops and fenders. I think I'd want to change the drops to something similar to North Shore (North End? forget which) and gear it for 18 or 20mph at 90rpm in top. Only thing is, I don't know if I could abide the steel rims--and I've never built a rim up.

All the "real" 3spd's that come up on CL around here are womens, for some reason that just doesn't do the trick for me. Which might be just as well--I'm pretty sure I don't want to mess with cottered cranks.

Restored a '68 Schwinn Breeze 3 speed for my daughter, she loves it and so do her friends. I did a '62 Traveler 2 speed and a '67 Racer 3 speed for myself. Bought an '86 Dahon folder with the same Sturmey Archer 3 speed. I ride them all from time to time, have climbed some pretty good hills with them, too. I'd like a little more gear on the top end and a narrower gap between gears. Oh well, if I want to go fast, I ride my 2006 Trek roadie or my '85 Schwinn Sprint.
A shot of oil in those old hubs occasionally, and they'll outlast me and probably my kids, too.
Almost forgot, I have a '36 Columbia Cruiser restoration in progress, 2 speed New Departure hub. When I rode it 55 years or so ago, it was smooth but heavy. Probably will be still. :)