Classic & Vintage - Coaster brake Road bikes

Is there a coaster brake bike thread? Is anyone running a coaster brake on a road frame with drop bars? Or how about with any type of bars on a road frame?

I had a POS coaster brake bike as a kid that I think was a regular road diamond frame. I think it might be cool to try one out again. Plus it's a neat way around dealing with running smaller wheels on a road frame.

plus you know, power skids.

I'm not currently in possession of one, but I worked on a friend's Armstrong with a coaster brake a few years ago. I was surprised at how well made the S-A single speed coaster hub was, that would be a great choice of a hub.

Have you used one since you were a kid? If so, and you know you're OK with them then that's cool, but I've found that I can't Stand not being able to move the pedals backwards at certain times and the brakes aren't as good/convenient as hand lever brakes. I actually have a SA 3sp hub sitting unused because it's a coaster brake. I assume there's a way I could make it non-coaster, but I haven't gotten around to that yet. I would have used it if it were freewheel, though. I say if you haven't ridden a coaster in a long time, try borrowing one to try it out again before you go putting time and money into it.

My recent Peugeot conversion is using the old wheels off my CCM Path bike... it runs a Perry speed attenuator in the rear and if I could post an image you'd see this lovely black Peugeot Supersport with a 600 crank and pedals and some beautiful 27 inch wheels rocking some Marathons.

:)

My site should be back up pretty soon.

Once, long ago, I put a Bendix coaster brake on a Paramount track bike. Y'see, I wanted to ride it on the road, I was too chicken to ride fixed, and I didn't want to drill the frame for caliper brakes.

Forgive me, C&V, for I have sinned. :(

I've had plans to build a S2C (2 sp, kickback, coaster brake) wheel for a while but haven't gotten around to it. Old man Lerner is running one on a Raleigh somethingoranother. I think I recall he's using porteurs or something like that.

What, no pics yet? Shimano Nexus 3-spd coaster brake equipped Paramount:
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f61/thejapino/85879c6b.jpg

I,ve been toying with these a bit lately. I built a 27" wheel set with a ND coaster hub. It,s great fun. I think it,s more fun than myfixy but maybe I need to think about that some. It,s on a Schwinn Typhoon right now but that frame wasn't,t made for 27s. handles a little funky. I've got a diamond frame Raleigh that they'll go on when it's ready.
I've also got a 42 Roadmaster lightweight that's a blast to ride.
there's pictures of all this but I'm on my motherinlaws IPad thingy and I haven't figured out how to cut and paste with it.
not as versatile in the hills as a good old ten speed but really about the best thing for riding to the store with the kids in toe.

I have been building Cruisers for the last month as flippers and I built a nice BCA 23" frame up with a Nexus 3spd w/coaster brake and thought about keeping it but I just can't get used to not being able to back pedal or just rest the pedals back a little when coasting with out engaging the brake, I think it would be real hard to get used to it if I had drop bars. The BCA is still fun to ride but I just need to think where I keep my crank position when coasting.

Glenn
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm319/Glennfordx4/PeugeotandBCACruisersBuildingMayJune2011012.jpg
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm319/Glennfordx4/BCAMay282011shop007.jpg

I have a coaster brake on this one. I think it's a blast. :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/mijeepr/bikes/coaster1.jpg

Old man Lerner here with a S-A 2-speed w/ coaster on a Raleigh Grand Sports frame:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ud6-7IvtraQ/TGwyGiugHVI/AAAAAAAAHtA/32UFQEgqUJo/s800/GrandSportsKickback3.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BDdWIaS0UGE/TGwyGKd5_WI/AAAAAAAAHs4/N4sWJ0hQNaM/s800/GrandSportsKickback1.jpg

That bike was my primary winter commuter with studded tires. I ran a front brake as well and, truthfully, used that front for 90% of my braking needs rather than relying on the coaster. In its latest iteration, I'm running a 7-speed Nexus rear wheel with coaster brake (thanks, Zaphod!). When I took it out for an errand run the other day, I forgot about the coaster a couple of times and found myself stopping unexpectedly, but it's not like running into the back of a car or anything.

Neal

so do you just have to find an old townie or other bike with a coaster hub and build up the wheel around it? are the drop out widths compatible normally?

i think a "coastie" would be fun, and a multispeed hub with the clean chain line of a single speed is even more appealing

I'd love to build up something like this
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f61/thejapino/85879c6b.jpg

so do you just have to find an old townie or other bike with a coaster hub and build up the wheel around it? are the drop out widths compatible normally?

i think a "coastie" would be fun, and a multispeed hub with the clean chain line of a single speed is even more appealing

The old coaster brake hubs were often spaced at 115mm, but it's not a big deal to stick some spacers in and run them in a 120mm rear end. There's usually plenty of threads on the axle.

Neal

I've been kicking this idea around for my utility bike. I don't ride it for much more than 2 miles at a time, with no hills.

Aren't the Little 500 bikes coaster braked? There must some of those available somewhere....

my friend has a 3 speed SA hub on her old girls schwinn that is just sitting in her parents garage.. i tell her all the time to get it so i can fix it up for her and we can go for rides. i wish i could at least have the hub since it's just sitting there

I never had one but when I was in the Boston area I knew a few guys who had coaster brake road bikes for winter beaters. no muss no fuss just hose it down once in awhile.

Denmark, where I live, is the land of coaster-brakes.

Just my 6,95 Euro:

Single-speed coaster-brakes are excellent. They are sturdy and reliable, and the brake engages in all weather. And you can brake with both hands off the bar. (You'll learn in no time.) Excellent if you want to transport another bike beside your own.

Multiple-speed coaster-brakes are another matter. They are reliable too. Sturdy, they are not. If you plan to give the bike any punishment beyond the sunday ride to church, you'll run into trouble. The delicate mechanism simply cannot stand the strain of even a moderate amatuer. You'll experience gears that doesn't function perfectly, needs to be readjusted often, and finally the hub simply cease to function. Furthermore, energy is wasted in the transmission. 20 years ago, 10% was a rough guideline, but I would believe it is less now, especially on a new hub.

With a single-speed (and probably with a multiple-speed too) you have to pay attention to something called "Konus" (At least thats what it's called in danish.) It is adjusted on the side of the hub, I don't know excactly how. But if it is to tight, it creates friction, if it is to loose, the brake doesn't brake as well as it should.

There might be some "super-hub" I haven't heard of, but Shimano-Nexus is not it.

The graveyards are littered with bikes thrown out, mainly because the internal-hub-gear has broken.

Edit/add-on:

Single-speed coaster-brakes are low-maintenance, probably as low as normal SS.

Multiple-speed coaster-brakes are in principle low-maintenance too, but the "sum of all bothers" is higher than with derailleurs.

I would not run without a front brake on any bike... the last time I ran a coaster hub without one I broadsided a car that came out of an alley because skidding the back wheel is inefficient.

Original Torpedo Racing Coaster Hub form the 30's.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3484/5826246505_0930e0cb88_b.jpg

More pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54616231@N04/sets/72157625325995422/

so do you just have to find an old townie or other bike with a coaster hub and build up the wheel around it? are the drop out widths compatible normally?

coaster brake wheel (http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=safari&rls=en&q=700c+coaster+brake+wheel&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=13191317083875004715&sa=X&ei=FH8DTuqMAoOctwei3u2UDg&ved=0CDAQ8wIwAA#ps-sellers)

I got this one with the matching front. 27" wheel frame, the center pull brakes had enough adjustment for the front. Used a new safety lever for the brake lever.

Sweet bike, Otis.

lots of good stuff here.

it seems coaster brake people (cbp) are knowledgeable.

i've had a couple in the past 15 years, a nexus 7 speed (loved the shifting while stationary, hated the ugliest shifter i've ever seen, would look nice on one of those kids bigwheels). and a late model, probably chinese made, sturmey archer (heavy, significant drag, grabby braking). i have converted my bikes back to freewheeling bikes. but, then again i have been known to change my mind. it is that close...

oh, and i rode mine with my clipless pedals (i know it's not for everybody)

lastly, i've got the business card of the local "coasterbrake guru" according to the guy at the LBS and i may yet hire him to do his "magic" on a coasterbrake hub and try again sometime. (i'm imagining a cross between sheldon brown and carrol shelby here) afterall i've already got my non-driveside chainstay brakearm scratches.

I've recommended this hub before, but here's another shout out for the VeloSteel:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Velosteel-coaster-brake-hub-120mm-OLD-European-made-NEW-/250834960376?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a66edbff8#ht_944wt_1141

It comes in 120mm OLD, 36-holes, and is made in the Czech Republic. The one I have is laced into a 597mm/EA1 rim, which limits my options. I might have to move that to another rim.

Neal

I've commuted on a Road bike with drop bars and a 7 speed IGH Coaster Brake for about a year now.
Love it.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8MOXchNBf0I/TV14ZzPNShI/AAAAAAAAB20/Bbd7Li-0W-E/s640/IMG_2260.JPG

This was initially set up with just a Coaster Brake, but going down steep hills was a little hairy. Braking strength was probably sufficient but my nerve required the addition of a front brake, which I simply hooked to an old BMX lever and put on the top of the bar. I don't use it frequently but its nice to have on big downhills and at traffic lights.

Right now this bike is in the maintenance bay :rolleyes: having its Nexus 7 hub replaced with a SRAM i-Motion 9 (also coaster brake'd)

the torpedo is great i love it

My wife's Super Course MKII w/ 7 speed Nexus coaster brake. She loves it.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k292/bylar13/IMG_20110623_201640.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k292/bylar13/IMG_20110623_201654.jpg

Here is my coaster brake bike. My '73 Dawes Galaxy with a SA S2C hub, it's a 2 speed kickback with a coaster brake. Very fun to ride and a great pub crawler.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i297/Muttleyone/PathRoadRacerClubman/P1000391.jpg

Mutt

I'm not into coaster brakes myself but maybe this is a good place to mention that I came across a generic bicycle maintenance manual at my Dad's place last xmas that had extensive information about all the different brands of coaster brakes: their construction, theory of operation, and maintenance. If someone is interested in obtaining and disseminating this information for the benefit of all, I think I can get my hands on the book and pass it along, without profit motive on my part. Send me a PM if interested.

What are your experiences with the S2C hub? Have you had any maintenance problems? Does it brake well? Is it easy to shift, or is it easy to accidentally go from shift to brake?

Check out this:

http://www.bikecommuters.com/2011/03/08/torker-kb2-review/