Classic & Vintage - Drop bars, 3 speed SA and 26x1 3/8 wheels - bad idea?

I have a spare 3 speed in the shed and was contemplating switching the bars and brakes to turn it into a drop bar tourer. The bike is an 80's 'Focus' which is cheap but in great condition. Wheels are 26 x 1 3/8 so more shopping bike!

Anyone done similar?

Here's a horrible photo taken on the night I picked up the bike:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5108/5620276868_bef9ef5cba_z.jpg

Nope, sounds like a great idea.

220887
Sixtyfiver/rhm and others should be along soon with more pics. It was the typical set up for late pre-war/ early post-war British club bicycles

Nope. Great idea. In fact I was thinking about this on my drive to work!

I'm thinking of doing something similar over the winter if I can find a hub and frame. The recent 650B thread also has me thinking about building up a wheelset because I've never done one.

Be sure to post pictures!

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6191/6041687486_659d29c769_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5226/5620621506_5f388fcd30_b.jpg

Oh, wait, I spoke too soon. The Lambert (red) has 700c wheels. The Raleigh (black) has 27".

My Fothergill, however, has 26 x 1 3/8:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6153/6163487216_074589fa4a_b.jpg
Disregard the derailleur, there's a 1939 AW hub in there somewhere!

This is a great idea! There are still some decent tires made in 26x 1 3/8 size too.

That's when I had the idea - boring commute = mind wandering to bike stuff ;)

The total cost of the project will be ~£20 so more fun that serious!

It's already been said here, but great idea. I like how it hearkens back to the early days of "three speeding." I'm not planning on ridding myself of derailleur bikes anytime soon, but there's a lot to be said for the simplicity of the three speed and the more leisurely, laid back approach to riding. Your build idea fits that mold quite well, I'd say.

in the process of doing this on my "taylor", though it will have 27" wheels.

N+1, UPS just showed up with my CR18's for my Maclean project
220892
'course it's gonna be 4 speed IGH, but same concept

Don't a lot of these bikes have different geometries that feel funky when switching to drop bars? Not being difficult, just wondering. I did a drop bar conversion on a MTB and the handling did not feel very good.

Don't a lot of these bikes have different geometries that feel funky when switching to drop bars? Not being difficult, just wondering. I did a drop bar conversion on a MTB and the handling did not feel very good.

Speaking for myself, since these are the bikes I ride the most, I'd say they handle just right (especially the Lambert and the RRA). But you'd have to try it yourself, to know the correct answer by your standards. The bikes I posted were all designed for drop bars, but they have fairly relaxed geometry by today's standards. The way a bike handles is to some degree a matter of how it's set up; note the long stem, and seat far forward, on the RRA; this makes up for the shallow seat tube angle completely, though of course it does nothing about the steerer tube angle:


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5226/5620621506_5f388fcd30_b.jpg

These are the kind of points I'm interested in - the bike has a very tall stem but very short in reach, so that might need to be addressed with a new stem....

another yes vote

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_4crHpTgFwQ/TdL0jjFjP0I/AAAAAAAABlo/aooyk0_y3F0/s800/58-superbe2.jpg

These are the kind of points I'm interested in - the bike has a very tall stem but very short in reach, so that might need to be addressed with a new stem....

Yes, judging by your photo, I think you will want a longer stem. Also a narrow saddle. I would recommend you get the new Sturmey Archer bar end shifter, which is an excellent shifter that fits drop bars nicely and shifts the old AW hub perfectly. There are trigger shifters made to fit 15/16" bars, but they are hard to find; and it is possible to make a trigger with a 7/8" clamp fit on a drop bar, but it is not always easy.

I love mine. I guess I took a different approach to RHM. I went for a 40mm, tall stem (Nitto Technomic) and left the saddle with the clamp around the middle of the rails. It's very comfortable.

Of course I still have all the original parts; I think I might put more appropriate brake levers on it along with the original cable housing.

220899

Another thing to consider is flipping the regular handlebars upside down. The reach is extremely short, so that could be very good or very bad. I happen to prefer a long reach and not so much drop, so it didn't work for me. It looks nice, though. ;)

I love that....



another yes vote

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_4crHpTgFwQ/TdL0jjFjP0I/AAAAAAAABlo/aooyk0_y3F0/s800/58-superbe2.jpg

Between this thread and Holiday's 650B thread, damn, I need something with smaller wheels!!

I miss riding my 3 speed, it was fun and simple. I really need to get those wheels built.

Noglider

Another thing to consider is flipping the regular handlebars upside down. The reach is extremely short, so that could be very good or very bad.

Flipped Northroads do make for a very short cockpit and somewhat sluggish handling but it's fun. Could remedy the cockpit lenght with a longer stem....but I could do a lot of things I don't do.
220924

Flipped Northroads do make for a very short cockpit and somewhat sluggish handling but it's fun. Could remedy the cockpit lenght with a longer stem....but I could do a lot of things I don't do.
220924

Mmm. I like this.

Come to think of it, my first fixie had flipped North Roads. It suited me well then. Maybe the top tube of that bike was longer. It wasn't an old Sports; it was a generic Japanese frame. Also, I think the stem had a bit of an extension to it.

I tried flipped North Roads on my Super Course. The frame is small for me, and this had me much too bent over. So imagine my surprise at the fact that I now have extra long reach handlebars but no drop and I'm comfortable.

Yep, got to like flipped North Road bars; goes wel with S/A 3 speed internal hub and 26" x 3/8" tires/wheels:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2428/3934384755_9f733a2f9b_b.jpg

I now call them South Road bars. ;)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4125/5053012584_6e1b0d53e1_b.jpg

N+1, UPS just showed up with my CR18's for my Maclean project
'course it's gonna be 4 speed IGH, but same concept

I really hope you have this bike at the swapmeet. I'd LOVE to see this thing!

Spring 2012 for sure, it's still in pieces!

My '39-40 Schwinn New World originally came in about 3 different configurations, one being a SS drop bar "Racer," the others being an upright bar SS or 3 speed tourer.

Since I started with just a frame, I went for a hybrid, with a SA 4 speed rear hub and Major Taylor Soma re-pop bars. I do not recommend the bars, and if any one is interested in them, I'll let them go cheap. I find they really only have one position and for me at least, after about 4-5 miles, my back and neck hurt way too much.

My plan over the winter is to convert this into an upright tourer, but, I might try traditional drops before I commit, now that I've seen these sweet examples.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p71/pastorbobnlnh/Antique%20Fixie/New%20World%20March%2012%202010/Mar19Ride1.jpg

This thread really speaks my language. English 3 speeds are the stuff of my youth. I won't carve up the Raleigh Sports because it's so pristine and original, but my next build is going to center around a lovely Sturmey AW hub and a '73 Super Course frame. It's on my workstand posing with a B17 and inverted North Roaders while I hash out "the build". It'll have 700c rims and maybe a Normandy high-flange front hub.

IsleRide, what brakes will it have? The brake reach is already long with 27" wheels. I'm thinking of putting 700c wheels on my Super Course.

I found a pair of 27" steelies with a 3 spd SA hub, I am thinking of putting those on a Raleigh Gran Sport. I love this Rudge DeLuxe.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2759/5779918735_607a0bf1c6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/5779918735/)
27 107 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/5779918735/) by barnstormerbikes (http://www.flickr.com/people/52448896@N08/), on Flickr

I actually drew a bike lastnight that I want to build. 650's with a SA 5 speed hub. I am thinking about bi-lam construction ala Claude Butler. 650X30's, very sporty and light with fenders and tool bag. 72 deg. angles, 22" top tube 10.2 BB height, 16" stays. My brazing is getting better! I might make a one piece Lauterwasser/gooseneck. Oh that would be hot!

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6154/6203052745_c2b31fc555.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/6203052745/)
650B future project. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/6203052745/) by barnstormerbikes (http://www.flickr.com/people/52448896@N08/), on Flickr

I found a pair of 27" steelies with a 3 spd SA hub, I am thinking of putting those on a Raleigh Gran Sport. I love this Rudge DeLuxe.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2759/5779918735_607a0bf1c6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/5779918735/)
27 107 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/5779918735/) by barnstormerbikes (http://www.flickr.com/people/52448896@N08/), on Flickr

I actually drew a bike lastnight that I want to build. 650's with a SA 5 speed hub. I am thinking about bi-lam construction ala Claude Butler. 650X30's, very sporty and light with fenders and tool bag. 72 deg. angles, 22" top tube 10.2 BB height, 16" stays. My brazing is getting better! I might make a one piece Lauterwasser/gooseneck. Oh that would be hot!

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6154/6203052745_c2b31fc555.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/6203052745/)
650B future project. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/52448896@N08/6203052745/) by barnstormerbikes (http://www.flickr.com/people/52448896@N08/), on Flickr

Love to see this built, Frank! This looks very cool.

IsleRide, what brakes will it have? The brake reach is already long with 27" wheels. I'm thinking of putting 700c wheels on my Super Course.

I have a NOS set of "Favorit Centric" centerpulls (Czechoslovakian) I picked up from a local shop. With a front wheel in the fork they are long enough. Haven't checked the rear yet. (but looks OK with a tape measure) I think the Dia Compe 750 or the Tektro R559 may be long enough too. I don't have any original parts for this bike. A friend gave me the frame. The same shop has a good selection of NOS rims. If I find something that I can't pass up in a 27" (40 spoke rear) I'm not against that either.

Between this thread and Holiday's 650B thread, damn, I need something with smaller wheels!!
Something like this?
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4714785804_17c3b56ee0.jpg

This beast has flipped North Road bars and a 120mm riser stem.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/bikamper/P4200014.jpg
I started with the stock stem and riding it was just miserable. The fact that I was recovering from knee surgery probably didn't help any. The 120 opened it up quite a bit and the extensions at the curve of the North Road bars are just icing on the cake.

bikampr, now that's an innovation. I have one of those "elbow handlebars" and now I know what I'll do with it. I can hardly wait!

frank the welder, I bet you'll be an ace brazer (brazzierre?) in no time. I look forward to seeing your results. Are you going to braze a fork as well?

bikampr, now that's an innovation. I have one of those "elbow handlebars"

Here and I thought they were TT bars!:roflmao2:

What you gonna do with just one Noglider?