killsurfcity

just thought i'd post this out of curiosity. lets say a reputable company began manufaturing 3-speed fixed hubs like the old sturmey archers. for the sake of arguement, we'll say they are lighter, more mechanically efficient and reasonably attractive. would you be interested in purchasing one?
i would add too, that if i were to manufacture them, i'd make them available in traditional and bolt on cog systems.

veggiemafia

I'd buy it for one bike*, but I probably wouldn't convert all my bikes to multi-speed fixed.

*Dependent on price.

abeyance

A multispeed hub would be great. I think it would be more cost efficient to build a kit to retrofit an existing hub, like a nexus.

goldener

they already exist:

https://www.63xc.com/genng/bikesmith.htm

Aldone

yes

deathhare

And how much does that weigh? 20lbs?

exfreewheeler

If the price was right and the product is great, I would definitely get one.

It's something I considered anyway but the ones I found were either conversions or old obsolete models.

Something new would be great.

soyboy

as i keep thinking about putting together a long distance touring bike this could be awesome

Aeroplane

No freaking way. One of the reasons I like riding fixed is the cheapness. Make the rear hub worth over $200, and that goes away real quick. It's the same reason I don't ride multi-speed hubs on my other bikes. If I'm gonna have gears, I'm going to have gears.

freebird

It would be awesome.

doofo

i wouldnt spend much but i would spend something

Rikardi151

"It is also worth mentioning that the built wheel comes in slightly under 4lb, although of course this is mitigated by the fact that the weight rotates at the center rather than the periphery. Your humble reviewer could probably herself stand to lose somewhat more than the weight of the 2FG, so this consideration would not prevent me from purchasing one."

d_D

I got a 5 speed hub for dirt cheap and built it into a wheel. I think I've used it twice. Having to change gears is a bit annoying so I don't bother.
Perhaps if I lived somewhere so hilly single speed was impractical I would use it.

killsurfcity

or do they?

killsurfcity

i didn't specify price.

the reason i'd want one is sometimes i do run into hills that my gear is not appropriate for. or i get sick of spinning on flats and want a little more go. but riding a bike that coasted would take some of the fun out of it for me.

i'd love to see someone like level or kogswell make these for real. and unlike that other one posted, readily available.

Aeroplane

... and you didn't have to. If you could get one that would cost less than $60, yeah, I'd probably bite, but the odds of a fixed multi-gear hub that will last for that price is mighty slim.

Cynikal 

Actually, I emailed the guy from , the sadly now defunct, bikesmith. He will still make them but for $200. I really don't think it's worth it for me and I sure wouldn't ride one without a brake.

seaneee

I like the idea of modding a bendix, but those things are heavy as hell. I put a two speed kickback/coaster on my wifes bike, and it weighs a ton. Still a cool idea though.

seaneee

Speaking of old things that they don't make but should again.

I have this thing from the 80's called a Fix/Free drive. It's from the UK. It's basically a freewheel that threads on a normal 5/6sp or track hub. It has a three speed style shifter that lets you shift between freewheel and fixed. I have yet to try it but it seems cool.

Last I heard, they guy was selling off the patent. Would be cool to see that again.

goldener

what's to stops the "fix/free" drive from spinning off once as you resist...oh wait, it wasn't designed for silly "streettrack" antics..

i believe there are plans or instructions on how to make a fixed multi-speed hub on fgg or somewheres.

but, no, i wouldn't buy one. it would inevitably be: expensive, heavy, and inherently not work that well.

Wotan

I'd buy one. The weight doesn't concern me at all. Price could be an issue. But I guess since I've previously contacted all the makers of modified hubs and have even bid a dollar or two trying to get a Sturmey Archer original, I suppose I'd be prepared to pay $200.

A year ago or so I sent an email to Sturmey Archer asking if there were any plans to bring back the ASC given the increasing popularity of fixed gear. Here is their response:


"Unfortunatley there are no current plans to bring about the fixed 3 speed. Please keep in contact though, if there is demand then there is always the possibility of bringing this hub back. Thank you for your interest and please let me know if there is anything else that I can do for you."

So, maybe if a truckload of people send 'em emails, they might bring it back!?!?

kalliergo 

Yep, I'd buy one.

Weight matters very little to me, and cost is not a major factor (I'm not rich; I'm a self-indulgent old curmudgeon with a bicycle-priority "lifestyle").

Quality and durability would be critical.

andre nickatina

I'd definitely buy one but it'd be a different set up than my track bike.

I have this romanticized fantasy of either finding a mint vintage 3 speed Raleigh and converting it to 3 speed fixed gear, or just building up a bike like that myself with the same details (matching fender to frame color, low-key box rims, fat white walled tires, upright bars and Brooks saddle).

How do you shift on a fixed hub though? Is it kick back or level shifting?

marqueemoon

Depends on how much $$$.

trackhub

I would indeed buy one. Sheldon Brown has written some pieces about the old Sturmey Archer ASC hubs. If do some google searches, you'll find some pics of bikes that have been built up with them. A fixed-three speed hub, made with modern engineering and manufacturing technology, would be great for fixie riders.

I would think that SRAM would be one company with the stones to pull this off.