Bring back the English 3-speed
08-06-12, 11:08 AM
#1026
Count Orlok Member
OK, here we go trying to do an upload of a pic from a Flickr set.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/5340652...in/photostream
https://www.flickr.com/photos/5340652...in/photostream
The bike above appeared recently for sale on Craigslist in, as I recall, Southern California.
Can any of the Raleigh 3-speed aficionados gathered here tell me something about these bikes? It looks all-original & one thing that particularly interests me is the coaster SA hub.
Can any of the Raleigh 3-speed aficionados gathered here tell me something about these bikes? It looks all-original & one thing that particularly interests me is the coaster SA hub.
The Coaster SA hubs do not have the best reputation, as they run the braking through the gear train. On certain models, such as the TCW, this means that if the cable is misadjusted you may get a neutral between two gears and thus have no braking at all. The S3C is slightly better, but one still has to run the pedals backwards fairly far to get braking when in third gear.
08-06-12, 02:33 PM
#1027
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That's a Raleigh Colt, with a Camelback frame, a youth-sized three speed. It would be good for a shorter person, 4' 8" to 5'3 or so. The Colt uses regular English 26" wheels in a smaller frame. As a youth model, it did not have a high end saddle, but the bikes are solidly made. Guessing from the decals and pedals I'd say this one is a mid-to-late '60s model. I think the grips may be Schwinn grips, but I can't really tell. It looks good, other than the rear fender being out of adjustment.
The Coaster SA hubs do not have the best reputation, as they run the braking through the gear train. On certain models, such as the TCW, this means that if the cable is misadjusted you may get a neutral between two gears and thus have no braking at all. The S3C is slightly better, but one still has to run the pedals backwards fairly far to get braking when in third gear.
The Coaster SA hubs do not have the best reputation, as they run the braking through the gear train. On certain models, such as the TCW, this means that if the cable is misadjusted you may get a neutral between two gears and thus have no braking at all. The S3C is slightly better, but one still has to run the pedals backwards fairly far to get braking when in third gear.
Here's a close up of those grips, and another close up of the trigger shifter. It looks just like a standard SA trigger unit but they call it a "Speedy Switch". What gives? Marketing?
08-06-12, 03:08 PM
#1028
Count Orlok Member
Thanks for the info - especially on the coaster hub. I had seen a women's Colt for sale on CList in Charlotte last year but it didn't have the "camelback" top tube obviously.
Here's a close up of those grips, and another close up of the trigger shifter. It looks just like a standard SA trigger unit but they call it a "Speedy Switch". What gives? Marketing?
Here's a close up of those grips, and another close up of the trigger shifter. It looks just like a standard SA trigger unit but they call it a "Speedy Switch". What gives? Marketing?
Don't let my comments about the coater hub scare you away if you want the bike, though. I got a three speed for my daughter with an S3C, and friends of mine have a Tandem with a TCW. Properly adjusted, they work just fine. It's also easy to replace the rear wheel with one with an AW hub in it and add a rear hand brake, too.
Last edited by gna; 08-06-12 at 03:14 PM.
08-06-12, 03:47 PM
#1029
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Don't let my comments about the coater hub scare you away if you want the bike, though. I got a three speed for my daughter with an S3C, and friends of mine have a Tandem with a TCW. Properly adjusted, they work just fine. It's also easy to replace the rear wheel with one with an AW hub in it and add a rear hand brake, too.
Unfortunately, that bike is way out of reach for me, being ~ 2200 miles from where I am.
Last edited by PalmettoUpstate; 08-06-12 at 04:07 PM.
08-06-12, 04:14 PM
#1030
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My guess is that the name and tooling - like so much of the West - was sold to the Japanese. Not necessarily a bad thing; just reality.
08-08-12, 12:45 PM
#1031
aka Tom Reingold
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The Speedy Switch is decidedly inferior to the Sturmey Archer triggers. I have experience with it.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
08-08-12, 03:14 PM
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How do you see the Shimano trigger shifter vis-a-vis SA?
08-08-12, 10:37 PM
#1033
Banned
My English 3 speed is a Brompton..
FWIW, AW3, they located the trigger shifter on the top.. so as to fit ..
On the bar , thumb/up down.. moved to the new one BSR.. plastic one is significantly easier
particularly shifting down, pulling on the indicator chain..
2 levers to put your thumb between .. to switch either way ..
FWIW, AW3, they located the trigger shifter on the top.. so as to fit ..
On the bar , thumb/up down.. moved to the new one BSR.. plastic one is significantly easier
particularly shifting down, pulling on the indicator chain..
2 levers to put your thumb between .. to switch either way ..
