Originally Posted by
David Newton
My problem with converting a 27" or 700c road bike to 3 speed or single speed is the geometry. Unless you run into a frame from the 50's, all the geometry and wheel base will be too short and quick, really not satisfying for an upright bike.
You're certainly right in principle, but I'm not sure you have to go all the way back to the 50's. A bike boom ten speed from the early to mid 70's would probably be okay, though of course an older one would be preferable. More recent frames have not only the wrong geometry, but various brazed on nonsense like cable hangers and shifter mounts that you'd have to grind off....
