Originally Posted by
chagzuki
Hmm... I've been riding a 3 speed recently and a 33% jump from gear 2 to 3 is frequently uncomfortable (1 to 2 is fine); on another website someone (possibly a regular here also) referred to the change into 3rd as like 'hitting a brick wall'. A 56% jump must result in a completely ridiculous cadence change, from cartoon hamster to dinosaur, instantaneously.
That's aout right. Its not ideal. One reason the 5 speed was used instead. But if a butterfly flaps it wings in pbrazil the 5 speed goes out of alignment. 8 speed had limited shifter compactability and tends to lose gears if you buy the wrong vintage.
3 speed sa hubs were ok last cenerty on preiuim quality bikes. Yes they are reliabable but mostcyclists expect more. I bought a cargo bike with a three speed on and that was just about ok once I down geared it. I should have paid more for the eight speed nexus version.