We were always scavenging parts to keep our bikes mobile for newspaper delivery. My first speed build was when I was 12 years old. It was an English 3 speed (donated from my uncle) with a flat straight handlebar and a 26x 1 3/8 rear wheel. The front wheel was bent so I put a 20" front wheel from my Mustang on it which dropped down the front of the bike. No front brake of course. The handling was interesting and you needed to be careful of crank strikes but I was very proud of my "racing bike".