I have a Sturmey Archer S3C 3-speed internal hub with an integrated coaster brake sitting around. I fancy the idea of building a 700c wheel out of it. Point is to make a clean-looking bike with 3 speeds and sufficient braking.
Somewhere along the line, I heard that coaster brakes are limited to smaller wheels. Any truth to this...is there a wheel size limit?

The hub came off a 26" wheel.

Should not be a problem. Coasterbrakes are the new fixie. Lots of 700 c wheelsets for sale online with them. The biggest problem is a skinnier tire generally on 700c my increase stopping distances at higher speeds when the wheel locks up. May be safe to run a front brake too.

Your choices may be limited by the hub itself - are there 40 spoke holes in that jobbie? Finding a rim in 700c with 40 holes may be a problem.

He has a modern 3 speed coaster brake hub and they are not made with 40 spoke holes, only 36.

Ah! Thank you for clarifying that. Rims with 36 holes in 700 are a cinch. I would be delighted to find a 40 hole 27" rim for my old AW hub...

You can lace any hub to any size rim with matching number of spoke drilling. All you need is the correct spoke length. Feel free to correct or flame.

edit: I read this wrong yesterday, 12 hours of work will do that to you. I thought DieselDan was saying you could build wheels with different drilling for hubs and rims. My mistake, and what he said is correct. For the record, building wheels is one of my favorite bicycle related activities you can't do while riding.


This is what I wrote when delirious:
"More like spoke lengths. You should at least mention that it sucks to build.

This is not a correction, or a flame, just an additional note."

Thanks. Yeah, I understand it could be a pain to get all the pieces together. Maybe a project for next winter.