Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

5 or 6 speed, anyone riding one?

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

5 or 6 speed, anyone riding one?

Old 06-02-12, 06:15 PM
  #1  
vjp
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,160
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
5 or 6 speed, anyone riding one?

Anyone built up a 5 or 6 speed? Drop bars or upright? Gearing?

I have been thinking of building up a "riv" fit bike with some eclectic bits....

Love your feedback!
vjp is offline  
Old 06-02-12, 06:33 PM
  #2  
rhm
multimodal commuter
 
rhm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,847

Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...

Mentioned: 572 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1903 Post(s)
Liked 548 Times in 326 Posts
I just finished building a 1954 Alvin Drysdale bike. It was originally a 3 speed with a 48T front ring and 14-16-18 freewheel. But with a little help from JJHabbs (from whom I got a Simplex Tour de France 5-speed derailleur) and NLerner (from whom I got a 5-speed freewheel) I have it set up as a five speed. 46T front, 14-16-18-21-24 freewheel. The 24T is the biggest cog the Tour de France derailleur can handle. I haven't ridden the bike very far; less than five miles at this point. So I can't really comment... but it is fun!

The bike has a drop bar, a lovely GB Tourist bend bar that I got from El Guicho, with Weinmann drop bar levers I got from Bikemore. Come to think of it, I got the seat post from Col. J. Lloyd... and I'm sure other forum members contributed other parts that I have forgotten about. It's surprisingly period-correct! I'll be posting photos one of these days.....
rhm is offline  
Old 06-02-12, 06:44 PM
  #3  
JReade
Senior Member
 
JReade's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Oregon City, OR
Posts: 1,617
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 95 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
I built up my GF's bike as a 6 speed, 48 up front ( I believe) and a 6 speed freewheel in the rear. I know I can push it to ~20 mph with that gearing, and she doesn't ride with the same urgency that I have. It's an upright rider, which is nice, but she can't leave the saddle to climb if she needs to, because she's uncomfortable with the north road bars and standing. I've done it, and it's a bit sketchy, so I may try to get something with a few more teeth to give her a wider range.
JReade is offline  
Old 06-02-12, 06:51 PM
  #4  
vjp
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,160
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
rhm, that sounds nice.

I had started a thread previously about 3 speed bikes because I am acquiring a Roberts that I thought was built for a 3 speed but now believe that it is actually for a Clubman 5 speed.

Your gearing sounds high, I am thinking a tiny bit lower, maybe a 42 with a 14-28...
vjp is offline  
Old 06-02-12, 07:03 PM
  #5  
rhm
multimodal commuter
 
rhm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,847

Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...

Mentioned: 572 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1903 Post(s)
Liked 548 Times in 326 Posts
Originally Posted by vjp
rhm, that sounds nice.

I had started a thread previously about 3 speed bikes because I am acquiring a Roberts that I thought was built for a 3 speed but now believe that it is actually for a Clubman 5 speed.

Your gearing sounds high, I am thinking a tiny bit lower, maybe a 42 with a 14-28...
Yes, it is high. But I wanted to build it up pretty close to the way it was in 1954. I have more bikes, so I don't need this one for climbing the wicked hills of northern New Jersey. If I do a century on this one (and I think I will, soon!) I'll be heading south into the Pine Barrens which are relatively flat.
rhm is offline  
Old 06-02-12, 07:07 PM
  #6  
wahoonc
Membership Not Required
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On the road-USA
Posts: 16,855

Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times in 9 Posts
Still putting together a 5 speed city bike for my son. It is based on a 1985 Raleigh Record frameset. IIRC it has a 46t front and the Sturmey Archer XRD-5(w) in the rear. Moustache bars on a Dirt Drop stem, fenders, lights, etc.

Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(

ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.

"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"
_Nicodemus

"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"
_krazygluon
wahoonc is offline  
Old 06-02-12, 07:21 PM
  #7  
Creme Brulee
Senior Member
 
Creme Brulee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 360

Bikes: koga miyata road gentleman, raleigh crested butte, raleigh comp 650b

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
all my bikes are six speeds except for the de rosa... six is a good number gear wise, especially if you have three up front
Creme Brulee is offline  
Old 06-02-12, 07:50 PM
  #8  
iab
Senior Member
 
iab's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NW Burbs, Chicago
Posts: 11,883
Mentioned: 193 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2853 Post(s)
Liked 3,087 Times in 1,221 Posts
4-speed

50/47 up front

16/18/20/22 in back
iab is offline  
Old 06-02-12, 07:50 PM
  #9  
Capecodder
Senior Member
 
Capecodder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Somewhere Between The Beginning And The End
Posts: 1,995
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by Creme Brulee
all my bikes are six speeds except for the de rosa... six is a good number gear wise, especially if you have three up front
I'm pretty sure he's talking one chainring and a six speed freewheel.....
Capecodder is offline  
Old 06-02-12, 07:54 PM
  #10  
Trick fall
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 131
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by rhm
I just finished building a 1954 Alvin Drysdale bike. It was originally a 3 speed with a 48T front ring and 14-16-18 freewheel. But with a little help from JJHabbs (from whom I got a Simplex Tour de France 5-speed derailleur) and NLerner (from whom I got a 5-speed freewheel) I have it set up as a five speed. 46T front, 14-16-18-21-24 freewheel. The 24T is the biggest cog the Tour de France derailleur can handle. I haven't ridden the bike very far; less than five miles at this point. So I can't really comment... but it is fun!

The bike has a drop bar, a lovely GB Tourist bend bar that I got from El Guicho, with Weinmann drop bar levers I got from Bikemore. Come to think of it, I got the seat post from Col. J. Lloyd... and I'm sure other forum members contributed other parts that I have forgotten about. It's surprisingly period-correct! I'll be posting photos one of these days.....
I'd love to see some pictures of this bike.
Trick fall is offline  
Old 06-02-12, 08:04 PM
  #11  
Sixty Fiver
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
 
Sixty Fiver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: YEG
Posts: 27,272

Bikes: See my sig...

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 66 Post(s)
Liked 76 Times in 46 Posts
4 speed block... came with a 5.





5 speed block that gives me 9 unique gearings with the halfstep...

Sixty Fiver is offline  
Old 06-02-12, 08:12 PM
  #12  
Creme Brulee
Senior Member
 
Creme Brulee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 360

Bikes: koga miyata road gentleman, raleigh crested butte, raleigh comp 650b

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
whoops my bad... well if you have say a 44 or 42 i'd imagine you'd have a pretty versatile bike
Creme Brulee is offline  
Old 06-02-12, 09:00 PM
  #13  
Bianchigirll 
Bianchi Goddess
 
Bianchigirll's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 29,401

Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.

Mentioned: 187 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2781 Post(s)
Liked 2,428 Times in 1,303 Posts
I have a Mixte with a 5 spd Positron setup.
__________________
One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"

Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
Bianchigirll is offline  
Old 06-02-12, 09:23 PM
  #14  
vjp
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,160
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Yes, this.

Originally Posted by Capecodder
I'm pretty sure he's talking one chainring and a six speed freewheel.....
vjp is offline  
Old 06-02-12, 09:25 PM
  #15  
Gary Fountain
Senior Member
 
Gary Fountain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Hervey Bay, Qld, Australia.
Posts: 2,909

Bikes: Colnago (82, 85, 89, 90, 91, 96, 03), 85 Cinelli, 90 Rossin, 83 Alan, 82 Bianchi, 78 Fountain, 2 x Pinarello, Malvern Star (37), Hillman (70's), 80's Beretto Lo-Pro Track, 80's Kenevans Lo-Pro, Columbus Max (95), DeGrandi (80's) Track.

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 171 Post(s)
Liked 175 Times in 114 Posts
I have a few bikes with 5 or 6 speed freewheels. I live in a relatively flat place and 5 or 6 speeds is plenty. I try very hard to get 'corncob' blocks though.


Last edited by Gary Fountain; 06-02-12 at 09:29 PM.
Gary Fountain is offline  
Old 06-02-12, 10:24 PM
  #16  
Captain Blight
Senior Member
 
Captain Blight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 2,473

Bikes: -1973 Motobecane Mirage -197? Velosolex L'Etoile -'71 Raleigh Super Course

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I set up a Bridgestone mixte with a Sturmey AW and 39/44 rings for six distinct and evenly spaced gears. I sold it to a friend of a friend who ti fit much better, and she just loves it.

I want to repeat the experiment with a Sachs DuoDrive hub with the three biggest cogs of an 8-speed cogset mounted, and probably a 44T ring. I could go all the way to 72 gears but that's just too much. 9 is plenty and gives a logical shift pattern with a good chainline.
Captain Blight is offline  
Old 06-02-12, 11:42 PM
  #17  
djkashuba 
Senior Member
 
djkashuba's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Monte Rio CA
Posts: 1,117

Bikes: Motobecane Le Champion, Raleigh International, Bertin, Raleigh DL-1 1980, Colnago Super,Follis, Bianchi Competizione, Brompton M6L, Black Mountain Monstercros

Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 123 Post(s)
Liked 711 Times in 136 Posts
A friend of mine built this Gitane up for his GF. He ground down the outer ring into a chain guard. Slick.

-D



Gitane by djk762, on Flickr
djkashuba is offline  
Old 06-02-12, 11:54 PM
  #18  
balindamood
Wrench Savant
 
balindamood's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: 61 Degrees North
Posts: 2,306

Bikes: Yes

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Liked 92 Times in 38 Posts
My commuter bike's FD blew up about two months ago. I have not bothered to fix it, so I guess I have a 6-speed Trek 790.
balindamood is offline  
Old 06-03-12, 12:24 AM
  #19  
Barchettaman
Senior Member
 
Barchettaman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,491

Bikes: Focus trash find commuter, Eddy Merckx Corsa, BP Stealth TT bike, Leader 720 TT bike, Boardman Comp Hybrid drop bar conversion, Quantec CX budget cyclocross build, SerottaNOS frameset ready to build up!

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 99 Post(s)
Liked 69 Times in 47 Posts
Rhm, post some photos of this build please! It sounds fantastic.
Barchettaman is offline  
Old 06-03-12, 06:38 AM
  #20  
tcs
Palmer
 
tcs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,184

Bikes: Mike Melton custom, 1982 Stumpjumper, Alex Moulton AM, 2010 Dawes Briercliffe, 2017 Dahon Curl i8, 2021 Motobecane Turino 1x12

Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1452 Post(s)
Liked 1,473 Times in 874 Posts
Originally Posted by vjp
Anyone built up a 5 or 6 speed? Drop bars or upright? Gearing?
I have been thinking of building up a "riv" fit bike with some eclectic bits....
Love your feedback!
My commuter for about 10 years was a drop bar bike with a Sturmey S5/1, geared 42/21. Eclectic enough for you?
tcs is offline  
Old 06-03-12, 07:03 AM
  #21  
vjp
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,160
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Yes!!

Originally Posted by tcs
my commuter for about 10 years was a drop bar bike with a sturmey s5/1, geared 42/21. Eclectic enough for you?
vjp is offline  
Old 06-03-12, 07:48 AM
  #22  
randyjawa 
Senior Member
 
randyjawa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,553

Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma

Mentioned: 209 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1328 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,583 Times in 875 Posts
Five speed Torpado...


Five speed Sekine Step Through...




Five speed Chiorda Step Through...
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
randyjawa is offline  
Old 06-03-12, 08:03 AM
  #23  
vjp
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,160
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
omg... this Torpado

Originally Posted by randyjawa
Five speed Torpado...


Five speed Sekine Step Through...




Five speed Chiorda Step Through...
vjp is offline  
Old 06-03-12, 08:10 AM
  #24  
frantik
Chainstay Brake Mafia
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,026
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times in 7 Posts
i've got a 7 speed with a 46t up front and a 13-28 block but rarely use top or bottom gears so it's kinda like a 5 speed..

frantik is offline  
Old 06-03-12, 08:11 AM
  #25  
auchencrow
Senior Member
 
auchencrow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Detroit
Posts: 10,327
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 31 Times in 25 Posts
I'm not understanding this thread. Most of the bikes shown have a double chain ring, so I'd consider them "10-speeds" (like almost every bike I own except for my Sturmey Archers).

At that, I would only have one bike that I'd consider a 5-speed: My trusty old garbage-picked green Schwinn Suburban:
__________________
- Auchen
auchencrow is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -

Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.