5 or 6 speed, anyone riding one?
06-02-12, 06:15 PM
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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!
I have been thinking of building up a "riv" fit bike with some eclectic bits....
Love your feedback!
06-02-12, 06:33 PM
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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.....
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.....
06-02-12, 06:44 PM
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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.
06-02-12, 06:51 PM
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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...
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...
06-02-12, 07:03 PM
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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...
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...
06-02-12, 07:07 PM
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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.
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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
06-02-12, 07:21 PM
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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
06-02-12, 07:50 PM
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4-speed
50/47 up front
16/18/20/22 in back
50/47 up front
16/18/20/22 in back
06-02-12, 07:54 PM
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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.....
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.....
06-02-12, 08:04 PM
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4 speed block... came with a 5.
5 speed block that gives me 9 unique gearings with the halfstep...
5 speed block that gives me 9 unique gearings with the halfstep...
06-02-12, 08:12 PM
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whoops my bad... well if you have say a 44 or 42 i'd imagine you'd have a pretty versatile bike
06-02-12, 09:00 PM
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I have a Mixte with a 5 spd Positron setup.
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06-02-12, 09:25 PM
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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.
06-02-12, 10:24 PM
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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.
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.
06-02-12, 11:42 PM
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06-02-12, 11:54 PM
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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.
06-03-12, 12:24 AM
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Rhm, post some photos of this build please! It sounds fantastic.
06-03-12, 06:38 AM
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06-03-12, 07:48 AM
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06-03-12, 08:10 AM
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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..
06-03-12, 08:11 AM
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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:
At that, I would only have one bike that I'd consider a 5-speed: My trusty old garbage-picked green Schwinn Suburban:
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