Sturmey-Archer Question
 

My S-A AW hub (1969) doesn't like to downshift under any kind of load. If I'm going up a hill and need to dump it down a gear I have to coast for just a moment while I make the shift. Is this typical, or is it an adjustment issue?

Shifting up is perfect in all conditions and function is excellent except for this issue.

Thanks.

It's normal, there is a lot of planetary action going on inside the hub and putting it under load while shifting is not a good idea.
I frequently backpedal a touch on my '56 while shifting to get any load off while the hub does it's thing, one reason it's been anvil-like reliable.

-Bandera

Nice. Thought that might be the case but wanted to confirm.
Do you stop pedaling for a moment during upshifts as well?

^^confirmed. Always.

Probably (Yes), it's so automatic after many years of use I'm not conscious of it anymore.
Further complicated by the fact that I'm running an AW/Cyclo 3-cog set-up with a derailleur making it fussy, overly-complex and archaic.

"Let's see: Is that 1 cog down on the derail and an up-click on the hub, or the other way 'round?"
Very British.......