BMX Commuting - Hub Gears vs Singlespeed
 

Hi all,

I'm new to bike forums, but definitely not new to bikes

Last year, when I was in Paris, I wanted a commuter setup on the cheap. I was thinking about buying an old racer and converting it into a single speed, but I didn't have the tools

So, I got a flatland BMX with slicks, put on mudguards and lights, and off I went

The thing was incredibly light; 6061 (I think) frame which was ridiculously compact, and it was great training for spinning at high RPMs. I regularly beat people on road bikes, and sometimes even scooters, though scooters were GREAT for drafting behind.

That gave me an idea, however:

putting a 3-speed (or more, perhaps 5 or even 7) rear hub gear onto a BMX, which would have the following benefits:

1. lightweight
2. compact (for taking on the train, etc)
3. gears

Anyone had any experience? I don't need a heavy duty hub, as I wouldn't be doing any real BMX stuff.

thanks in advance

J

No experience, but the only issue I can think of is the spacing on the rear dropout. As long as they can match up I can't see what the problem would be.

So long as the rear end is wide enough to fit a geared hub, I don't see why it wouldn't be possible. What you describe is basically a folding bike, minus the fold. Compact frame, small wheels, etc.

If you use a hub that is direct drive at first gear (Sturmey Archer's 8-speed hubs are like this, at least), you wouldn't even need to put a huge chainring on it.

if you do this you should post us some pics

Sounds like you're essentially making your own version of a mini-velo. These types of bikes are often discussed in the folding bikes section of Bikeforums.net.

Good luck with the conversion...
--sam

Kona made a 24" BMX cruiser with a three speed hub a few years ago, quite a cool bike. It inspired me to add an SA hub to a 24" BMX frame that I have and got as far as checking that it will fit the dropouts (it will...) but I didn't go through with the build because I didn't quite fit the bike.

I love my Kona Keiki.
Cantilever brakes and a 3-sp hub with a coaster brake, how can you go wrong?
http://entirely-adequate.com/keiki/keiki2.jpg

That's some intimidating seatpost, there.

Yeah, that's one of the downsides of liking tiny frames.

Let us know how it turns out if you decide to go that route; I've got a buddy mulling the same possibility.

I have an older Kona 26" cruiser that has what appears to be a BMX style frame that I installed a Sachs 3 speed hub on several years ago. It has worked fine.

Small wheel bike service is actually easier on a gear hub as the primary gearing needs to be higher to give reasonable overall gearing. This decreases the input torque the hub is subjected to.

The Kona model is a Humuhumu-nukunuku-a-pua'a according to the top tube label. From about 1995 or so as I recall.

Cannondale Hooligan
 

So... it's been a while since I thought about this project but I discovered that Cannondale made a goofy-looking BMX-style 20" bike with disk brakes and hub gears called the Hooligan...

Looks like they beat me to the concept, but I think I'll still wait around to build my own - rather then spend the $900... plus it'd be more fun

How light do you want to get? I have a Downtube 8H folding bike that weighs 26.5 lbs stock. You can knock off a few pounds by removing the rack and swapping out the front suspension fork. It comes with a Sturmey archer 8 speed IGH. It's around $400.

http://www.downtube.com/Font_Suspens...ding_Bike.html

Dahon has been offering the N.A. market their "shark" series of mini-velos for a couple years now.

http://us.dahon.com/bikes/1674/bullhead
http://us.dahon.com/bikes/1680/smooth-hound

tcs