3 Speed for Tall Riders
#26
Virgo
^^^ note of additional interest on above post/bike - when I bought it the tires it had on it were actually still in good shape but they measured only 1” wide. They were old Bontrager brand 26 x 1 3/8 ISO 590 but were way undersized. They were super light and supple file tread skinwalls, like a Pasela. I actually don’t know what possessed me to replace them before they were worn out. I think I was worried they were too fragile? Years ago, before I knew anything about tires.
#27
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I've located a Collegiate like yours in Oklahoma that the owner claims is like new. Since I'm heading east from New Mexico I plan to stop and have a look. I was wondering if the early eighties Collegiates used the 590 Rims or the special Schwinn 26 inch rims. If the early eighties bikes are all like yours I am in luck since I'd prefer to avoid the Schwinn specific tire sizes. I am aware that people say the Shimano hubs are not as good as the Sturmey Archers, but I won't be riding cross country with this bike, and a broken bike is not the end of the world. In many places more than one person will offer a ride if you are walking down the highway with a broken bike on your shoulder.
#28
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I meant to build your 3-speed bike based on a derailleur road bike frame. Take an old 12-speed Fuji Royale in 27" frame size and build a 27"/700C wheelset for it utilizing a 3-speed rear hub. Tall road bikes are fairly common (well, ones built in the '80s are still easily found) and building a 3-speed out of one should not be too difficult. Search on your local CL in the Bikes section and use the keyword "tall."
That's what I just did with a 70's Motobecane. If you can get or build a 700c wheel with a Sturmey Archer AW3 hub, the rest is pretty straightforward.
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#29
Virgo
I've located a Collegiate like yours in Oklahoma that the owner claims is like new. Since I'm heading east from New Mexico I plan to stop and have a look. I was wondering if the early eighties Collegiates used the 590 Rims or the special Schwinn 26 inch rims. If the early eighties bikes are all like yours I am in luck since I'd prefer to avoid the Schwinn specific tire sizes. I am aware that people say the Shimano hubs are not as good as the Sturmey Archers, but I won't be riding cross country with this bike, and a broken bike is not the end of the world. In many places more than one person will offer a ride if you are walking down the highway with a broken bike on your shoulder.
Edit: Potentially important info - the fork/hub on my ‘83 Collegiate are 90mm. I don’t know about others from different years. It may not make a difference unless/until replacing the wheels etc. but worth looking at.
Last edited by Phamilton; 10-17-19 at 09:01 AM.
#30
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Azor Jersey
I have found that an Azor 3 speed may be ordered online and shipped to the USA for 99 USD shipping cost. A 67 cm frame is available. Is anyone familiar with this bike? The online specs did not show much. The bike is about 1000 USD.
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#32
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Plenty of tall 10-speeds pop up.
https://eugene.craigslist.org/bik/d/...988774899.html
If it has horizontal dropouts, then conversion to 3-speed should be easy enough.
Perhaps hunt for an old Raleigh, Robin Hood, or Hercules to swap parts over. (26" wheels vs 27" wheels?)
https://eugene.craigslist.org/bik/d/...988774899.html
If it has horizontal dropouts, then conversion to 3-speed should be easy enough.
Perhaps hunt for an old Raleigh, Robin Hood, or Hercules to swap parts over. (26" wheels vs 27" wheels?)
#33
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Conversions
Tall ten or 5 speeds are much more plentiful than tall 3 speeds. One interesting bike is the Schwinn Le Tour tourist. These had large lugged brazed frames, aluminum bars and rims, and light fenders. Schwinn World Tourist imports are common with large frames. I find it amusing to contemplate spending 2 or 3 times the cost of the bike for a conversion back wheel. Even so, this would be a lot less expensive than an import from the Netherlands.
#35
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#36
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Does it have to be a 3 speed IGH (internal geared hub)
you can take properly sized derailler bike and make it an upright bike pretty simply
stem with hi riser
handle bars
brake levers
thumb shifters
if you want to keep it pretty simple you can do it 1xX, take off the front derailer and associated cables and just shift the rear
you can take properly sized derailler bike and make it an upright bike pretty simply
stem with hi riser
handle bars
brake levers
thumb shifters
if you want to keep it pretty simple you can do it 1xX, take off the front derailer and associated cables and just shift the rear
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
#37
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Does it have to be a 3 speed IGH (internal geared hub)
you can take properly sized derailler bike and make it an upright bike pretty simply
stem with hi riser
handle bars
brake levers
thumb shifters
if you want to keep it pretty simple you can do it 1xX, take off the front derailer and associated cables and just shift the rear
you can take properly sized derailler bike and make it an upright bike pretty simply
stem with hi riser
handle bars
brake levers
thumb shifters
if you want to keep it pretty simple you can do it 1xX, take off the front derailer and associated cables and just shift the rear
__________________
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
#38
Junior Member
I sold this exact bike earlier this summer. Mint condition. I'm 6'-7". It was fun to ride but a little small.
I was going to use it as a donor bike but there were too many incompatibilities with the frame I was trying to fit the parts to. Saying that I would take any steel bike you have that fits and just convert it to a 3 speed. Here's an example wheelset: https://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_STOR20.cgi?Action=Details&ProdID=2350
I was going to use it as a donor bike but there were too many incompatibilities with the frame I was trying to fit the parts to. Saying that I would take any steel bike you have that fits and just convert it to a 3 speed. Here's an example wheelset: https://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_STOR20.cgi?Action=Details&ProdID=2350
Last edited by sixer; 11-22-19 at 08:42 PM.
#39
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks sixer:
What did your used 25 inch commuter sell for if you don't mind my asking? I had given up on finding a tall 3 speed, so I bought a used 24 inch Suburban ten speed. The bike is comfortable, but a bit small. Since it works fine as is, I doubt that I will convert it, but I would like to learn more about the conversion process. A 700C wheel set is $189 or so. Is the axle diameter the same? I might need a new 1/8 chain since the derailleur chain is different, and a different front chain-wheel? The brakes have plenty of reach and should work fine on a 700C wheel. I might need some axle spacers for the front and rear wheel to get them properly centered, and perhaps anti-rotation washers? The result would be a nice bike to ride, but I could still only sell it for $75 at a yard sale after spending a few hundred...
What did your used 25 inch commuter sell for if you don't mind my asking? I had given up on finding a tall 3 speed, so I bought a used 24 inch Suburban ten speed. The bike is comfortable, but a bit small. Since it works fine as is, I doubt that I will convert it, but I would like to learn more about the conversion process. A 700C wheel set is $189 or so. Is the axle diameter the same? I might need a new 1/8 chain since the derailleur chain is different, and a different front chain-wheel? The brakes have plenty of reach and should work fine on a 700C wheel. I might need some axle spacers for the front and rear wheel to get them properly centered, and perhaps anti-rotation washers? The result would be a nice bike to ride, but I could still only sell it for $75 at a yard sale after spending a few hundred...
#40
Senior Member
Schwinneffect:
Why do you want 700c wheels?
If the original wheels are defective then by all means. If they are in good shape, I'd just clean them up, check spoke tension, true them if needed and check the bearings, maybe clean and re-lube. There's nothing special about 700c wheels except you will likely have a wider selection of tire options. My 2018 Sedona came with 26" wheels, Which I wanted on a small frame bike.
Why do you want 700c wheels?
If the original wheels are defective then by all means. If they are in good shape, I'd just clean them up, check spoke tension, true them if needed and check the bearings, maybe clean and re-lube. There's nothing special about 700c wheels except you will likely have a wider selection of tire options. My 2018 Sedona came with 26" wheels, Which I wanted on a small frame bike.
#41
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I would not need 700C wheels, but Sixer had linked to a set of 700C wheels with a 3 speed hub, so that's an option. The front wheel does not need to be touched. A 27 inch rear with 3 speed hub could be swapped on. Isn't the Sturmey Archer rear axle slightly different (thicker by 1/32 or something) than a typical 10 speed axle? Several people have suggested modifying a 5 or 10 speed into an upright 3 speed, and that is probably no big deal for a lot of the veterans on this board, but I realize that I still have a lot to learn, and there are little details that could cost more money than the project is worth---or perhaps not.
#42
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During the years that they were both made (late 60's and all through the 70's) the Raleigh Sports (3 speed, 26" wheels) and Raleigh Record (10 speed with 27" wheels) had the same frame. But the largest Sports had a 23" frame, while the Record could be had with a 25" frame. It wouldn't be hard to move all the Sports components over to a Record. Rebuilding the Sports rear wheel with the Record rim would be a minor chore.
Some Raleighs came in a 27"frame. That might be even better. But I'm not sure which models, which years, etc.
Some Raleighs came in a 27"frame. That might be even better. But I'm not sure which models, which years, etc.
#43
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Mid-'80s low end stuff like the Marathon. They're out there, but any 27" or 28" frame would do and many brands produced them during the same period. Fuji Royale (27") and Panasonic DX2000 (28") might be the nicest one you'd find.
#44
Junior Member
Thanks sixer:
What did your used 25 inch commuter sell for if you don't mind my asking? I had given up on finding a tall 3 speed, so I bought a used 24 inch Suburban ten speed. The bike is comfortable, but a bit small. Since it works fine as is, I doubt that I will convert it, but I would like to learn more about the conversion process. A 700C wheel set is $189 or so. Is the axle diameter the same? I might need a new 1/8 chain since the derailleur chain is different, and a different front chain-wheel? The brakes have plenty of reach and should work fine on a 700C wheel. I might need some axle spacers for the front and rear wheel to get them properly centered, and perhaps anti-rotation washers? The result would be a nice bike to ride, but I could still only sell it for $75 at a yard sale after spending a few hundred...
What did your used 25 inch commuter sell for if you don't mind my asking? I had given up on finding a tall 3 speed, so I bought a used 24 inch Suburban ten speed. The bike is comfortable, but a bit small. Since it works fine as is, I doubt that I will convert it, but I would like to learn more about the conversion process. A 700C wheel set is $189 or so. Is the axle diameter the same? I might need a new 1/8 chain since the derailleur chain is different, and a different front chain-wheel? The brakes have plenty of reach and should work fine on a 700C wheel. I might need some axle spacers for the front and rear wheel to get them properly centered, and perhaps anti-rotation washers? The result would be a nice bike to ride, but I could still only sell it for $75 at a yard sale after spending a few hundred...
You might be able to find a 27" 3 speed rear wheel or just ride with 700c in the back and 27" in the front until you feel like finishing the upgrade. I might consult with my LBS on details, but I have a good relationship with mine.
For me the axle diameter wasn't an issue but the spacing was. I think the Miyata had a 100mm rear spacing so I found a 120mm axle (from Poland!) I was going to put into it, but it was going to take a lot of work disassembling the hub. I also bought a bolt-on pulley for the 3 speed cable which was brazed on the Miyata and couldn't be transferred. But ultimately it was weird diameter tubing on my frame (probably like your Schwinn) that meant I couldn't use the seat post or stem that made me throw in the towel.
#45
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There is a 27 INCH Frame Raleigh 10 speed that just popped up on the RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA Craigslist.
It is in Cary, NC which is part of the Raleigh NC metropolitan area.
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/bik/d...025428530.html
It is in Cary, NC which is part of the Raleigh NC metropolitan area.
https://raleigh.craigslist.org/bik/d...025428530.html
#46
Virgo
The Marathon came with quick release alloy wheels, sealed bearings, and quality alloy components. Some years had a nice light and flexy triple butted 575SL tubeset. It’s not hard to swap out turkey levers and stem shifters for better brake levers and downtube shifters, or upright bars if desired. The Marathon does have stamped dropouts and no rear derailer hanger but for a 3 speed conversion not necessary. Compared to other frames mentioned here as possible conversion candidates, the Marathon would make a decent one but you’ll just have to watch tire size, there’s only clearance for about a 700c x 32mm tire under fenders, maybe a 35 or 38 without. I often see 25” Marathon frames for sale locally for under $50. I’d sooner build a 3 speed out of a Marathon frame than a Suburban.
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OP, don't know where you're located in Kentucky but searching the region shows several tall (25" frame) finds but only one larger at the moment.
66cm Sekai in Indianapolis. https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/...016756217.html
66cm Sekai in Indianapolis. https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/...016756217.html
#48
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#49
Senior Member
I'll never again feel my 58cm frames look awkward....
Wow.
Edit: just noticed the reach to the downtube shifters.
Edit: just noticed the reach to the downtube shifters.
Last edited by chainwhip; 11-26-19 at 01:51 PM.
#50
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I would not need 700C wheels, but Sixer had linked to a set of 700C wheels with a 3 speed hub, so that's an option. The front wheel does not need to be touched. A 27 inch rear with 3 speed hub could be swapped on. Isn't the Sturmey Archer rear axle slightly different (thicker by 1/32 or something) than a typical 10 speed axle? Several people have suggested modifying a 5 or 10 speed into an upright 3 speed, and that is probably no big deal for a lot of the veterans on this board, but I realize that I still have a lot to learn, and there are little details that could cost more money than the project is worth---or perhaps not.
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