Some classics are not necessarily lightweights.
Here's my submission for the last of the traditional, quality, ridden every day 3 speeds:
Raleigh Esquire, 1980, 3sp dynohub, almost immaculate, easy rider Brooks saddle, a versatile everyday rider. Its speed and agility, when you choose to use it, surprises many of the lycra brigade

Chrome and paint is 98%, but the rear rack dates from the 50s!
Currently has a contemporary Elan alloy.
These machines will last for ever with a little care and attention, but most of all they are a trip back in time to a more sedate era.

Viscount

These are late '40's Schwinn Continentals, both with three speed Sturmey Archer AW hubs. The red one is, as far as I can tell, all original except for the Brooks saddle. The blue one has a number of more modern components ('60's & '70's) and will eventully get an FW hub. I ride both frequently.

Regards,
Alan

Now we're talking my kind of bikes! My more interesting 3/4-speed lineup includes a 1949 Raleigh Clubman with a Sturmey FW (4-speed, wide range) hub, a 1950 Clubman with an FW hub, a 1951 Clubman with an AM (3-speed, medium range) hub, an early 50s Raleigh Record Ace set up with 700c wheels and an FM (4-speed, medium range) hub, and, for my workhorse commuter, a 1971 Raleigh Super Course with 27" wheels and an FW hub. I have another AM hub in the parts box waiting for the right project.

Neal

Here is my 3spd. Austrian built Iverson.


But why stop at 3 or 4 speeds.
Here is my 5 speed 78 Sprite.


And my 3 speed Twenty folder.

Nope no 3/4 speeds around my house!! In reality there are at least 6 that I can think of at the moment...
1974 Raleigh Ladies Sports
1972 Raleigh Superbe
1972 Raleigh Sports Standard (made in Malaysia)
1971 Raleigh Ladies Colt
1968 Raleigh Compact RSW
and a soon to be built up Club Racer based on a 1976 Dawes Galaxy frameset. It will have a 1952 FG 4 speed hub, fenders and the like.

Aaron

Love the 'droopy' bars on the red one!!
Are they North Roaders inverted?
Schwinns are new to me being this side of the ocean.

Viscount.

These 20s are so cool!! Yours especially.
I keep meaning to get one to keep to customise (dare I say it here?), but they all got passed on.
I've had Shoppers, Triumph, BSA 4sp. Yes, converted by the previous owner. I didn't realise the 4sp mechs fitted the 3sp shells until then.... Plus various ordinary Raleighs over recent years. When you go to the supermarkets here (UK) you always see them, still in regular use. They just keeeeep going.
Viscount.

Ok here ya go Tjhis was given to me by a co-worker it needed some work but it wasn't a basket case

- 1956 Humber Sports, currently with AG Dynohub and lights and DBU but shortly to get a FG Four-speed dynohub and stainless steel westrick rim. The paint is faded but the bike rides nicely.

- 1960 Robin Hood Sports with AW three-speed hub in need of work to get it mobile.

- 1970s? Healing Cruiser with Shimano 3 speed twist grip operated hub

- 1970s Burco Super Riviera with a five speed suntour deraileur, alloy rack and shiny chome mudguards. (not quite a three speed)

The pictures are of the Humber, Healing & Burco. One of these years I will learn how to post the pictures into the text rather than attachments.

But how about my BSA?
A late 60's 3 Speed with amazing deep blue paint and top quality Raleigh chrome.

With the chevrons on the forks and BSA chain-wheel it had that something to distinguish it from the run of the mill Raleighs. Too small for me unfortunately, so it was sold on ebay.

Viscount

'74 Sports prior to addition of Prestube Minor rack (it took 3 years to find the right one).



1978 DL1 (rod brake), a Craigslist find for about $100.

Here is my 1954 Raleigh Sports as is all original except for the grips and fulcrum pulley. sorry for the picture quality just learning.001.JPG oh ya and the x-mart horn.

here are some better photos of the 1954 Raleigh Sports. I rode this bike on a fifty miler yesterday.

This was my first oldie:

https://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...atest003LR.jpg

Viscount

Ah. my favorite subject... 3 speeds
Here are a couple of pictures of my Raliegh DL1... It is a 76 model purchsed new by me.. It has been used for about everything but racing :-)... It is still mechanicaly sound and one of my favorite rides.. I added a rack, light and computer but outside of that it is original... The paint on the fenders and chain guard are oxidizing now but the paint on the fame is holding up well... I suspect there were two different sources for these.. One for frame and one for fenders and guard... Thinking about getting it repainted but then I loose the Nottingham logo on the fenders and stuff... To me that is a big part of the bike...
If I could purchase a new one I would not think twice about it....

I forgot pictures the first time around...

Aaron

1972 Superbe


1971 Shaggy Dog Sports Standard


1971 Raleigh Colt


1968 Compact RSW

Does anyone have one of those very rare Sturmey-Archer 3-speed fixed-gear hubs?

Here's my latest couldn't resist...

Wrong saddle but pretty original otherwise.
I hear the tyres (16 x 2 or 54-305) are impossible now, but maybe there are alternatives?
Never had a bicycle with white tyres before and this has a 3 speed hub with (pretty ineffectual) combined brake.
Viscount.

If I'd owned a bike like that I would've had my legs cut down to fit. That would have to be the nicest BSA I've seen.

Gnome, - I used to have a Humber like your one only it was red. Mine was trashed by a mean spirited flatmate while I was out of town due to a family emergency.

Neal, - What a great collection of bike you have. Those Raleigh Clubmans are really nice

My own three speed is a 1953 Hercules ladies roadster. A lovely bicycle to ride in every way. This is an as-found photo which tells me that it's time I took a new photo

converted my dads moulton to a 3 speed and added the drops In hindsight though, I'm not sure my cable routing was the best idea.

converted my dads moulton to a 3 speed and added the drops In hindsight though, I'm not sure my cable routing was the best idea.[/QUOTE]

Wow! That's a really nice Moulton!

Along with my RSW above I got a spare Mk 1 which has an excellent frame and I was thinking of doing something similar with it.
What are the wheels?
You build them yourself?

You can probably get away with the skinny tyres on a Moulton (with the suspension), but I got the feeling the RSW will need fatter ones.
And I don't think they are easily found.

Something similar here on ebay right now.
(If the link works!)

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Raleigh-RSW-cu...QQcmdZViewItem



When I looked closely I discovered my RSW has an S3B hub.
Incorporating a sort of half hearted drum brake.
Must be someone on these pages got some experience of these?

Viscount.

[QUOTE=Sianelle;5285079]If I'd owned a bike like that I would've had my legs cut down to fit. That would have to be the nicest BSA I've seen.

Hey Sianelle, like your old Hercules too...
I got another similar, same colour, Ladys BSA right now, but without the dyno.
Rescued it from annihilation and put it on ebay last week.
But no takers at £29.99.
So I keep it.
It's just big enough for me to ride, this one!

Ain't that nice?

And here, just for you, is another nice shot of the mans:

Was a natural photo model, that one!
Viscount.

My grandmother's Dunelt. My 9 year old loves this bike!

Ain't it nice when the younger generations like these old machines?
They need the opportunity to try them.
That's education for you. And them....
I often get laughed at by young boys on their MTBs with their big, fat, hard work tyres + so on, and I smile to myself... They just gotta learn the hard way... If they're wise.
Viscount.

Internet myth.