Freewheeling S3X!
 

Latest information on the Sturmey-Archer three-speed fixed gear hub, due out in March:

http://sunrace-sturmeyarcher.blogspo...-on-drive.html

or

http://tinyurl.com/cocyrw

tcs

I've placed one on back order with my LBS for my Raleigh Twenty. I've been looking for a compatible ASC type hub for a looooooooong time now!!!

Why would you put a freewheel on it...doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose?

I am wondering that myself
We have a sample on the way that is called Kilo S3X and it will be fixed gear with bar end shifter

Sheldon Brown said once you want a freewheel for the times you feel too tired to pedal home and just want to coast. Its always cool to have the option of having a true SS when you don't want to ride it fixed gear.

You're building the Kilo up with a S3X? sweet...

I think its great to add the freewheel option. That way they only have to produce one hub for both applications and you have to buy one hub to have flexibility. With the added bonus to be able to choose which freewheel you buy and size. Win win solution.

Yep, considering the bar end shifter and this elegant design move, I think Sturmey's engineers deserve a raise.
One thing though, to achive a spread of 56.6 to 90.5 gear inches with a 42 tooth ring, a 13 tooth cog is required. The smallest freewheels that fit standard thread are 16 tooth, right? So freewheeling will entail a significantly lower gearing without some fiddling with chainrings.

This is a minor gripe though. I'm still very excited.

bikes_direct, make sure to place a huge OEM order to ensure production of this hub for the rest of us!:)

OK, I admit, I'm a bit confused. The splined interface for the rear cog is also threaded to take a freewheel? So, when I feel the need, I can turn my 3 speed fixed hub into a 1 speed freewheel, and make it rather difficult to change back (removing a freewheel is never fun).

For once I'm going to be the one to say, why is this desirable? And I was all excited when I thought they had threaded the reverse side, making it a easily reversable.

No, it turns it into a 3 speed freewheeling hub. Again, its an option. Don't use it if you don't want to.

[QUOTE=silver_ghost;8355295]Yep, considering the bar end shifter and this elegant design move, I think Sturmey's engineers deserve a raise.
One thing though, to achive a spread of 56.6 to 90.5 gear inches with a 42 tooth ring, a 13 tooth cog is required. The smallest freewheels that fit standard thread are 16 tooth, right? So freewheeling will entail a significantly lower gearing without some fiddling with chainrings.

This is a minor gripe though. I'm still very excited.

bikes_direct, make sure to place a huge OEM order to ensure production of this hub for the rest of us!:)[/QUOTE]

I will - but first I have to test ride this hub and make sure it is all that is promised
My feeling is - it should be great
I am very excited to test the sample

I forget whom I read had tested it already. Apparently, SA engineers have said that the hub 'wasn't for skid stops'... however, whoever tested it said 'it sure doesn't feel that way when you ride it'