Nice 'old' look on that bike. Glad you're enjoying it.

By the statement that geared bikes are for people who are over 40, that's a crock.!
I'm going to be 70 in December and yes I ride geared bikes and sometimes take an afternoon nap too. I am also 6'1" tall, weigh 260 with hardly any fat and own a single speed Trek Earl
that I ride sometimes for 40, 50 miles. Just wanted to check in to let you young bucks know that a few of us oldies out there might still be able to kick your ass.

congratulations, keep on keeping on.

Who ever said that geared bikes are for people over 40? Ive never heard that.

on a side note, your bikes listed the on left of your post say 2 electric bikes. I assume the geared bike and the trek earl your talking about in your post are human powered?? if not then your post is pretty contradictory.

260 and no fat? Big ups granddad.

Cor, you young kids. No respect for the ... really really old blokes (me being in me late 50s so I guess I can't really talk)

Hi all - first and foremost - great forum!

So, I've been riding a single speed for about 18-months. I got it specifically for commuting to and from work in Austin and would get out for weekend rides where the distance just kept growing. I LOVE my bike...it started out as a POS and I have modified/upgraded quite a bit. High flange Paul hubs, DT wheels, King headset, etc.

This weekend in a 180 mile two day event in Galveston, I blew out my knee. I am 45 with apparently really-really old knees. I train in the hill country all the time, so usually hills aren't problematic but on the last couple bridges/causeways around mile 125, my knee just gave. The medical staff on site suggested my single speed days may be numbered. (I see an ortho locally tomorrow).

My question - is there a way to maybe add a two speed freewheel and a chain ring to ease up the climbing effort? I just LOVE my bike and it has become a custom build love-fest that I just don't want to give up. I am not all that savvy with gear ratios and what would be most effective. Because of all of the hills I normally ride, I have a 20t freewheel with a 46 tooth EigthInch courier crank. I have not been happy with that most of the time because I spin out at around 17-18 mph. But most of my weekend rides are 800-1400ft elevation gain over 65-80 miles, it is good for climbing (it's fun to pass roadies on a climb when they realize I am on a single speed

Any help, insight, guidance would be appreciated. I want to find some compromise modification to keep my bike and I really don't want a bunch of gears to maintain that I won't use.

Thanks!

White Industries makes 2-speed freewheels. If your bike has track or horizontal dropouts then you can make it work without having to add a spring chain tensioner.

Thanks Tejano! I have been looking at the DOS...I do have horizontal drop outs, but I am wondering is it possible to add a shifter to prevent the need to stop and adjust. I am guessing I'd have to figure out a shifter, derailuer, and chain tensioner.

Well, a chain tensioner is part of the derailleur assembly, so all you would need is a shift lever of some kind. Probably an old downtube friction shifter would work best. If your dropouts don't have a derailleur hanger, you will need to find a claw mount, or an old derailleur that already includes one. This is what it looks like on my homemade indoor trainer.

Not a problem. I got one from my lbs and believe me, if you can get something weird in Australia, your shop probably has boxes of the things.

You caught me there. I guess I had a senior moment because I totally forgot to list the Trek SS.

I think I've got the origin of the geared bikes for over 40's: Henri Desgrange, the founder of the Tour de France, tried to keep the race "pure and simple" and so banned gears which could be easily changed. He did allow flip flop hubs though. He is quoted:
" I still feel that variable gears are only for people over 45. Isn’t it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft. Come on fellows. Let’s say that the test was a fine demonstration – for our grandparents! As for me, give me a fixed gear!”
Hurrah! (He relented in 1937 and NO ONE EVER rode the Tour fixed or single speed again) Challenge????

That's wonderful! Did you paint your house to match? Is there always a pumpkin on your doorstep?

Reminds me of the old Gulf colours...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:po...09-03-14_A.JPG

Nice bike AND Fender! What year is that Jazz bass? BTW, Orange amps rock big time!

Action photo:

This might work.

Regardless of age, that pic could get you disqualified for this thread.

Hey thanks! The Jazz is a '68 although I'm pretty sure they put '66 parts on it back in the day given the 'Lolly' tuners. I've been playing for over 20 years and this is the best combination of bass & amp I've ever personally had, I love it!

Ha, yeah, pumpkin for Halloween, I think I should keep one there year round. I think the color combo was definitely inspired by my bass set up, luckily my wife gives me free reign on color choices.

Just got back from my 50th H.S. reunion surrounded by a bunch of old geezers and geezerettes!

Try re-reading what I said I ride. I think if you take the time to read it correctly you'd see
it says "Electra", not electric.

Next time you want to reply to someone who posted many days and posts ago, click on the "Reply With Quote tab like I did, so that person and the rest of us know to whom and which post you are replying.

So I did start my post by congratulating you.

I most definitely read your listed bikes! Im not a total illiterate fool. Electra does make a powered pedal assisted bike. Its the first one that comes up on the web page! honest mistake.
https://www.electrabike.com/bikes/townie-go

I'm almost there "number wise" (i'm 36) but I definitely feel as i'm over 40 because of injuries. Have a 2009 SE draft currently set up as SS, was fixed until my accident on my roadie in may of 2012. it used to have bullhorns w/ the diacompe dual lever (for front brake only)... now it's got risers, 700x28 tires (used to run 23s) and both brakes (even tho rear is not machined for brakes UGH!) hoping by the end of this year i can swap back to fg w/ single brake and dropped bullhorns (but i'll keep the 28 tires!)

I am 64 and ride this with my road bike group I need a bigger gear and am thinking of getting a 2 speed rear hub.