This is precisely what I was thinking!

But it's a 3 SPEED in a hub!

It is essentially the same--

So it would be in the blue circle on the right. Its fixed, but not single.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venn_diagram

Can't they (3 speed in a hub) get their own SECTION?


I like The Singlespeed & Fixed Gear SECTION not having 3 speed hubs in it.

Yer a little late for that, buddy. We've been discussing multi-speed fixed-gear hubs in this forum for years.

Plus, these threads often have great entertainment value.

Okay. I guess as a relative newbie around here I never got the memo. Thank you for apprising me of the single speed, fixed gear and 3 speeds in a hub section that this actually is. I do feel better knowing. Contrary to the old yarn, ignorance is not bliss, knowing the lay of the land or how things have been done is bliss. I am in bliss. Now.

So this is a great idea, the image below. 3 speed hub and two rear wheels. I would have preferred 3 rear wheels but this is the only conversational worthy photo I could find with a 3 speed hub.

Sorry to rehash an old thread but mini/motorbike chain tensioners are dirt cheap, durable and will probably mount in the rear derailleur hanger. Has anyone looked into these for this application?

yep. used them all the time for rear hub drives with front derailleurs - work great!

And since you have re-awoken this thread, I'll throw my 2 euro-cents into the pot: Schlumpf Mountain Drive or Speed Drive. Self-contained two speed inside the front crank case. Activate with heel of foot. Nice and clean, no need for chain tensioners. Keeps you as a 'fixed gear', although I agree this blurs the definition. But no-one will know but you!

digitalmouse
Thanks for the reply. Schlumpf's an interesting alternative but not anywhere near as flexible for gear ratio selection and not as light by my reckoning. I'm thinking of putting a 12T freewheel on a 48/40/34 triple crank on ~12 kilo builds. Will I need lower than a 34/12 gear for chubbies going up a hill? How big a change in chainring size is problematic?

Yes.

And FYI multispeed cassettes paired with rear derailleurs give you a very flexible range of gear ratio selection. They're fairly popular.

So I've heard
Three speeds should be adequate for casual city cycling for most people. The reduction in weight (~1 kilo) and maintenance of losing the rear cluster, derailleur and cables make it attractive to me. If 34/12 is too high a gear on a 12 kilo bike my next option is going to a 22/12 for the low. That makes the range waaaay wide with 48/34/22! How much chain takeup will I need with these chainring steps?

My guess would be a lot. Sorry for not being more helpful, but this just strikes me as a terrible idea.