Sixty Fiver

Put a few more hours into that lady's tourist... repacking the headset on a rod brake roadster isn;t quite as straightforward as it is with a modern bike.

Got to take a ride around the block and although the brake pads are not installed the coaster brake works smoothly and has great stopping power.

You guys are gonna like this when it is done... still a lot of work to do though.

noglider 

I'm looking forward to the final pictures.

supton

Dumb question: Kickstands on English 3 speeds? I'm tempted to add one to my Sprite. Usually I can lean it against something, but not always. Would that Pletscher double kickstand fit, or not? I know I have a Greenfield single somewhere, but I'm thinking a double would be more stable.

noglider 

Not a dumb question.

Nearly any kickstand will fit and work, and it fits right in character, if you're asking that, too. That includes the Pletscher double and the Greenfield single. The double gets a lot of thumbs up here on bikeforums. I haven't tried one.

supton

I figured, I could always clamp the Greenfield on, I mean, I have it, it should be a 5 minute exercise. The double I don't have, and would have to pay $50 (give or take) to try out.

Right now, my bike is in search of character. Or I should say, the proper character. The Bontrager Race Lux saddle has got to go; the Klickfix(?) handlebar bag is nice but not quite old enough to work. At some point, I need matching tires! Anyhow, I will look into that Pletscher, as I think it might be more stable in usage.

noglider 

Harris Cyclery speaks highly of the Panaracer Col De La Vie tire. At that price, it oughta be really good. I'm a fan of Panaracer tires. They ought to spruce up your ride.

wahoonc

I get mine from Longleaf Bicycles in Wilmington, NC. I haven't ridden on the ones I have...yet, but have heard several good reports on them.

Aaron

cyclezealot

They are OK if you are just tooling about town.. As many of us did a children.. But, as adults bikes take on more rigorous duties.. Can't imagine doing my 1000 foot ascents with only 3 gears.

noglider 

I can't rightly RECOMMEND a 3-speed for 1000 foot ascents, but now you've gone and challenged me. Let me see how big the biggest hill near here is and climb it on my 3-speed. How do I look that up?

supton

How much do you drive? I figure, any hill that I have downshift in my car is going to be, err, fun on the bicycle.

Anyhow, mapmyride.com used to be free--I haven't been there in a while--and it'd give you elevation data on a route. Very simple to use, make a new route and figure out distance, etc. Maybe google maps will have something similar by now.

If you do try this, you might want to think about gearing down, depending upon how steep it is. 3-5% might not be too bad, with 19T or 20T, in low gear, depending upon your legs. Much steeper and you might walk. Meh. I've got no use for a single speed, what with my hills; but some one in Florida might have no use for my 30T granny chainring.

noglider 

All true, but I'd rather live in hilly country. I took some rides around Ludlow, VT this past February, and assuming your hills are like those, you have my admiration and respect!

I'll see if I can find elevation data around here. I'm pretty sure the highest town for a long way is West Orange. I remember making a wrong turn at the top there many years ago. I decided I wasn't going back up, so I went around that hill. Somehow, I did it without a map, and I didn't know the area at the time.

supercycle62

Here's one from my local online buy & sell site: https://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAdLarg...AdId=203979155

noglider 

That's an excellent bike in excellent shape, at an excellent price.

supercycle62

I know, I have sent an email inquiring if it's still available.

supton

Nice looking.

I've found that the steel rims aren't as bad as I remembered them, in terms of braking. Haven't tried them wet, though. I don't let the bike get much speed going down hills, though, as I know it won't stop on a dime. But, I do have strong hands, so that helps--the brake levers do seem to lack mechanical advantage.

As for hills, I think VT has worse hills. I have few long sustained climbs--most are short and steep. IMO, you just have to get used to it. OTOH, while it's humbling to grunt on seemingly flat ground for a couple of miles, it's very sweet to turn around and high tail it back--on seemingly flat ground.

noglider 

I rode my 3speed in the rain yesterday. Brakes were pretty much non-existent. I'll try Kool Stop brake shoes. It was pretty scary. Good thing I took lightly traveled streets.

Sixty Fiver

Tom - Kool Stop Continentals ftw.

You know that you can also by a Sun CR18 in the 26 by 1 3/8 size and rebuild the wheels to a better than new standard, lighten it up, and increase the brakig performance even more.

I have found that the alloy calipers offered on some 3 speed models are inferior to the steel Raleigh side pulls. My Twenty has a modern BMX caliper (single brake) and alloy wheels and stops very well.

noglider 

Yes, I might do that. But this bike is in better shape than I need, so maybe I should sell it. The brakes work quite well in the dry. I'm looking for an uglier three speed for myself.

I did put a pair of CR-18's on a German 3speed. You might remember that. It went extremely well.

Yes, the Altenbergers on my Twenty are lousy, and the steel sidepulls on my Hercules are good. Funny, that. I'll find some long reach sidepulls for the Twenty some day. Or maybe I'll try my hand at brazing, and I'll put on some brake bosses, the way John S Allen did on his Twenty.

tatfiend 

For those still running steel rims, Mark Stonich of Bikesmith Design is supposed to have Fibrax Raincheater brake pads available. They were long considered the best pads for steel rims in wet conditions and are apparently still being made.

I have no experience with current pads on steel rims but believe they are all designed for aluminum, carbon or ceramic coated aluminum rims primarily.

He also has stainless steel SA trigger shifter inner cables and for those who want to do a brake upgrade he has the Tektro 800A quite long reach dual pivot brakes available. He reports the 800A works quite well on many older bikes originally fitted with center pull brakes.

I believe that he also does work on older SA hubs and has parts available for some of the less common models.

(612) 824-2372

https://bikesmithdesign.com/

BTW I have no business relationship with Bikesmith or Mark. He is an active member of the Yahoo Geared Hub Bikes group linked to in my signature block below and seems to be very knowledgeable regarding SA hubs.

wahoonc

I buy bits and bobs from Mark/Bikesmith Design all the time. He has just about anything you could need in terms of spare parts for the Sturmey Hubs. He will also work on the hubs for you if need be. He also makes the awesome cotter press and fixed cup remover. Both tools are all but priceless if you have a stable of English bikes to maintain, works well on French bikes with cottered cranks too.

Aaron

Sixty Fiver

Was a 3 speed... now it is a utilitarian 3 speed.

terraskye

I wish I could find a loop frame English bike like this thread is about....I have one more bike I can add to my stable and that is what I'm looking for I keep missing them here though and it makes me sad

Sixty Fiver

Fiona - Bicycle Repair Man is on the job... thinking that you won't have to wait as long as you think.

terraskye

You will win my Bike Repair Man of the Year then plus coffffeeeee Because everyone likes coffee!

Sixty Fiver

You have mail...