Originally Posted by
Befitter
Hello, Hope you all had a good Easter.
Would an internally gear hub work on a single-speed bicycle?
I would not want to add a shifter, cable, or switch to 3/32". I like 1/8" for my gear setup.
This past summer, I bought an SRAM Automatix 2-speed hub for my single speed bike. It requires no cables of any kind as it shifts to second gear by an internal centrifugal weight.
Here's an old article of what was a single speed bike with a Automatix hub installed.
https://eklitzke.org/mission-bicycles-automatix
Another link:
https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?t=62320
And another how to adjust, if needed:
http://bikesfornoreason.blogspot.com...peed-hack.html
My single speed bike frame has room for a 110mm rear hub width, while the Automatix I have can only go down to 120mm. So, some frame spreading will be likely. I should get off my keister and build a wheel with this hub, but I really like riding my single speed as is. Except for this morning when I was riding its 66 gear inches into a stiff head wind.
Maybe, just maybe, the source I got my hub from in Asia will have some more SRAM Automatix in the coming months. If so, keep an eye out
here and on eBay for a used one.
Okay, I
found some on the Bay, but it's over triple the price I paid this past summer coming from Asia. Looks like a USA seller might have bought up the Asian inventory.
Otherwise, look into 2 speed kickback hubs from Sturmey Archer. Their 2-speed hubs don't require cables to shift, but you do have to backpedal to shift. Pick a 1/8" rear sprocket to go with it.
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