For the love of English 3 speeds...
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Three Speed Century?
The Santa Fe Century is coming up next month, and of course that has me thinking about doing it on a three speed. I am fairly certain the 50 mile ride would be pleasant enough. 100 miles seems like it would be possible, and for some reason, every time I think something might be difficult and taxing, but possible, I want to give it a try to see if I'm right - if it really is possible. The last time I rode the full 100 miles, I used an '84 Trek 520, and I know I appreciated both the extra high gearing, for booking along downhill and on the flats, (I found I could easily catch up to people on carbon bikes, well, maybe easily is an exaggeration), and the granny gear for getting up Heartbreak Hill, specifically, but also the long climb over the Ortiz Mountains outside of Madrid, NM. My questions to myself are, how much would I be walking, (certainly up Heartbreak), and would my top speed be reduced to the point where I would take way too long to complete the full 100. I guess I have to throw in that the date of the century is my 23rd wedding anniversary - so maybe the 50 miles with my wife would contribute more toward marital harmony than a 100 mile ride - this year.
Still, in thinking about it, I'm surprised that Googling "Century Ride on a Three Speed" does not turn up any stories, beyond that of a 90 year old grandmother. Do people on this list do any century rides on their English 3-speeds? Right now it seems "different" to me, but not crazy. Please let me know if I'm verging into crazy.
The Santa Fe Century is coming up next month, and of course that has me thinking about doing it on a three speed. I am fairly certain the 50 mile ride would be pleasant enough. 100 miles seems like it would be possible, and for some reason, every time I think something might be difficult and taxing, but possible, I want to give it a try to see if I'm right - if it really is possible. The last time I rode the full 100 miles, I used an '84 Trek 520, and I know I appreciated both the extra high gearing, for booking along downhill and on the flats, (I found I could easily catch up to people on carbon bikes, well, maybe easily is an exaggeration), and the granny gear for getting up Heartbreak Hill, specifically, but also the long climb over the Ortiz Mountains outside of Madrid, NM. My questions to myself are, how much would I be walking, (certainly up Heartbreak), and would my top speed be reduced to the point where I would take way too long to complete the full 100. I guess I have to throw in that the date of the century is my 23rd wedding anniversary - so maybe the 50 miles with my wife would contribute more toward marital harmony than a 100 mile ride - this year.
Still, in thinking about it, I'm surprised that Googling "Century Ride on a Three Speed" does not turn up any stories, beyond that of a 90 year old grandmother. Do people on this list do any century rides on their English 3-speeds? Right now it seems "different" to me, but not crazy. Please let me know if I'm verging into crazy.
I've been riding on something called the Tour Divide, which is a mountain bike route that goes from Banff, Alberta down to the Mexican boarder following the Continental Divide. I've really been thinking of building up a 3 speed on 650b wheels for this- complete with rim brakes and AW hub. Goto this link: https://tourdivide.org/ and look at the greyed-out photo in the background on the home page. Obviously some very old bikes being used for bikepacking...
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I've been riding on something called the Tour Divide, which is a mountain bike route that goes from Banff, Alberta down to the Mexican boarder following the Continental Divide. I've really been thinking of building up a 3 speed on 650b wheels for this- complete with rim brakes and AW hub. Goto this link: https://tourdivide.org/ and look at the greyed-out photo in the background on the home page. Obviously some very old bikes being used for bikepacking...
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@gster - Thanks. I didn’t forget you all. I spent literally all of 2018 helping my sister, who had metastatic breast cancer. She died on Thanksgiving. Not gonna hijack this thread, so if you or anyone else wanted to reach out, a private message would be appreciated.
@gugie asked if a 2 speed counts. I think if it’s a vintage 2 speed kickback, you’re good. Something modern, like mine, I’m on the fence about.
@gugie asked if a 2 speed counts. I think if it’s a vintage 2 speed kickback, you’re good. Something modern, like mine, I’m on the fence about.
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When I had a similar problem with a slipping seat post, my LBS suggested a grease with grit in it commonly used on carbon seatposts. I never did try it as I swapped out the post for an alloy one which worked fine.
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We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
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@gster , Would you or any others happen to know when the factory stopped producing tubes? I am still trying to narrow down the decade my Royal Nord with Brampton 3 speed was built. It came with the seemingly original Dunlop Imperial tires and Dunlop Air Seal tubes (metal stems) which also still hold air.
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We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
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@gster , Would you or any others happen to know when the factory stopped producing tubes? I am still trying to narrow down the decade my Royal Nord with Brampton 3 speed was built. It came with the seemingly original Dunlop Imperial tires and Dunlop Air Seal tubes (metal stems) which also still hold air.
There was a slight problem with exploding manhole covers
in the area.....
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My '66 in NYC's Central Park during a rainy ride home from midtown today.
That is all...
That is all...
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1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
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We had an interesting bike come into my shop today for new tires. The frame is a Rudge Sports, looks to be c.1950s, with a late-'70s (I didn't check the date stamp but it had those lines on it) AW hub. It's in overall rough shape and needs some more work, but it's a cool build. Someone laced a pair of SA hubs to 650B wheels, so the bike's owner and I decided on a pair of 38mm Gravel Kings!
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We had an interesting bike come into my shop today for new tires. The frame is a Rudge Sports, looks to be c.1950s, with a late-'70s (I didn't check the date stamp but it had those lines on it) AW hub. It's in overall rough shape and needs some more work, but it's a cool build. Someone laced a pair of SA hubs to 650B wheels, so the bike's owner and I decided on a pair of 38mm Gravel Kings!
See if you
can sell him a
new chain.
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It is, for the tires. He'll probably bring it back to have the larger issues addressed...some involved some parts that we can't easily source, and it would end up being pretty expensive to have us do it, so it probably won't be right away
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We had an interesting bike come into my shop today for new tires. The frame is a Rudge Sports, looks to be c.1950s, with a late-'70s (I didn't check the date stamp but it had those lines on it) AW hub. It's in overall rough shape and needs some more work, but it's a cool build. Someone laced a pair of SA hubs to 650B wheels, so the bike's owner and I decided on a pair of 38mm Gravel Kings!
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Inflate Hard
Inflate Hard
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landscapes according to most. Nice bike to do it on.
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Dunno, but apparently the bike's current owner bought it from someone else, with the 650B conversion having already been done. I've considered a similar build before, partly for the ability to make one of these bikes more useful in the winter, since studded tires actually exist in that size.
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You're in one of my favorite places - I've been to Nova Scotia and Cape Breton at least 5 times since I was about 17. Last visit was about 4 years ago. Where are you located?
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1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
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1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
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LOL! It's a BMX "layback" post. I'm 6' 3" and it helps with positioning. They didn't make bigger frame sizes, but it's pretty solid.
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1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
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Well let me know the next time you're here and I'll show you around some great places to ride here.
You're in one of my favorite places - I've been to Nova Scotia and Cape Breton at least 5 times since I was about 17. Last visit was about 4 years ago. Where are you located?
You're in one of my favorite places - I've been to Nova Scotia and Cape Breton at least 5 times since I was about 17. Last visit was about 4 years ago. Where are you located?
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I went to university in Halifax. A few friends attended Acadia in Wolfville. I spent some time camping at the Bay of Fundy (Blomidon) during my summers in Nova Scotia. The valley is a fantastic place to visit, just like the rest of the province. I also miss living there too. A Nova Scotia summer is a special thing.
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Toronto Bike shop,
year unknown
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I picked up 2 old 3 speeds in the last week. The white one is a 1972 Raleigh Sports the black one is a Hawthorne Hercules the date on the hub is Oct. 62
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