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The 2:1 recommendation always comes without a wheel size. I assume if it's radically different than 26" that compensation would need to be made.
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In support of [MENTION=38859]SirMike1983[/MENTION]'s reading of the S-A material, the 1951 Service Manual offers a gearing chart with several violations of the 2:1 common wisdom:
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ee8e16e842.jpg |
Good find as to those gearing charts.
I'm not sure whether it appearing later has to do with manufacturing issues or if it was a change to the way the hubs were designed. The warning appears suspiciously after the introduction of the no in-between gear "NIG" hubs, but that also could just be a coincidence. Running a properly set up, older hub, I would not sweat the ratio too much if you need the extra low gearing. |
In additional tales of S-A hub weirdness, I had difficulty screwing in the indicator in the AW hub that's on the Raleigh Pro above. I didn't recall having any problems with that hub when running it on previous projects, but when I opened things up, I found that the axle key was broken in half. That's not the first time I discovered such a thing. Fortunately, I have plenty of spares, and now all seems to be running fine. Weird.
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Wow 40-22 on a 26 wheel is pretty darn low. Even I don't need it that low! Yet.
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Originally Posted by SirMike1983
(Post 23163210)
The warning appears suspiciously after the introduction of the no in-between gear "NIG" hubs, but that also could just be a coincidence.
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Originally Posted by SirMike1983
(Post 23162788)
The 2:1 issue comes up frequently. I have not seen it in the older Sturmey manuals, but I will admit I don't own every variation of the manuals. It does come up relatively frequently in the later manuals, particularly 1980s and 90s (and apparently some later) era manuals...So the warning is not entirely a myth. What is more to the point is whether there is some inherent risk to the hub, new or old, running lower than 2:1. Sturmey must have based its advice as to the newer hubs on some evidence, probably return/repair of damaged hubs, but the warning is not a certainty that you'll pulverize your hub running a lower ratio. I've never seen the warning in an older (1960s or earlier) manual. Perhaps it's buried in one somewhere, but I've not seen it that far back. It comes up with more frequency on later hubs from the 80s and 90s.
My advice is that if you can run a ratio higher than 2:1 comfortably, do that. If you have to use something lower than 2:1 to get use out of the bike, then I would not let the warning stop me. At any ratio, the hub should not be thrashed or abused, but do take some care to ride smoothly if you're running lower ratio than 2:1. If the hub breaks down, replace the damaged parts and go easier... I equate it with modern tire talk. Back then, there was little, if any, variation in tire width for a given wheel size. When I look through my 70's era bike books, the whole tire talk revolved around wired or tubeless. Now? Search here or other forums and you'll get the "How wide of a tire can I get on X bike?" As a heavier rider, I've kept my AW equipped bikes within that 2:1 ratio. It works good for here in Portland, and I also maintain a good high gear for downhills or when I need to power it. I don't want to risk it (heck, I've destroyed hubs as it is). But if you are a lighter rider with a smooth pedaling style and the hub is in good condition, you may be able to get away with a bigger cog. |
Everything is relative.
I am a UK resident and live in a valley in South Yorkshire. If I wish to ride one mile out in any direction, there's a long hill to climb straight away, long enough for me to want a damn good reason to go anywhere! Not exactly the Alps but enough to remind you how old you are. You are correct, one never finds old three speeders with bigger rear sprockets. Back in the day the vast majority of 'cyclists' did the shopping and went to work, locally. Any further, you hopped onto a bus or a train. The 'touring' cyclists, on their 'club' bikes were always few and far between and seen as a bit odd. Times and expectations change. |
Originally Posted by Cyclespanner
(Post 23163424)
Everything is relative.
I am a UK resident and live in a valley in South Yorkshire. If I wish to ride one mile out in any direction, there's a long hill to climb straight away, long enough for me to want a damn good reason to go anywhere! Not exactly the Alps but enough to remind you how old you are. You are correct, one never finds old three speeders with bigger rear sprockets. Back in the day the vast majority of 'cyclists' did the shopping and went to work, locally. Any further, you hopped onto a bus or a train. The 'touring' cyclists, on their 'club' bikes were always few and far between and seen as a bit odd. Times and expectations change. |
A friend of mine had to move out of his apartment on extremely short notice due to a fire in another unit in the building and he's storing a bunch of bikes in my garage. One of them is a lady's Raleigh Sports with mostly black hardware and a 1948 AW hub, so we're assuming the bike is 1948. It doesn't have a saddle but still has/had the post sticking out. I texted my friend the other day asking if I could buy the post off him and he said I could have it.
So last night, I went out to the garage, armed with an adjustable, a 5mm allen key, and an old MTB bar end so I could extract the recalcitrant post without any damage. It came out pretty easy, and there was no rust... I brought it back inside and cleaned it off better up at the 7/8" clamp side. Not only was there no rust at all, as a matter of fact, all the dirt and schmutz on the thing was just surface stuff. What I was holding was a stainless steel 1" closed-top straight post with no label or markings, and impressively thin wall. I've never seen such an animal; has anyone here heard or seen this kind of post? Phil |
I've seen posts like that on more middle and higher end bikes, but generally not on a base model Sports of that era. It sounds like an upgrade to me. A hiduminium post was also available as a further upgrade, though I think you'd notice if yours was aluminum (it's very light indeed). Nice find.
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I've run across a few of those super light closed top posts in the past, but none were ever on bikes, just posts I found in some box or parts room drawer. Either made from some sort of high grade chromoly or low grade stainless, they don't really rust, but they do surface rust or get sort of discolored with age. The last one I found was tagged '1952 racer' on it if that means anything to anyone, but the dealer that had it wasn't around in 1952. It wasn't beer can thin but it was light.
It was only slightly magnetic, but not enough for a typical stick magnet to pick it up off the floor. I've got a drawer out back with about 200 English seat posts in it, it would surprise me if there were 5 of any one kind in there. Most came from old bike shops or collector hoards that I acquired over the years. Those places are getting fewer and farther between these days but on occasion I still find one now and then that shocks me as to how much stuff someone left behind. The last one was a mix of English bike parts and aircraft parts, the guy was a farmer who had several old air planes and his own runway along his own field so I now have several boxes of aircraft parts and gauges that were mixed in with all the old English bike parts. Who would have figured that what looked to be an abandoned dirt field airstrip would have half a truck load of old bike parts in side along with all the airplanes and parts. |
Originally Posted by Cyclespanner
(Post 23163424)
Everything is relative.
I am a UK resident and live in a valley in South Yorkshire. If I wish to ride one mile out in any direction, there's a long hill to climb straight away, long enough for me to want a damn good reason to go anywhere! Not exactly the Alps but enough to remind you how old you are. You are correct, one never finds old three speeders with bigger rear sprockets./Back in the day the vast majority of 'cyclists' did the shopping and went to work, locally. Any further, you hopped onto a bus or a train. The 'touring' cyclists, on their 'club' bikes were always few and far between and seen as a bit odd. Times and expectations change. For example does it apply to an FM, FW or an FG? What about any of the more recent 5-speeds? |
Another topic: For a re-laced and pretty darn true Dunlop Special Lightweight rim in chromed steel. I still have all the original plated steel spokes on the bike, dirty but not rusty.
What sort of spoke tension can I use on this wheel? The hub is the original 1952 steel AW. If I replace the rim I'll go to new Sapim spokes with similar butting to the one the Lenton factory used, but as it is I just want to finish the truing/rounding off with a set tension value. In deference to the old girl's age, I will probably back down the tension 10% or something, though my weight is borderline Clyde. I'll handle the front wheel the same way, considering the smaller number of spokes and 4x lacing (3x in the rear). |
Originally Posted by Road Fan
(Post 23166578)
So having touched on Club bikes, as the owner of a 27 x 1 ¼ Rudge with 531, I wonder how a change to 27 x 1 ¼ might affect the 2:1 policy, or if it has been reflected in teh S-A literature beyond the 1951-era gearing chart? I changed out my steel cotter chainset with 46 teeth/17 rear to a TA single with a 49 (it was in the pile in the Bike Room, and the TA314 spindle fit the BB bearing cups). Been looking at gearing options and my age and mediocre fitness, at least this month, and I might like to go to 2:1 as well. ertainly the frame does not have fittings for a chan tensioner of any significant wind-up ability. I could put on a claw and a front mech or a rear mech, but but ... not pretty!
For example does it apply to an FM, FW or an FG? What about any of the more recent 5-speeds? |
Originally Posted by nlerner
(Post 23161035)
Here’s another project in the realm of “not your (grand)father’s Raleigh 3-speed”: Frame is a 1971 Raleigh Pro Mark 2, which I recently purchased from [MENTION=532393]tmnguuyen[/MENTION]. It’s quite patina-ed, which suits my sensibilities well. Wheels are alloy 650A/590mm Sun rims, alloy shell AW hub, Panaracer Col de la vie tires. Saddle is a [MENTION=73614]rhm[/MENTION] recovered Brooks B17. Shifter is a modern SunRace model fitted to a single sided Simplex downtube mount (which took some filing). Crankset is a Stronglight 93 with 45t ring.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ee210bbb3.jpeg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...65894a1e7.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a6de50a81.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...05f0a1453.jpeg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...deec4520b.jpeg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0ecbdae92.jpeg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5c3efab30.jpeg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...73f2dfc02.jpeg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...46e57c417.jpeg It felt quite smooth on this morning’s test ride. I’d like to fit it with fenders, but that’ll take some fiddling as clearances are tight at the rear bridges. I might also swap in a set of 700c wheels with an FM rear hub, but I’m awaiting the rims to arrive to build those up. |
Originally Posted by dimini
(Post 23167915)
What a great find and conversion. I was about to mention to you that it could be a Limited Edition, then I scrolled through photos further to see that it's #70. I bought a Mk2 about 5 years ago as part of a junk pile storage unit sale for pennies. It already had a DIY rattle can paint job so I stripped it and had it refinished in black w/gold Raleigh decals as a tribute to my first Raleigh--a 1973 Competition that I bought as a kid. Though I love mine built as a full-campy road bike, I like your idea of making a fabulous 3 speed cruiser out of it. Damn... makes me envious, actually, because I also ride 3 speeds regularly--and it would be great to have one that weighs in at 24 lbs. Right on!
Also not your father's three speed. Gitane Tour De France. Was 27 lbs 3 oz. Before the saddle bag and cup holder. I used 650B wheels. This bike eats miles and the AW hub is flawless. The hub is a 1967 model. Frameset is 1971. |
This thread is making the world a better place by replacing derailleurs with hub gears one bike at a time, there is a lot of work to be done but if we all pull together.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e920255ca7.jpg |
Originally Posted by Small cog
(Post 23167984)
This thread is making the world a better place by replacing derailleurs with hub gears one bike at a time, there is a lot of work to be done but if we all pull together.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e920255ca7.jpg |
Originally Posted by 52telecaster
(Post 23168009)
Gorgeous fenders! Make me want to paint my gitane.
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What are the correct housing ends/ferrules to use with this style of stops? I've got some generic Jagwire stepped ferrules as you can see but I'm wondering if there is more correct style? The current ones aren't a perfect fit.
On a Canadian Raleigh Sports from 1976. Thanks! https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fc4b5bd305.jpg |
It's a longer ferrule, with a stepped down bit at the open cable end. I don't have a photo, but they are definitely out there. Certainly one or two rolling around my basement floor...
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Perhaps heresy, but if that's brake cable housing, I'd skip the ferrule and just jam the housing in the stop. I don't think it'll work it's way through the opening.
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Originally Posted by PhilFo
(Post 23170031)
It's a longer ferrule, with a stepped down bit at the open cable end. I don't have a photo, but they are definitely out there. Certainly one or two rolling around my basement floor...
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...17208b241b.jpg |
That'll work.
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