Those might be the same ratios as the old SA 5-speed hub. And I have the same complaint about it that I do about the AW. I think the better condition you are in, the closer you want your ratios to be. I'm in pretty good shape, and those steps are annoying. When I shift down, I don't want to slow down that much. So the only way to adapt is to either (1) not shift down and pedal harder when the going gets a little tough or (2) shift down and reduce speed more than I want to. Usually I would do #2, which means a net slowdown.

What are the ratios of 8-speed hubs?

The Dutch would probably argue with you about that. And the Japanese, too. There is a thread -- I think it's in the commuting subforum -- entitled "Jitensha, Phillipines" where a bike shop owner in Jitensha shows the bikes he is refurbishing. They are mostly Japanese bikes. The Japanese are making everyday errand bikes with a huge variety of designs and features. They are all very different from each other. It shows how serious the bicycle is in Asia.

All this talk has got me out in the carport to check my hub.

The Trent Tourist has a SW hub, dated 58 6 , so that makes sense.
I bought in off ebay for 40 quid and was told it was in 'good working order', but the gears slip! I have done nothing to it over winter, but was planning on pulling hub apart and cleaning it. But now I have read the negative press about the SW, I am wondering what is the best plan for the old bike



This bike

Where exactly does one find a Benelux conversion? I've been looking online, and just about the only place I can find it is that there is one on Ebay for $200...I'm not spending that much for 3 extra gears.

I guess I was lucky to get mine for nothing... and the 3 speed conversion gives you 6 extra speeds :)

Doing the math I would have 9 unique gearings with 10% jumps and a gearing range from 42 to 91 gear inches as I cannot change the cyclo triple cogset from it's 19/21/23 and they also made a double conversion.

A lower cost solution... 2 Shimano 3 speed cogs can replace one SA cog and one could use any decent deraileur for switching duties and in this way you have more choice in cogs.

With a 2 tooth jump the spacing between the 6 speeds is 10%, with a 1 tooth jump it is 6%, and there is no gear duplication... shifting one of these takes a little practice if you want to sequence the gears but I treat them as a high low range.

How does one do this? Put the sprockets on opposite (so that the dish separates them)?

Just buy another one. I currently have 5.

This is an old thread...

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...eed+dual+drive

Forrest was just a baby and hadn't been fixed...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/Forrest2.jpg

I really regret selling off the one 3 speed I had. Regret not pulling the trigger on the Dunelt I found later.

One of these days I'll find another English 3 Speed and have another project. Beautiful, practical bikes.

politicalgeek, you will find a good English 3-speed. Just be patient. Some are going for well over $150, which I won't pay. I got mine a couple of months ago on Craigslist, for only $60. It was hardly ridden, has chrome fenders, and everything on it is original. Lie down like an alligator, watch, and wait.

It'll come, I know. My luck with CL is that I usually find stuff when I am ready.

Working on a bent and within 3 weeks I found 2 excellent donor bikes for $50 a piece.

Been giving some thought to making my Schwinn Le Tour a single speed. Sure enough a 27" single speed wheel set shows up on CL, and 2 days later a crankset and new tires.

I'll probably troll ebay for a frame. I have a NOS SA hub and it would be fun to build it up from scratch.

AL NZ- You may want to look into pulling the SW mechanicals from the hub shell and slipping in an AW gearset in it's place. Should be a fairly straighforward swap. I think Sheldon Brown or Tony Hadland had info on doing this. I put a FW into an AW shell until I got new wheels built and the FW worked just fine. Hopefully you will have the same results. PG.

This is such a great thread! So much useful info, I had to print and save some of it.

Thanks for the kind words on my bikes a few pages back as well.

I have a triple cog set on a 1950 AM that I also got gratis but mine is a 14/19/24 and I'm not so sure it's a Cyclo because of the tooth count. With the AM I have a range of 44.8 to 102.5 with a 46t chain ring. Right now, I'm using a Campy Valentino to move the chain but I have used both a Benelux mkVII and a Favorit PWB. The PWB may be put back to work.

Won't work. The SW shell is smaller. So much smaller you can't reuse the spokes to lace an AW into your wheel.

58 6 would be late in the production run so Al may be OK if he strips his hub and thoroughly cleans it. SWs could not tolerate anything sticky on the pawls.

See; http://my.ohio.voyager.net/~bdhayes/sa/sw.htm for good info.

Nope. The old 5 speeds had nearly evenly spaced ratios. Quite nice IMHO. The new steps, 20%/33.3%/33.3%/20% seem pretty dumb to me.

What an awesome thread and some wonderful bikes! Somehow I missed this one.

Here are the Three Speeds that I have.

1948 Rudge Whitworth Sport with dynohub
I haven't done anything with this one yet.

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/a...01948/RWa1.jpg


70s Raleigh Super DeLuxe
Haven't touched this one.
http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/a...IMAGE_0191.jpg


1973 Raleigh Twenty with my wife "Englished" Dahon
The old Englishman that sold me the 20 has found the chainguard. I am going to pick it up tomorrow.

http://i914.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/IMG_6278.jpg

Sixty-fiver, there are days when I hate you...You make me want to add a 3-speed to my collection, and I'm trying to save money for other things!

The worst part is, a "60s vintage CCM" is up on used-vic for $140....

http://www.usedvictoria.com/photos/01/68/12871268.jpg

I wants it...but I don't think I can swing it right now.

So I probably shouldn't tell you that I went out for another blissful 30 km this afternoon or that the old Sports was the bell of the ball at the critical mass ride... :)

A younger fellow on a 70's Peugeot was pretty intrigued with the bike and the three speed and didn't know what that shiny steel ring in my hand was until I clipped it on my pant leg... cause if you ride a vintage bike you need a vintage pant clip. :lol:

The cog change worked out wonderfully and got to test the low on a short 12% grade and did not even have to get out of the saddle (legs were working good) and in high gear the bike is remarkably fast... I will put that down to a fairly aero position and tyres that roll fast and suck up bumps like they aren't even there.

Like it's sister the Lenton, it climbs very well too.

And the only noise besides the ticking of the hub is the occasional "sproing" from the sprung kickstand when I have hit some really rough stretches.

Oscuro - I know a fellow here who got a nearly mint Raleigh Superbe at a yard sale... he paid $20.00 for it and the best part of the deal was that there was a ladies version selling for the same amount which he snapped up for his fiance.

A bike like that in this market will often sell for $275.00 plus if it has been tuned and serviced properly.

More pics... so you can hate me more.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...orts6sepia.JPG

...Don't make me come over there and make you adopt me!

which bike are you talking about here, Bicycle Repairman? Is it a 3 speed SA hub with derailleurs as well? Have you posted a photo earlier in this thread that I somehow missed?

Sixty Fiver, or anyone else who knows, what's a Raleigh Dawn R Tourist like? Is it a Superbe? There is one available in good condition, with SS rims, very tempting.

How 'desirable' a Raleigh is it? Thanks...

Yes, this thread is a lot of fun.

That Raleigh Super Deluxe doesn't look at all like a Raleigh. Are you sure it is?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/...2d76be24_o.jpgI picked this up last year. 1985 British, Nottingham made Raleigh Chiltern. Belonged to a Church Warden and came complete with Dynamo, speedometer, kickstand, original pump and saddlebag. Immaculate condition. Rides so smoooth with easy smooth gearchange. A lovely town bike. A quality finish and surprisingly not that heavy. I was lucky and paid £40 for it. They are fetching £150 on e-bay now over here. There is also a ladies version. I think production was stopped soon after this was made and Raleigh moved overseas. A bargain I think even at £150 when you see the new cost of town/dutch style bikes now.