Building a light drop bar SA 3 sp
 

Just fishing for anyone that has experience with building a fast as possible but SA 3 speed type bike. I love my Raleigh Sport. But the tinkering part of my mind thinks that I might enjoy a simple 3 speed built to go fast and sporty. I passed on a dave scott iron man (22 pounds), one owner, for 100$ I kick myself for not jumping on it fast enough. But picture with a 3speed to be simple and sporty. Anyone entertained such an idea?

It sounds to me like the old Clubman and Lenton type bike. I've owned three speed Raleigh Clubmen and Lenton bikes with drop bars and lightened components over the years. If you like an all-purpose drop bar bike, either of those would be a good choice.

The bike(s) I posted offended a viewer, so I have removed them.

Been there ... done that, back in the 1970s. I rebuilt my low-end 1962 Bianchi Corsa, which had come with 26" wheels, with a Sturmey-Archer ASC (AW with a coaster brake) hub. I used the right side Huret shift lever and kept the OEM drop bars and leather Ideale saddle. It was kind of a fun home-to-university commuter. Shifting was easy -- all the way back for first, just above first for second, then all the way forward for third, with a very handy freewheeling neutral in between.

I have a Sturmey-Archer S3X hub on one of my fixed gear bikes. It's fairly light, ~23#; much lighter than my Raleigh Superbe 3-speed (~36#).

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I used my Trek 600 as the basis of just such a bike. And was just reading an old article in Bicycling (from 1977) where the author used a track frame and tubulars with an AW hub to make a 21lb fast “touring” 3-speed

A very different approach is to go 3x1:

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I plan to put drop bars on that bike over the winter.

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This is my '75 Schwinn Voyageur II. It has a early '50s AM hub which is a perfect match for flat coastal riding. I utilized a late '40s cottered Schwinn crankset, MAFAC Racer center pull calipers, and a modern SA 3-speed barend shifter.

It's a blast to ride.

A little different concept is my Sturmey Archer S2 hub on my path racer. No cables needed, just switch gears with a quick back pedal. Just thought I'd throw it out there. I have posted this bike on BF before. :thumb:

aceves

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A 70s Raleigh Supercourse would make for a nice 3 speed path racer.

This stuff is EXACTLY what I want do with my old BSA-thing.

You folks using modern bar-ends, I see S-A is selling one that has the correct pull for old hubs. Anyone have any experience? I was going to use a ratcheting Suntour just to try it but “indexing” would be more betterer.

Miyata OneThousand
 

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another 2spd kickback hub.
should be up for sale soon. Just got to over come the inertia of laziness

I was riding a 1966 Raleigh Sports for urban commuting and errands. I loved it but it was too small and I had the same idea of building a lighter, sportier version of the Sports. This is a 1971 Raleigh International frame running new Sturmey 8-speed hub. I haven't bothered to weigh it because the hub is a brick and I need a big frame, but it's certainly lighter than the Sports. It's a great ride. Here it is parked at work, I carry my laptop and gear in an Acorn basket bag.
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Not to mention that gator saddle!

I've been keeping an eye out for a 25" Super Course for exactly this purpose. I even have a set of Soma Lauterwasser bars sitting around, waiting!

I bought a Schwinn Super Sport which was missing its rear wheel. Me being me, I built new 700C wheels with a Sunrace-SA 3-speed rear hub and put all aluminum parts on it. It’s a nice town ride.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ohpv/a...7670249022375/

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I had a bike like this which I miss dearly. It was an old Rudge Whitworth ten-speed frame my friend pulled from a dumpster, set up with a 26" wheelset from a three-speed cruiser. Coaster brake with one downtube shifter for the gears and 1.5" tires. It had cottered cranks and a steel drop bar on one of the old Raleigh short reach, long quill steel stems. Sold it to a friend and don't know where it ended up.

The Sturmey Archer modern bar-end shifter works perfectly with the old SA 3-speed hubs. Once you have the High gear dialed in with the cable not under any pull, Neutral and Low work like champs. A Suntour ratcheting bar-end will work, you just need to be careful about your shifts.
You mean the infamous Gatorcet booty-hatchet, :eek: which was ridden 100 painful test miles and retired for a Brooks Professional. :D
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The 'Gatorcet (Avocet Racer recovered in alligator embossed cowhide). Available for any poor soul to test ride at his or her own discomfort! Please note: The stitching disappears under the booty. Other factors caused my pain and suffering!

With a little bit of filing, you can also install that shifter on the top tube, a la the quadrant style shifters:


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Rudge Aero Special, 1952 club Style
 

This old Club style will use an alloy AW or FM, Super Champion 58 alloy rims, Paselas, a TA chainset, and original GB brakes with original-style drop bars similar to the Sylvan Maes pattern.

Frame is original with original paint enhanced with 72 years of gentle beausage, and full 531 tubing. No plans to refinish it, I want to make sure it’s as good a ride as I expect and see if I can hack the gearing.

The rims are installed and trued/tensioned, really just waiting for me and a bud to rebuild the FM hub. The SA trigger will be reused. The seatpost is a well-sized Kalloy pillar and it will carry either one of my Ideale, either a 92 or an 80. My aging butt seems to like the narrow 80 better than the wider 92.

Pics soon!

nlerner and pastorbobnlnh thank you for the feedback. Adding it to the Christmas list.

Wow

why did you decide to go that route?

Or you could mount it in front of the cable guides and have a Grand Spot. :innocent:

Really, this concept goes back to the earlier days of British Club riding. It's much easier to source a more current frame, but there are plenty that would work just fine. Beyond that, it becomes a matter of aesthetics.


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I've done this with upright bars but a Reynolds frame several times. Makes for a terrific townie and if you use multiple chainrings with a rear derailleur it can be anything you want. I just love the sound of a sturmey archer.... It says, "adventure awaits"!