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-   -   For the love of English 3 speeds... (https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=623699)

gna 01-19-23 03:22 PM


Originally Posted by Salubrious (Post 22774250)
There's more than one hill after Maiden Rock. The second one I would not want to face with the stock gearing. Its not as steep as the first but its longer and gains more altitude.

If you have a lower gearing, going off route is more attractive. That rustic road I mention is really pretty- it winds through a coulee with lots of wild flowers with 4 creek crossings you have to ride through. At the end of the valley there are more rock formations. You'd be pushing up the grade at the end of that valley but most of its rideable with a 22 on the rear.

Do you have a map link? I'm not sure which road that is.

I have a 22T and an S5 hub, so I usually do ok.

thumpism 01-19-23 07:31 PM

Here's a pristine Puch Rugby Sports for $300 in NY. Probably too pretty to be overpriced.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...49843310269925

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...6A&oe=63CF0717

cudak888 01-19-23 08:16 PM


Originally Posted by Salubrious (Post 22774085)
That is a pre-war saddle FWIW.

Is that a 100% for sure? Reason I ask is because the '52 Sports that pastorbobnlnh picked up for me in NH has one, and so does my '50 Superbe from Ged117 . Have no reason to assume either were swapped out, though the badges are slightly different between the two. Can snap a few pictures if you want.


Originally Posted by thumpism (Post 22774748)
Here's a pristine Puch Rugby Sports for $300 in NY. Probably too pretty to be overpriced.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...49843310269925

$300 is over the top, but the Rugby Sports has stainless 27"/ISO 630 rims. Definitely a 3-speed to put on the radar for when one pops up at a better price. A rough one would make for a good winter commuter.

-Kurt

thumpism 01-19-23 10:13 PM

Two Sportses in PA, one men's and one ladies' for $80 each.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...54612919925127

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...FQ&oe=63CEE4E7

thumpism 01-19-23 10:16 PM

$50 for a 23" Sports in MA.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...63711888529328

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...Ag&oe=63CEAF2C

thumpism 01-19-23 10:18 PM

$65 for a 23" Sports in PA.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...17483295519829

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...1A&oe=63CF9728

thumpism 01-19-23 10:22 PM

16" Twenty (I know, I couldn't resist) for $50 in PA.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...32226081181720

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...qA&oe=63CFE933

thumpism 01-19-23 10:35 PM

Is it English? Is it Dutch? Who cares? It's a 23" for $100 in VA.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...55068243187902

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net..._w&oe=63CE3690

markk900 01-20-23 07:51 AM

The last few bikes that thumpism posted prove that there’s no excuse for anyone to not have an English 3 speed 😇

cudak888 01-20-23 10:39 AM


Originally Posted by thumpism (Post 22774919)
Two Sportses in PA, one men's and one ladies' for $80 each.

Kickstand is worth the price of admission.

-Kurt

nlerner 01-20-23 11:56 AM


Originally Posted by Salubrious (Post 22770704)
The Bay City Hill is 2 1/2 miles long. With a 46/22 usually you do fine as long as the bike isn't fully loaded. If you go on the Tour you can put your gear in the '3-speed Lorry' and pick it up in Wabasha at the end of the day and Red Wing the next day.

If you go 'off route' such as I do by taking the rustic road just outside of Maiden Rock, you'll encounter more hills. But totally worth in IMO.

People come from all over the US to participate in this event. Jon the Gentleman Cyclist is already taking entrance fees. The even is the weekend of May 20th this year to avoid Mother's Day.

I'nm seriously considering participating this year; would a drop-bar 3-speed seem totally out of place? On the positive side, it's a frame from 1938.

Macguyver909 01-20-23 12:58 PM

Not at all, There are several drop bar bikes on the tour. I upgraded to drops myself for this year!

Ged117 01-20-23 01:10 PM


Originally Posted by cudak888 (Post 22774810)
Is that a 100% for sure? Reason I ask is because the '52 Sports that pastorbobnlnh picked up for me in NH has one, and so does my '50 Superbe from Ged117 . Have no reason to assume either were swapped out, though the badges are slightly different between the two. Can snap a few pictures if you want.

$300 is over the top, but the Rugby Sports has stainless 27"/ISO 630 rims. Definitely a 3-speed to put on the radar for when one pops up at a better price. A rough one would make for a good winter commuter.

-Kurt

The saddle on the early 20th century Raleigh I posted has two springs - one fore, one aft, and seems beefier. In any case I'm not going to go and look at it - I have enough cycle projects to complete. Fixed gear conversion of the Competition for fast rides this season (have wheelset), new FM hub gear and dynohub wheelset to build for the Wasp (thanks clubman !!) and I need a new 27" front Continental Gatorskin tire for the Voyageur to go on some eastern Ontario tours - the Paselas are too fragile, sick of flats on that bike. \

Yet I remain tempted by all of the interesting old English bike offerings...

Salubrious 01-20-23 01:22 PM


Originally Posted by nlerner (Post 22775431)
I'nm seriously considering participating this year; would a drop-bar 3-speed seem totally out of place? On the positive side, it's a frame from 1938.

Whatever you're comfortable on is what you ride. Lauterwassers turn up on occasion too.


Originally Posted by cudak888 (Post 22774810)
Is that a 100% for sure? Reason I ask is because the '52 Sports that pastorbobnlnh picked up for me in NH has one, and so does my '50 Superbe from Ged117 . Have no reason to assume either were swapped out, though the badges are slightly different between the two. Can snap a few pictures if you want.

-Kurt

AFAIK Brooks did away with that curl that goes over the front after the war. I expect that since the bikes you mentioned are both shortly after that Raleigh might have been using up old stock. OTOH I could be completely wrong...

thumpism 01-21-23 10:27 PM

Looks like a shiny modded Raleigh Colt with 3SC for $35 in TN.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...59195734957367

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...jQ&oe=63D1F2F5

thumpism 01-21-23 10:36 PM

Mucho Sturmey action for $25-50 each in NY.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...42016403403264

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...vw&oe=63D0D8B8

oldveloman 01-23-23 06:46 AM


Originally Posted by Ged117 (Post 22772764)
Its replacement, a Bitsathis, Bitsathat Triumph, doing yeoman's work on the daily. Much better its this machine facing the snow and salt paths than a nice original Superbe. I have to say though - this bike doesn't ride nearly as 'nicely' as the Superbe, and I am not sure why that would be. Something to do with the frame?

Raleigh-built Triumph, BSA and other brands used the same frame as their Raleigh stablemates. From de sixties onwards, the tubes from the top of the seat tube to the dropouts got a smaller diameter.

Peter

cudak888 01-23-23 12:51 PM


Originally Posted by oldveloman (Post 22778043)
Raleigh-built Triumph, BSA and other brands used the same frame as their Raleigh stablemates. From de sixties onwards, the tubes from the top of the seat tube to the dropouts got a smaller diameter.

Pretty sure @Ged117's Triumph is transition era-Ti; it has the thicker stays.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Panaracer Col de la Vies had something to do with it.

-Kurt

Unca_Sam 01-23-23 02:57 PM


Originally Posted by markk900 (Post 22770442)
anotherbike : much older models (40s and 50s) were often coaster brake with optional 3 speed, so not surprised you could find a range of coaster brake bikes. I have one bike with a Perry B100 coaster - it’s a crappy brake even with a new brake liner…..What happened to the coaster bikes of my youth that you could lay huge skid marks? 😎

I don't know about you, but in my youth I weighed a whole lot less than I do now!

Ged117 01-23-23 04:34 PM


Originally Posted by cudak888 (Post 22778426)
Pretty sure @Ged117's Triumph is transition era-Ti; it has the thicker stays.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Panaracer Col de la Vies had something to do with it.

-Kurt

Those are excellent tires, and return a nice ride and in my experience they're sure-footed for the commute through the city. Also they have some tread to them and their width allows for reasonable snowy path riding along with gravel or dirt paths in the warm months. I had them on the Superbe, but I also bought a pair for the Triumph, anticipating that I'd spring for alloy wheels soon enough. I have a Brooks B17 Flyer, but I suspect the cushion of the 1950 Superbe was in its nicely conditioned B66 saddle. I prefer a slightly more aggressive forward position, so I'm happy with it as now - very comfortable bike.

thumpism 01-23-23 06:08 PM

Sturmey 5 for $175 in MA. Hurry!

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...19454858596394

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...Fg&oe=63D3643E

nlerner 01-23-23 09:31 PM


Originally Posted by thumpism (Post 22778796)

That's about $100 more than I'd be willing to pay for that rig!

vintagebicycle 01-24-23 04:56 AM


Originally Posted by nlerner (Post 22778978)
That's about $100 more than I'd be willing to pay for that rig!

The way I see most ads like that is they most likely priced the bike assuming it'll sell for half of that. No one pays asking price.
If it was near me, I'd be tempted to make an offer just for the parts it would provide to fix a more desirable model.
Good clean rims are getting hard to find here.
Most have no chrome left or have rusted away long ago. I don't think I've had a set of rims with good chrome in nearly 20 years other than a few on several of my personal bikes which I've owned for 30 to 40 years or more.
To me it looks like a nice clean set of rims, a rear rack and some chrome bits for another bike, and a hub, shifter, and pedals for fleabay.

SirMike1983 01-24-23 08:56 AM


Originally Posted by nlerner (Post 22778978)
That's about $100 more than I'd be willing to pay for that rig!

Yeah, the asking price is steep, though if it were closer to me, I'd offer $75 or $100 and buy the thing for parts. The wheels / rear hub and shifter are pretty valuable. The rack has a little value too, but some of the other parts are rougher.

There's a segment of the hobby that is obsessed with the S5 hub and throttle shifters though. They have a cross-over interest with some of the road bike people and muscle bike people. Awhile back, I was dealing with a guy who was going through a trove of Sturmey parts for a decedent's estate. He said the first buyer in the door picked all S5 hubs and related stuff. The buyer passed over older AW parts and just wanted S5 stuff. He paid full asking price ($100 per hub, $75 per shifter) for the five speed stuff.

cudak888 01-24-23 09:58 AM


Originally Posted by vintagebicycle (Post 22779084)
The way I see most ads like that is they most likely priced the bike assuming it'll sell for half of that.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

*gasp for breath*

Ah-hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Ha.

-Kurt


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