Originally Posted by
nlerner
Well, here's a variation on a "Raleigh 3-speed": 1986 Raleigh USA Grand Prix framset, 650B x 38mm wheels, Sugino AT triple front with 46/36/26t rings, Shimano Exage Mountain front derailleur and Shimano thumb shifter, rear 18t single speed cog and an Ultegra RD to keep the chain tensioned. According to Sheldon Brown's gear calculator, that gives me 38, 52, and 66 gear inches, a decent range and much lower gears than I'd get with an S-A AW.
I only took it on a short test ride and to take these pics, but everything was smooth. I might prefer drop bars to these uprights, and could probably raise the gearing a bit, too, likely going to a 16t freewheel. It was a fun experiment.
Why not put something like a Surly Singleator on there rather than a derailleur? Of course if you have the derailleur just laying around that makes sense, but you really don't need to have that much chain running through two jockey wheels.