Classic 3 Speed Picture / Appreciation Thread
#1
not actually Nickatina
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Classic 3 Speed Picture / Appreciation Thread
I don't know what it is about classic 3 speeds, but something about them arises warm feelings inside me. Aside from vintage lugged track bikes, a mint condition 3 speed is pure eye candy in my opinion. Maybe it's the whole classic commuter styling (chain guards, fenders that match the frame color, wide, white wall tires, upright handlebars and occassionally, classic Brooks saddles), maybe it's the feeling that no matter where / how far you're going, 3 speeds is the maximum you could ever need (opinion), maybe it's because they make me realize they don't make em like they used to. They go against everything I like in my own bike - fat tires (I like narrow), heavy weight (I like light and agile), extra parts (I like stripped to the essentials), freewheels (I prefer fixed), upright fit (I like high seats and low bars), but some romantic notion in me makes me want to get one for the collection.
Anyways, enough with the sappy idealism, let's post some beautiful 3 speeds.
Anyways, enough with the sappy idealism, let's post some beautiful 3 speeds.
Last edited by andre nickatina; 02-24-07 at 02:41 PM.
#2
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I LOVE my three speeds. Currently I think I have 5 of them if you count my wife's Edit: I just went and checked not counting the two under construction I have 7
BTW how about this one
Aaron
BTW how about this one
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Last edited by wahoonc; 02-24-07 at 04:14 PM.
#3
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I have a few, that's for sure, but here's one of the more unusual ones: 1966 Raleigh Sports, all chrome.
Neal
Neal
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I have a western flyer. It has a rack exactly like the ones in the first two bikes. My three speed is my only bike, and as far as I'm considered it is the only one i need.
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Actually, the concept of a steel-framed bike with matching fenders and the utilitarian feel of a Raleigh Sports is not dead. Check out https://www.kogswell.com/.
Neal
Neal
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OMG Neal, an all chrome Sports!!
I'm speachless, that Raleigh is amazing!
I have a Jet Black early 70's Columbia Tourist 3.
I'm speachless, that Raleigh is amazing!
I have a Jet Black early 70's Columbia Tourist 3.
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I have a white PX-10, a Green Dawes Galaxy and an Orange Falcon, now I'm done.
#7
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Just fixed up an early 1970s Fuji Avalon ladies' fendered bike with Shimano 3 speed for a neighbor. Georgeous cerise/pink with gold pinstriping . . . but a x?1>! to work on. Had not been on the road for 30 years, looked like new when cleaned up but had to special order the 37-597 26" tires (dry rot); amazingly the innertubes were fine!
Last time I worked on the 3 speed was my own Raleigh, back in the mid-1950s.
Last time I worked on the 3 speed was my own Raleigh, back in the mid-1950s.
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Originally Posted by redneckwes
OMG Neal, an all chrome Sports!!
I'm speachless, that Raleigh is amazing!
I have a Jet Black early 70's Columbia Tourist 3.
I'm speachless, that Raleigh is amazing!
I have a Jet Black early 70's Columbia Tourist 3.
I've now managed to find and install NOS front and rear double-ended brake cables, an NOS gear cable, and NOS pedal treads. It lives in my dining room, which was my mother-in-law's idea (!). She thought it was much too shiny a bike to live in the basement.
Neal
#9
Really Old Senior Member
Last summer I picked up one at a garage sake for $5. Turns out the shifter was broken, which broke the cable.
A couple weeks later, they had a womens in Goodwill for $10.
Turns out the hub was broken.
1. is a "Kingston" and has a Schucks Auto Parts store Badge.
2. is a "Marquis".
They are both painted an identical med. metallic green with gold pinstriping.
The Shimano date codes off the 3S? hubs place the bikes at 1979 for the womens and 80 for the mens.
Both have an ugly beige-pinkish (almost) seat color.
The womens has a built in kick stand.
The "Kingston" stickers on the Mens are obviously applied to cover a "previous" brand name.
Anyway, I made one out of the 2 and have grown to kind of like (in a strange way) the bike with it's simple, utilitarian style. The full fenders are kind of nice for short trips to the store when it's raining.
I assume they are probably Murray's or Huffy's.
Does anybody think they can ID from the pint color description? Sorry I don't have a camera, but then they really aren't "pretty enough to post".
A couple weeks later, they had a womens in Goodwill for $10.
Turns out the hub was broken.
1. is a "Kingston" and has a Schucks Auto Parts store Badge.
2. is a "Marquis".
They are both painted an identical med. metallic green with gold pinstriping.
The Shimano date codes off the 3S? hubs place the bikes at 1979 for the womens and 80 for the mens.
Both have an ugly beige-pinkish (almost) seat color.
The womens has a built in kick stand.
The "Kingston" stickers on the Mens are obviously applied to cover a "previous" brand name.
Anyway, I made one out of the 2 and have grown to kind of like (in a strange way) the bike with it's simple, utilitarian style. The full fenders are kind of nice for short trips to the store when it's raining.
I assume they are probably Murray's or Huffy's.
Does anybody think they can ID from the pint color description? Sorry I don't have a camera, but then they really aren't "pretty enough to post".
#10
feros ferio
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I wish I had kept my Cyclo-S/A 4x3 12-speed rear hub. A 40T chainring and 26" wheels yielded an ideal gear range of 40 to 99 gear-inches. (Pure derailleur equivalent = 53-40-30 / 14-16-18-20.)
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#12
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Here's mine. A '64 Mercury Courier. In other words, a Raliegh knock-off from Wolverhampton. It ain't pretty, and the fenders don't match, but it's all original and everything works perfectly. I love riding this bike.
#13
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jcm,
Sweet bike
Here is a picture of old faithful. It is an early 70's Sports standard that I purchased for $25 back in 1979 and it has had the crap ridden out of it over the years. It has been in storage for the past 6 years and is long overdue for an overhaul and freshening. But it is still ridable! The Superbe below it is the Crown Jewel of the collection. I had searched for one for several years and a BF member offered to sell me one he had. It gets ridden every chance I get.
Aaron
Sweet bike
Here is a picture of old faithful. It is an early 70's Sports standard that I purchased for $25 back in 1979 and it has had the crap ridden out of it over the years. It has been in storage for the past 6 years and is long overdue for an overhaul and freshening. But it is still ridable! The Superbe below it is the Crown Jewel of the collection. I had searched for one for several years and a BF member offered to sell me one he had. It gets ridden every chance I get.
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Last edited by wahoonc; 02-25-07 at 08:14 AM.
#14
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Originally Posted by Mos6502
#15
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It's a 1964 Western Flyer made by Columbia. The hub is dated for december of '63, so I'm assuming it is a very an early '64. The front fender is proper Columbia, the rear comes from a raleigh, it's all I could find for it.
#16
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here is a 68 Sears (made by Puch?) that I got a thrift store, re-furbished, added a Brooks saddle, then passed it along to a good home...
#17
Who cares, just ride it!
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1978 Raleigh Twenty w/ custom seatpost and ape hanger bars. Hey, I'm 194cm tall!!!
#18
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My poor Humber
I have developed a liking for the old English three-speed. I have aquired a 1956 Humber Sports. It is basically complete but needs some work; proper saddle, get the dynohub working, get the wheels trued....
My pictures aren't as good as all those nice shiny bikes.
Ps. How do you get the picture to show in the post rather than an attachment?
My pictures aren't as good as all those nice shiny bikes.
Ps. How do you get the picture to show in the post rather than an attachment?
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#19
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Originally Posted by Leigh30
1978 Raleigh Twenty w/ custom seatpost and ape hanger bars. Hey, I'm 194cm tall!!!
#20
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Originally Posted by Chief
here is a 68 Sears (made by Puch?) that I got a thrift store, re-furbished, added a Brooks saddle, then passed it along to a good home...
#21
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Thats the Raleigh Sprite. Has tighter geometry than a normal 3 speed, which I like for longer rides.
That one is a Indian made Avon. It feels like a Lazyboy on wheels. Just I dont like the chaincase, way more hassle than its worth. I have the BB out it right now for a rebuild, so the chaincase may not get put back on. I have a normal chainguard that will work fine. . I hope the C&V gods dont strike me down.
#22
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I'm looking forward to riding my 1955 Schwinn Corvette. I will be building the wheels with recently received S-7 rims and will probably not worry about painting it this year, although I do plan to ride it around town. Bought this for $10 from a BikeForums member.
I also have a 1961 Jaguar IV destined to be "chopped" with a banana seat and Rams Horn high rise handlebar, just like my bike in High School in the 70's. Assuming I can buy the handlebar for less than I am sinking into the rest of the bike. This bike given to me by my LBS.
NOS S-7 rims purchased from another BikeForums member for the above bikes.
Spare 3 speed rear hub purchased via eBay from yet another BikeForums member.
When I do paint, I will probably use a foam roller with a technique learned from BikeForums.
I will also be building a 27" 3 speed with a 3 speed rear wheel that I received in a trade with a BikeForums member. Will probably put fenders on it from a Suburban I used to have if they fit, which is where I got the handlebar and grips also.
I also have a 1961 Jaguar IV destined to be "chopped" with a banana seat and Rams Horn high rise handlebar, just like my bike in High School in the 70's. Assuming I can buy the handlebar for less than I am sinking into the rest of the bike. This bike given to me by my LBS.
NOS S-7 rims purchased from another BikeForums member for the above bikes.
Spare 3 speed rear hub purchased via eBay from yet another BikeForums member.
When I do paint, I will probably use a foam roller with a technique learned from BikeForums.
I will also be building a 27" 3 speed with a 3 speed rear wheel that I received in a trade with a BikeForums member. Will probably put fenders on it from a Suburban I used to have if they fit, which is where I got the handlebar and grips also.
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People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
#23
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what about 3 speed trikes? it's a 1981 Town & Country Tri-Wheeler. This one has left my hands and moved on to an Autistic girl seeking independence. But anyway, It's another beautiful 3 speed!!!!
Maybe after the snow melts I'll pull out the 3 speed Breeze and the Huffy and post pics of those too
Maybe after the snow melts I'll pull out the 3 speed Breeze and the Huffy and post pics of those too
#24
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I'll toss in my new to me Hercules Tourist.
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I have a white PX-10, a Green Dawes Galaxy and an Orange Falcon, now I'm done.
I have a white PX-10, a Green Dawes Galaxy and an Orange Falcon, now I'm done.
#25
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Here are some pics of my 3-speeds. Most of you have already seen them. The Univega was a 3-speed, but now has a 7-speed Shimano hub shift.