Would it be possible to make a three speed hub that was fairly light (a lot lighter than an Alfine for instance) with really wide spread gears? Seems to me this would be great – a little bit like a singlespeed that doesn’t spin out on descents or leave you walking on the really steep bits. Yeah, yeah, I know – it doesn’t make a lot of sense from a practical point of view but there’s something strangely appealing about the idea… Maybe I’m just weird

Sturmey Archer?

Funnily enough, that’s what brought it to mind. Parked my bike next to an old 70s shopper with Sturmey Archer gears and a big old rusty dynamo headlight. But those Sturmey Archers were awful, vague and draggy as I remember it. And they didn’t have as wide a range of ratios as I’m envisaging…

Wasn’t there a device that fitted in the bottom bracket that gave you two speeds?

Ahh, the new one is the Hammerschmidt, but the old one was a schlumpf.

I reckon if they thought about it, they could get three speeds in there and keep it all nice and smooth.

http://www.canyon.com/_en/technology/project144-2.html

just remove the rear gears. three speed – no problem.

Would it be possible to make a three speed hub that was fairly light (a lot lighter than an Alfine for instance) with really wide spread gears? Seems to me this would be great – a little bit like a singlespeed that doesn’t spin out on descents or leave you walking on the really steep bits. Yeah, yeah, I know – it doesn’t make a lot of sense from a practical point of view but there’s something strangely appealing about the idea… Maybe I’m just weird

Shimano Nexus Inter 3 speed disc?

http://hubstripping.wordpress.com/2008/01/18/142/ been out for a number of years – was used on some specialised urban bikes in the UK

Si

Sturmey-Archer XRK5 ?
5 speed, alloy shell, with disk brake fittings. Weighs 1.2Kg though.

Cheezpleez – Member
…those Sturmey Archers were awful, vague and draggy as I remember it. And they didn’t have as wide a range of ratios as I’m envisaging…

The new ones are much better.