I'm wondering if a Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub like http://www.sturmey-archer.com/en/products/detail/s-rk3 would be an interesting option for a low-maintenance XC bike that also goes on the road. Set the direct drive at 32x16 for general XC use and then there's also a 133% option for road and 75% option for steep climbs. Does anyone have any experience with these?
Chap I know modified one to take cartridge bearings so it'd cope better with muddy conditions
[url= http://www.daveypushbikes.com/3-speed-hub.html ]he actually went to the effort of a website[/url]
I think he posts on here so he may find this in a bit.
Does anyone have any experience with these?
Yerp converted my winter hardtail to this as I was getting annoyed with it as a singlespeed as my loops contain country lanes and steep climbs.
Performed really well if you don't mind it making the bike a bit heavier (with winter mud it really doesn't make a huge difference)
The novelty of being able to change gears whilst standing still has yet to wear off 😆
remember riding bridleways in the cotswolds in the 70's on my brothers old bike that was a sturmey archer 3 speed ....so not much help other than don't try cotter pins
Why not go for a Shimano Alfine?
If they are the same as the ones fitted to my grifter in the 80's then your plums wont thank you for it when it slips.
plums wont thank you for it when it slips.
Exactly my memory of Sturmey Archer hub gears 🙂 ...actually make that a 😯 followed by a 🙁
Not noticed the gear's slipping and knackering my plums.
Why not go for a Shimano Alfine?
doesn't the Alfine cost twice as much as the S-A?
The alfine is a lot heavier and a lot more expensive. I was looking at the SA as a cheapish lightish almost-single-speed option.
oldtalent - Member
If they are the same as the ones fitted to my grifter in the 80's then your plums wont thank you for it when it slips.
They are not the same.
The hubs from the 80s were being made on worn out equipment and investment wasn't being made to set up lines to manufacture the improved designs.
Then SunRace took them over, did the job properly in Taiwan and started building the improved designs.
The new ones do not have a false neutral.
If you're a singlespeeder, you'll love it. 🙂
Canyon had one in development a few years ago iirc.