How Did Those Old Three Speed Bikes Work?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Description. Typically, in low gear, the rear sprocket turns faster than the wheel; in middle gear, the rear sprocket turns at the same speed as the wheel; in high gear, the rear wheel turns faster than the sprocket.

What year did 3 speed bikes come out?

The Vintage 3 Speed Bicycle

The 3 speed bicycle with internal hub gearing got its start in

1902

in Nottingham England, invented by Sturmy-Archer Gears LD.

Are three speed bikes any good?


A 3-speed bike is a great option

. It gives you more choices and more flexibility than a single-speed bicycle, but it doesn’t reach anywhere near the many options of seven, 21, or even higher-speed bikes. With a 3-speed bicycle, you can tackle riding uphill, downhill, and flat terrain.

How did Sturmey Archer gears work?

Sturmey-Archer hub models


One set engages the gear ring; each set engages a different sun gear

. These hubs all have odd numbers of speeds: the unity ratio, and pairs of higher and lower speeds achieved by locking each of the different sun gears to the axle.

How many gears does a 3 speed bike have?

The three-speed bicycle is a bicycle that uses internal hub gears at the rear wheel hub to provide

three gear ratios

. Three-speed hubs have been in use since the early 1900s. Though they are heavier than comparable derailleur systems, internal-gear hub systems generally last longer and require less maintenance.

How internal bike hubs work?

How can I tell how old my Raleigh bike is?

For Raleigh bikes, you would often notice both the model and the year the bike was made.

You can see the serial numbers on the side of the seat lug, front of the seat lug, or even in the bottom bracket

. The serial number is the easiest way to determine the age of your Raleigh bike and the vintage Raleigh bike value.

How do you ride a 3 speed bike?

What is an English racer bike?

In the United States, the

sports roadster

was imported after World War II, and was known as the “English racer”. It quickly became popular with adult cyclists seeking an alternative to the traditional youth-oriented cruiser bicycle.

Can a 3-speed bike go up hills?

Many people are drawn to single speed bikes because of their simplicity, but

a single speed bike may not be the best option if your commute involves hills

. A 3-speed bike offers enough versatility to help you navigate through uneven landscapes or rougher terrains without exerting too much energy.

How do bike speeds work?


You shift gears by sliding the shifter on the handlebars

. On most bikes, this shifts the chain onto a different sized ring. On three-speed bikes, the gears are inside the hub of the wheel so you don’t see them. Downshifting means going to a lower gear, and upshifting means going to a higher gear.

How many speeds should a bike have?

In terms of how the number of gears affects the overall ride of the bike, a 21-speed is generally faster with smoother transitions and pedaling. The

7-speed is adequate for most riders

, which is why many people choose the slower option.

Do Sturmey-Archer still exist?

Sturmey-Archer’s most widely known product is the AW wide-ratio three-speed hub gear, introduced in 1938 (though patented in 1936) and

still in production in a substantially modified form as of 2018

.

Is Sturmey-Archer good?

In any case,

the quality of Taiwanese production from SunRace/Sturmey-Archer so far has been excellent, generally better than the quality of later English production

. Sturmey-Archer’s selection of multi-speed hubs is much wider than that of the other manufacturers.

How do you lubricate a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hub?

Lubrication. The ideal rule for lubrication should be ‘a little but often’.

Two or three drops of oil every week

will maintain the hub in first class running order.

Why are 3 speed bikes more expensive?

Your initial purchase of a 3-speed bike may be more, just because

internal gearing systems are more complicated and more expensive

. These highly engineered designs come with many small parts, which means standard repairs may set you back more than you’d pay with a 7-speed bike.

What gear should I use on a flat road?


Middle Gear

This is a great gear for everyday terrain when you’re cruising along on a flat road or on undulating terrain. You want some resistance, but not too much. If the road goes up and down a bit, you’ll probably flick between the rear gears to cater for changes.

What is the quickest road bike?

  • 2000 MTT Y2K Superbike: 250 mph. …
  • 2021 Kawasaki Ninja H2R: 249 mph. …
  • 2020 Lightning LS-218: 218 mph.
  • 2021 Kawasaki Ninja H2: 209 mph. …
  • 2020 Ducati Panigale V4 R: 199 mph. …
  • 2020 Aprilia RSV4 1100 Factory: 199 mph. …
  • 2007 MV Agusta F4CC: 195 mph. …
  • 2020 Suzuki Hayabusa GSX-1300R: 194 mph.

How does a Shimano internal hub work?

How do you shift internal hub gears?

What is internal-gear hub bikes?

What is an Internal Gear Hub? The internal gear hub, also called hub gear or abbreviated IGH is

a system used to change a bicycle’s gear ratio

. It achieves this using planetary or epicyclic gears that are housed and sealed within the rear hub. The internal gear hub is an alternative to a derailleur.

How old is a vintage bicycle?

Vintage bikes are typically defined as bikes that were produced

between the 1920s and the 1990s

, although the earlier date is open to debate. Mostly they are bicycles that have been made by hand and constructed with steel.

How do I know how old my bike is?

  1. Check the Serial Number. The obvious starting point to find the date a bike was made is the serial number. …
  2. Use Online and Offline Literature. …
  3. Look at Specific Parts. …
  4. Ask the Seller or Owner. …
  5. Bring It to a Bike Shop. …
  6. Post Online.

How old is a vintage bike?

A common trait between the three categories is that all classic, vintage, and antique models are considered such if they’re

at least 25 years old

. Another common factor in deciding whether a model fits into these categories is whether the bike looks the way it was intended to look when manufactured.

At what speed gear should be changed in bike?

While the rider should change the gears more in instincts and the ideal speed varies depending on the situation, the approximate speed range are like this: 0 to 15 km/h for first gear, 15 to 30 km/h for second gear, 30 to 40 km/h for third, 40 to 55 km/h for fourth, and 55 km/h and higher for fifth and sixth gears.

What gear ratio is best for climbing?

All other things being equal, the 34T sprocket on the

11-34T cassette

is going to give you the easiest gear. If your bike is currently fitted with an 11-28T cassette, switching to an 11-34T cassette will make climbing less of a struggle.

What gear should you be in going uphill on a bike?


Low Gear

= Easy = Good for Climbing: The “low” gear on your bike is the smallest chain ring in the front and the largest cog on your cassette (rear gears). In this position, the pedaling will be the easiest and you’ll be able to pedal uphill with the smallest amount of resistance.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.