cycle tramp wrote:Don't be too proud to post photos of the build, I'm looking forward to see this one.
I’m not sure how to post photos but here’s just an update to report on my progress to date.
My earlier posts now have had additional comments (marked as edits) added to them to give answers to some questions I raised - so others may benefit from my experience.
I now have an old (very poor date mark, probably early 70’s) type hub that’s been stripped, cleaned, pair of new pawl springs added, greased, reassembled, oiled and adjusted. It works well on the bench but at the moment I’d prefer to hold it as a spare and not build it into a wheel. Building a wheel is a big investment in my time and effort, makes you take a moment or two to think and question whether there’s a better route forward.
Due to the uncertain long term availability of pre-NIG long axles - I’ve bent a few axles over the years - I’d prefer to fit a later NIG unit instead .... have a bid on something on eBay now. SA spares can be a bit of a minefield and as I hope to use this hub for many years getting a later model
should help with long term spare parts availability (especially an axle long enough for my 120mm drop-outs).
That’s it for now. I’ll add more detail and progress when I have it. For what it’s worth I’ve been out on several rides recently and checked the proposed three speed gearing ratios against those that I use on my (other) derailleur geared bike. I will loose some used higher and lower ratios but overall I recon that things will be just fine enough.
Edit. After more research of the period when 3 speed hub geared bicycles were used for touring I discover that what I eventually want to create is something in the spirit of the Raleigh Lenton Sports. It was a drop handlebar three speed (?) touring bicycle, typically with front Dynohub - a kind of take you anywhere and anytime sort of machine.
Ref:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroralei ... ohler.html https://on-the-drops.blogspot.com/2016/ ... -1960.html http://www.retrobike.co.uk/
Don’t fret, it’s OK to: ride a simple old bike; ride slowly, walk, rest and admire the view; ride off-road; ride in your raincoat; ride by yourself; ride in the dark; and ride one hundred yards or one hundred miles. Your bike and your choices to suit you.