Three speed wheel size and spacing

I saw that nashbar had nexus three-speed wheelsets on sale for 80 bucks
and my mother asked me to build her an old fashioned euro-city bike. Ding!

So the basic plan of attack is to find an interesting thrift store frame
and add the new wheels, fresh seat, and handlebars.

I forgot though--is a modern 26" wheel close enough to the old three speed
size as to be able to use the old brakes, and is the hub spacing a close
enough match?

I could have researched this myself, but that would have kept me from
seeding the brains of you usenet readers to start a similar project...



Here's the wheeset:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile_morei...u=11690&brand=

Thu, 29 Jul 2004 17:05:51 GMT,
, maxo
wrote:

I saw that nashbar had nexus three-speed wheelsets on sale for 80 bucks
and my mother asked me to build her an old fashioned euro-city bike. Ding!

So the basic plan of attack is to find an interesting thrift store frame
and add the new wheels, fresh seat, and handlebars.

I forgot though--is a modern 26" wheel close enough to the old three speed
size as to be able to use the old brakes, and is the hub spacing a close
enough match?

I could have researched this myself, but that would have kept me from
seeding the brains of you usenet readers to start a similar project...



Here's the wheeset:

It's listed as a MTB wheel set. Are you certain it's the same size as
old style 3-speeds? They might fit right into a MTB frame.

Be wary of vertical drop outs as you'll need to be able to adjust for
chain tension and you'll have problems with the coaster brake.

You'll need to be able to spread the drop-outs to 130mm.

You've got 559 mm bead seat diameter for mountain bikes, 630 mm for
old 27" ten-speeds and 590 mm for the normal 26" x 1 3/8" three spd.

I just stuck a 26" x 1 3/8" front wheel in the forks of both a MTB and
27" road bike. There's plenty of clearance left for fenders. It looks
like a caliper brake of some sort could be made to work.
--
zk

On Thu, 29 Jul 2004 16:17:36 -0700, Zoot Katz wrote:

It's listed as a MTB wheel set. Are you certain it's the same size as old
style 3-speeds? They might fit right into a MTB frame.

I didn't think it was exactly the same size--but if it's a bit smaller,
then I can easily either get some longer reach brakes--like a set of
weinmanns, to work. I can't use a MTB frame because she finds them ugly
LOL It has to be an old "step through" model. She's agreed to a mixte
frame if I HAVE to. She's very specific--the fenders need to be painted to
match and there must be a removable wire basket mounted to the side of the
rack. Tough customer.

The brake fit issue doesn't matter really since the hub has a coaster
brake--a perfectly fine system for someone toodling around at 10mph. I
just want a front brake for "insurance".

As far as the spacing--I've done it to my road bike which was a bit
stressful, so attacking an old 15 dollar bike with a two by four will be
fun! LOL

Thanks!

On Thu, 29 Jul 2004 19:05:53 -0700, papercut wrote:

Which sheds some light on the type of frame that would be ideal. A old
cruiser or MTB. Either type of frame will accomodate wide tires, but may
need to be respaced a bit to accomodate the 120mm OLD (cruiser being
usually too small, MTB too wide).

She's European, and both of us agree that MTBs and American cruisers are
horrible in the style department--she wants an old fashioned beauty,
somewhat in line with the 60s british three speeds--not the rod brake ones
btw. Please don't be offended if you're a beach cruiser kind of person LOL
it has to do with whatever you grew up with I guess

Those rims did look a bit wide--like MTB rims in the mid eighties. I do
remember putting 1.5s on the Shogun's rims (yes I owned a "prairie
breaker" LOL) and it working out. Since the rim diameter is smaller, I
should have no problems with fender clearance. They've got a good return
policy at nashbar anyway.

Thanks!

On Fri, 30 Jul 2004 03:20:47 GMT, maxo wrote:

On Thu, 29 Jul 2004 19:05:53 -0700, papercut wrote:

Which sheds some light on the type of frame that would be ideal. A old
cruiser or MTB. Either type of frame will accomodate wide tires, but may
need to be respaced a bit to accomodate the 120mm OLD (cruiser being
usually too small, MTB too wide).

She's European, and both of us agree that MTBs and American cruisers are
horrible in the style department--she wants an old fashioned beauty,
somewhat in line with the 60s british three speeds--not the rod brake ones
btw. Please don't be offended if you're a beach cruiser kind of person LOL
it has to do with whatever you grew up with I guess

No, it has to do with style, utility and comfort!

The American cruiser was never intended as serious transport.
European bikes of the same era were, and were therefore less
frivolous, more elegant (in the sense of doing more with less), and
nowhere near as gaudy.

I feel lucky to have caught only the faintest echo of the chopper bike
when I was growing up. Our bikes were BMX-types: a LOT of fun to
ride, and ride hard. I feel bad for kids these days who suffer with
too-heavy bikes which are trying too hard to be copies of grownup
downhill mountainbikes.

-Luigi


Those rims did look a bit wide--like MTB rims in the mid eighties. I do
remember putting 1.5s on the Shogun's rims (yes I owned a "prairie
breaker" LOL) and it working out. Since the rim diameter is smaller, I
should have no problems with fender clearance. They've got a good return
policy at nashbar anyway.

Thanks!

Fri, 30 Jul 2004 03:13:59 GMT,
, maxo
wrote:

I didn't think it was exactly the same size--but if it's a bit smaller,
then I can easily either get some longer reach brakes--like a set of
weinmanns, to work. I can't use a MTB frame because she finds them ugly
LOL It has to be an old "step through" model. She's agreed to a mixte
frame if I HAVE to. She's very specific--the fenders need to be painted to
match and there must be a removable wire basket mounted to the side of the
rack. Tough customer.

That's what I was suggesting. These wheels appear to be modern 26"
mountain bike wheels. (559 mm) The English three speeds in NA were
most commonly 26" x 1 3/8". (590 mm)

There are step through frames to take the 26" (559 mm) MTB wheels. Not
many good ones though. Fenders can be painted. Getting the handlebar
bend, saddle type, pedals and other details right will carry the
effect. Modern high-pressure slicks will make pedalling easier.

If the wheels do turn out to be 26" x 1 3/8" (590), an old ten-speed
frame may be a better starting point. They're generally lighter too.

Anyway, it sounds like a fun project for a good cause.
Have fun.
--
zk

On Fri, 30 Jul 2004 12:04:16 -0700, Zoot Katz wrote:

Getting the handlebar bend,
saddle type, pedals and other details right will carry the effect. Modern
high-pressure slicks will make pedalling easier.

That's what I've thought about doing--getting one of those new trek or
Electra basic cruisers and remove the awful handlebars, replace with some
standard "dove" bars, and switch the balloon tires for something in the
1.5" range. It would add $50 to the price of the bike.

But then there's the hard way.

On Thu, 29 Jul 2004 23:53:35 -0400, Luigi de Guzman wrote:

No, it has to do with style, utility and comfort!

Absolutely!

After a week of no luck around here, I've found a 1958 Raleigh women's
frame, black, 3sp SA, coaster brake (rare on Raleigh), dynohub (works!!!),
and salvagable Brooks online.

Its got the 590 Dunlop rims and remembering from restoring my old 28" rod
braker, they *should* clean up nicely. Otherwise I'm going to rebuild them
onto some modern MTB rims. Blasphemous, but not horribly so--you can
always go back, the dunlops themselves aren't that rare. It'll improve the
ride immensely, not to mention the front braking.

I finally found a regular rear rack with the "spring" which should fit
unless you guys have another suggestion. To this I'll add two of those
foldable baskets.

New tires, a total bearing overhaul, and a shiny fresh silver chain should
complete a ride that'll just blow anything "off the rack" out of the
water. I might replace the bars with identical ones in alloy if they're
too corroded.

My online adventures lead me to believe that some wheelchair tires will
fit the 590 rims? Grey rubber would be cool and in the spirit of the old
Swedish bikes that almost always had grey tires.

I'll keep you updated.



BTW, I haven't bought the bike yet, so if anybody on here has a similar
ride they'd like to sell me, just email, removing the NOSPAM of course. I
do realize that shipping UPS is around $40--its worth it to me.

On Mon, 02 Aug 2004 02:02:05 GMT, maxo wrote:

On Thu, 29 Jul 2004 23:53:35 -0400, Luigi de Guzman wrote:

No, it has to do with style, utility and comfort!

Absolutely!

After a week of no luck around here, I've found a 1958 Raleigh women's
frame, black, 3sp SA, coaster brake (rare on Raleigh), dynohub
(works!!!),
and salvagable Brooks online.

Its got the 590 Dunlop rims and remembering from restoring my old 28" rod
braker, they *should* clean up nicely. Otherwise I'm going to rebuild
them
onto some modern MTB rims. Blasphemous, but not horribly so--you can
always go back, the dunlops themselves aren't that rare. It'll improve
the
ride immensely, not to mention the front braking.

I finally found a regular rear rack with the "spring" which should fit
unless you guys have another suggestion. To this I'll add two of those
foldable baskets.

New tires, a total bearing overhaul, and a shiny fresh silver chain
should
complete a ride that'll just blow anything "off the rack" out of the
water. I might replace the bars with identical ones in alloy if
they're
too corroded.

My online adventures lead me to believe that some wheelchair tires will
fit the 590 rims? Grey rubber would be cool and in the spirit of the old
Swedish bikes that almost always had grey tires.

I'll keep you updated.



BTW, I haven't bought the bike yet, so if anybody on here has a similar
ride they'd like to sell me, just email, removing the NOSPAM of course. I
do realize that shipping UPS is around $40--its worth it to me.

Buy the bike. The Dyno hubs are expensive so even if the bike was a
disaster you could come out ahead.
Bill Baka


--
Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/

On Sun, 01 Aug 2004 20:06:18 -0700, Bill Baka wrote:

the Dyno hubs are expensive so even if the bike was a
disaster you could come out ahead.

Yeah, those hubs are cooler'n snot! LOL.

Shimno does make a similar hub these days for those interested.


Funny that I have to restore a 45+ year old ride to get something
practical and elegant for my mom--I don't mind at all, wrenching is fun
for me, but it's interesting that for the average rider, the industry "got
it" forty years ago so much more than today.