Bicycles having internal hub gears are still being made available by
quite a few companies. The U. S. A. is one
of just a few countries where these bicycles have appeared to be nearly
extinct. But appearances can be deceiving.
The rest of the world has plenty of them being made new every year.
Bicycles with internal hubs today usually have
more than three gears. But bicycles (never fitted to being generalized
about) still don't always fall into convenient categories. There are
single-speed roadsters coming from India being made much like the
English Roadsters of more than 40 years ago. More about the roadster
pictured here is at this
page in the form of an unfinished review. The review of this
roadster, that was made in India, may take many years to complete as it
is being compared to the British roadsters that it's design requires
that it be compared to. We didn't know how good they were until they
had been in use for many years and many miles. Further down on this
page
is a list of some sources for internal hub gear bicycles.
There are also seven-speed bicycles coming from Germany. The Biria EZ Boarder model pictured below
is unique enough that, like the English Sportster (misnamed "English
Racer") of the 1950's that preceded it by so many years, determining
just what it should be called is not easy. I have seen these called
comfort bikes, tourers, shoppers, nothing quite as ridiculous as
"English Racer" yet, but there is still time. One thing that they
do share with the English Roadsters, English Sportsters, and English
Sport Roadsters is that they are extremely pleasant to ride.
When I first started to create this website I
expected to only be talking about
bicycles from the past that had
found their way into the present. I knew of quite a few of them that
had defeated "planned obsolescence" and
were still useful today even though they were quite old. I knew of a
few companies in other parts of the world
that were still producing new roadsters. Being in the U. S. A. I was
caught up in the "well it's mostly third world
countries where these bicycles were being produced and used" attitude.
In this country we seem to so often think of
our country as being the leader in everything. We tend to think that if
we aren't using these bicycles in great number then there must be a
good reason. It seems that many assume that these bicycles, while they
may have had a use here in the past for a short time, are no longer
needed here and anyone still using them is doing so because they can't
afford to buy a new bicycle. As recently as just a few years ago there
was no notice to the general public here that any new ones were being
sold. That is now changing. There are, in no particular order, Breezer
(from Joe Breeze one of the pioneers of mountain bikes), Biria, Trek,
Eastman, Kettler, Kronan, Gazelle, Electra, and Raleigh in Holland and
Denmark,
A more detailed list is near the bottom of this page.
So why did I get interested in vintage three speed bicycles? First of
all my first
real bicycle was a 1960 three speed bicycle. But that may not have been
enough for me to get interested again almost 40 years later. Whenever I
wanted to just ride a
bicycle I more often took my old three speed J. C. Higgins even though
I had a very light road racing type, 18 speed bicycle. This was before
there were mountain bikes so I didn't have one of those. Then, whenever
I wanted to ride a bicycle to work I again would take my old J. C.
Higgins.
A pattern was developing and dust
was collecting on my 18 speed racer. That's odd isn't it? A very
light, relatively new road racer with alloy everything gets passed over
for the old three speed. But just going for a ride or riding to work is
not long distance touring nor training for a race. The old three speed
bicycle doesn't require special clothes in order to suit the bicycle.
It is even designed with consideration for clothes in the inclusion of
fenders and a chainguard. Well now, that considered it made sense.
Imagine that, a bicycle that can be ridden without any damage to
clothes. If that weren't an old idea it should be a new invention. And
only a few gears so that the primary concentration could be on traffic
not
which one of twenty some gears would be the correct one to select next.
So what's available
today?
There are Biria
bicycles with
most models using internal hub gears. Biria bicycles are made in unisex
frame
models, lady's frame models, diamond frame models, and the EZ Boarding
frame models as
pictured above.
There are Breezer
bicycles sold in the U. S. A.. That's the brand by Joe Breeze, one of
the
mountain bike pioneers.
There are Electra
bicycles sold in the U. S. A.. This brand includes some unique bicycles
called Townies. The seat is back further than the conventional bicycle
which alows you to have the proper seat to pedal distance while you are
also able to have your feet reach the ground, sole flat to the ground.
Hawk Cycles offer a few
models with internal hub gears. Look under "Our Range" then "Shoppers
and Folders".)
Universal
Cycles offer a
few models with internal hub gears. Look under "Universal Bikes" then
"Folders and Tourers"
There are Indian roadsters and Kettler bicycles available from Yellow
Jersey in Madison
Wisconsin, here's
their page for
Indian roadsters
at Yellow Jersey, and here's
their page for
Kettlers at Yellow Jersey.
Thanks to James
Biffin from Portland, Oregon for the following listings.
The Danish company, http://www.sogreni.com/
or sogreni.dk sell
bicycles and bicycle accessories like
fenders made from different types of wood or different metals, copper,
zinc
brass etc. and leather handlebar grips. They are known to use AW hubs.
St. John Street
Cycles sells a
few bikes with the SA 3 speed hub. The day I put this link here I
found Universal and Peugeot bicycles listed.
The ANT
light roadster by Alternative Needs Transportation is available
with 3 speed hub.
Hubs for
internal gearing
The Sturmey Archer
model AW, a
three speed hub is still my favorite and
probably the most durable moderately priced internal gear hub for
bicycles. But I admit it is not for everyone. For example, it is not
for those who don't think that they have a responsibility to make sure
equipment is properly and safely adjusted before using it. That is
because there is a free space between the second and third gear which
is no trouble when the hub is adjusted properly. But if the hub is out
of adjustment the free space, where the pedals just turn forward freely
without resistance, can appear as second gear or third gear and present
the possibility of injury to the rider. When the hub is properly
adjusted it is quite safe. Approximate selling price of the Sturmey
Archer AW three speed hub is $70 US. Sturmey Archer also makes other
internal gear hubs up to seven speed models.
Hubs by Sram and Shimano. Modern
three to seven speed hubs. These are on a par with the SA hubs in the
way they operate. (SA model AW hubs beat all others for parts
availability.)
Sram and Shimano hubs have no neutral to cause trouble for those who
think keeping a bicycle in proper adjustment is optional. I don't see
how any hub can surpass the Sturmey Archer AW for parts
availability. The same model has been in production for so many years
that parts for them are plentiful. It certainly didn't hurt that the
Sturmey Archer turned out to be so durable and dependable. Bicycle
shops stocked up on parts for the AW to be ready with replacements when
needed only to find that AW hubs can often go for many, many years
before anything more than oil and grease need replacing. Three speed
hubs with aproximate selling price for Shimano starting around $70 US,
shifter assembly $15 US to $20 US extra. Sram 3 speed hub starting
around $85 US, shifter assembly included.
Rohloff
Speedhub14 speed hub. Probably the ultimate internal gear hub. Besides being 14 gears enclosed
in a hub, it is the only internal gear hub that I know of that is made
to withstand the greater stress of mountain biking off road use.
Approximate selling price of lowest priced model around $900 US
complete including shifter assembly.
Internal
Hub Bicycles For Today
