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Double Bass DB bicycle thread

#1,141
My trusty Trek - My Dad bought this back in the mid-1990's, new. After his passing my daughter had the bike for 5 years at Montana State, abusing it the whole time (chain rusted together, cluster was fused, both tires and brake pads worn out, and the axles, pedal bearings, and stem grease was non-existent). I regained possession when she moved to Europe and restored it mechanically to it's current very operational condition.

This thing is bulletproof, and I know it is nothing special, but I have a very sentimental attachment to it and I'm sure I'll continue to use it the rest of my biking life. I haul it with me on my travels, and use it for investigating the towns I stay in overnight, or interesting trails I find on the way. I do NOT use it for mt biking!

IMG_0687.jpg
 
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#1,142
turf3 said:
I don't think bike racers have EVER used SA 3 speed hubs, except maybe a few outliers in the 1940s. It probably has much more to do with SA focusing their production on large volume sellers. The number of AWs being taken by Raleigh, Rudge, Humber, as well as the US manufacturers like Schwinn, Huffy, Columbia, etc., for the "standard" 3 speeds made by these companies, would have dwarfed the take rate of anything else; and the users of those bikes were by and large not picky about things like gearing.
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I've read a number of references to "club racers" using them back in the day, so definitely not pros. The ratios were interesting:
The AC was -7.7/direct/+6.6 and the AM was -13.46/direct/+15.55.
 
#1,143
neilG said:
I've read a number of references to "club racers" using them back in the day, so definitely not pros. The ratios were interesting:
The AC was -7.7/direct/+6.6 and the AM was -13.46/direct/+15.55.
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I think you're right, there was a British "club racer" culture in the 40s and 50s and I too remember some references to 3 speed hubs. Probably resistant to derailleurs as that oddball scheme from across the Channel, compared to the all-British all-steel bicycle.

Remember the bumper sticker for British sports cars?

"All the parts falling off this car are of genuine British manufacture."
 
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#1,144
neilG said:
I wonder why they stopped making the close ratio (AC) and the medium ratio (AM) hubs. Maybe only racers were using them.
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I'm betting it was cost. I've looked at diagrams of those hubs. The close ratio hubs have 2 planetary mechanisms, more cogs, probably more complex. The AW is beautifully simple, and may also have emerged as being more reliable. And for most casual riders, a granny gear can be a blessing on a bike loaded with groceries, or in hilly terrain. I use mine.

According to all-knowing Wikipedia, derailleurs were introduced to the Tour of France in 1937, and the first cable operated derailleur came out in 1938. Before that, geared bikes would have been used outside of sanctioned racing. Sturmey-Archer ran ads touting long distance records set by riders on S-A hubs in the 1900's through 20's.
 
#1,145
NBD!

Not at all in the class of what many of you guys ride, but I just rode this home today.

TREK FX3. Basically a step up from the bike that has served me well for 12 years or so. I tried this bike in a larger frame, and the next step up (FX4 - all carbon frame) and just decided this one was the best for me.

Eager to take it out for a hard ride tomorrow. Looking forward to hearing what my sister says when she rolls up and sees a new mount waiting. :D


IMG_0910.jpeg
 
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#1,147
Cool photos; I've gotten in a few lift service rides this year and am headed back next week.

On the internal hubs, I bet I rode at least 6000 miles as an undergrad on my 1939 Elgin curved seat tube frame with an old Bendix yellow band two speed kickback hub for a daily driver. Kick back hard and it is a regular coaster brake, but give it a fast slam and it shifted internally. I may have posted in the past, but here is the same bike with a different rear hub:

Elgin!.jpg
 
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#1,150
It was fun - I didn't tell her I had gotten it, just had it out front when she rode up. Thru the window I could see her eyeballing it... ;)

She said she was a little intimidated. Combined w/ the new bike, I was having a good day, so this 35 miles goes in my column. :D But she's about the fittest person I know, and on any given day, she can (and does) ride me into the ground! Heaven help me if she ever breaks down and upgrades! She is threatening to, the next time ANYTHING needs repair on her ANCIENT ride!

Interesting - new bike has only 1 gear up front. But those last 2 on the rear REALLY step up the resistance! I was really flying at a couple of points but, like I said, I was having a good day. Life is good!

Maybe I'll clean and lube this bike more often than once every decade... ;)
 
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#1,151
Ed S said:
It was fun - I didn't tell her I had gotten it, just had it out front when she rode up. Thru the window I could see her eyeballing it... ;)

She said she was a little intimidated. Combined w/ the new bike, I was having a good day, so this 35 miles goes in my column. :D But she's about the fittest person I know, and on any given day, she can (and does) ride me into the ground! Heaven help me if she ever breaks down and upgrades! She is threatening to, the next time ANYTHING needs repair on her ANCIENT ride!

Interesting - new bike has only 1 gear up front. But those last 2 on the rear REALLY step up the resistance! I was really flying at a couple of points but, like I said, I was having a good day. Life is good!

Maybe I'll clean and lube this bike more often than once every decade... ;)
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I didn't notice that - one chainring in front - but that wide spread on the back sprocket should make hills doable. Glad you had fun flying along in the fast gears - enjoy!

And yeah - keep that drivetrain clean.
 
#1,152
Ed S said:
Interesting - new bike has only 1 gear up front. But those last 2 on the rear REALLY step up the resistance! I was really flying at a couple of points but, like I said, I was having a good day. Life is good!
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That's the way I like 'em! In my experience, the front derailleur on a bike is the one that causes the most noise and trouble.
 
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#1,153
Picked up an older resistance trainer from my kids former kindergarten teacher. She is retired and moving nearer her kids. Her hubby used to ride before he had a stroke. It's an early trainer where it mounts in place of the rear wheel. Belt looks good and it turns smoothly and quietly.

She threw in the old bike that was on it for the same price (free). It's a hand made 1979 Trek 710 in dusty/oily minty condition. I hope my son will appreciate it for what it is someday, as it's a bit small for me.
 
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#1,154
It's just a matter of time before my sister gets a new bike. We are VERY equally matched. In fact, when we discussed it, we each thought the other could beat us on any given day. We don't "race", but we do like to go hard and push each other.

Well, we went 35 this morning, and she had to ask me to slow down! And she HATED to do it. :D She has a computer, and said I was easily averaging a mile faster than our usual pace. And to tell the truth, I coulda gone harder. I LOVE this new bike! Gonna make the effort to keep it clean and lubed!
 
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#1,155
Ed S said:
It's just a matter of time before my sister gets a new bike. We are VERY equally matched. In fact, when we discussed it, we each thought the other could beat us on any given day. We don't "race", but we do like to go hard and push each other.

Well, we went 35 this morning, and she had to ask me to slow down! And she HATED to do it. :D She has a computer, and said I was easily averaging a mile faster than our usual pace. And to tell the truth, I coulda gone harder. I LOVE this new bike! Gonna make the effort to keep it clean and lubed!
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You'll both be in spandex before you know what's happening.
 
#1,158
Yeah - I can appreciate the utility - in the right situations. But what we run into on our multi-use trails is either the out of shape person putzing along dressed head to toe for the Tour, or the idiots blasting full speed through walkers, joggers, dog walkers, and other bikers. Ya wanna ride that hard and fast, get out on the roads.
 
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#1,160
Ed S said:
Yeah - I can appreciate the utility - in the right situations. But what we run into on our multi-use trails is either the out of shape person putzing along dressed head to toe for the Tour, or the idiots blasting full speed through walkers, joggers, dog walkers, and other bikers. Ya wanna ride that hard and fast, get out on the roads.
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Yes both those examples make me scratch my head too. Why? Makes no sense to dress pro and go slow or to run a personal race through a family oriented bike path. One just makes me chuckle, the other gives competitive cyclists a bad name. We are not all like that.
 

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