Need help/advice converting SS MTB to English 3-Speed - Page 3

11-17-2004, 09:20 AM

"Lobo Tommy" wrote:

>>I have a Redline Monocog Single Speed mountain bike. Because of it's
>>BMX genes it only takes 110mm hubs. According to Sturmey Archers
>>website they sell a 110mm 3 speed hub(!). So here is the plan:
>>
>>- New wheels with Sturmey Archer 3-speed 110mm hub on the rear
>>- Replace stock pedals with MKS Rubber Pedals with Reflectors
>>- Replace flat bar with Nitto Aluminum North Road Bars and Raleigh
>>Grips
>>- New tires likely a 26x1.5" semi-slick
>>- a Kickstand
>>- if possible, fenders and a rear rack
>>- Add a Brooks B67 springer saddle for a comfy upright position
>
>>2. What type of rims/spokes would go well with this?
>
A usually-reliable source answered:
>
> Use your current rims.

Nope. Pretty sure the bike comes with 32 spoke wheels, but
Sturmey-Archer has never made a 32 hole rear hub. Current ones are 36
or 28. There are a lot of older 40 hole ones around too.

>>3. I don't think the Monocog came with eyelets for fenders or a rack.
>>Is it feasable to drill these in or are their alternatives for this
>>situation?

Shouldn't be difficult in back, might be an issue in front. Some folks
use Zip ties to mount fender stays.

> Of course, it won't be really English without 700C or 27" rims, but
> there are some concessions that will just have to be made.

700c is EXTREMELY un-English, actually. Most British 3-speeds used 590
mm (26 x 1 3/8), but the MonoCog has cantilever brakes, so it would be
asking for trouble to use anything but the 559 mm (26 x decimal) size it
was built for.
>
>>Recommendations on gearing?

The MonoCog comes geared very low, with a 32 tooth chainring.

The smallest readily available sprocket for an internal-gear hub is 14
teeth, which would give you a 43 inch low and a 76 inch high gear, a bit
on the low side overall.

It is possible to modify a Shimano cassette sprocket to fit, permitting
you to make a usable 12 or 13 tooth sprocket.

>>5. The Monocogs BMX genes give it a LONG seat tube. What kind of stem
>>set up should I be looking at to get those handle bars in the right
>>position?
>
>
> Whatever it takes to put it where you prefer, but the classic location
> is about one to three inches above the seat.
>
> Of course, if you were to cast around at the local thrift stores a
> bit, I bet you'd come up with an English roadster in good shape before
> very long...probably for about 20 to 35 dollars. I've seen lots of
> them at the local Goodwill stores. They usually just need lube and
> tires to make them useful.

An anonymous poster suggested:

> Get yourself a set of 26" prebuilt Shimano Nexus hub wheels.

Nope, this won't fit the 110 spacing of the Mono Cog. This is a steel
frame, so it theoretically could be spread wider, but it is a VERY heavy
duty, BMX type frame, and would likely require a LOT of force to
re-space it--I woud advise against trying.

Sheldon "http://sheldonbrown.com/english" Brown
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11-17-2004, 11:55 AM

maxo <maxo@NOSPAMhome.se> wrote in message news:<pan.2004.11.17.02.35.07.458425@NOSPAMhome.se >...
>
> Hmmm, rereading your post I noticed the spacing of your dropouts.
> You'll need wider for the average 3spd hub, of which you're most obviously
> aware, but if the frame is steel, just cold set it to a wider spacing,
> it's relatively easy and fun.

>

Hmmm... the Monocog frame is 110mm spacing, while the Nexus hub is
135mm spacing. Once the frame's widened, the dropouts will need to be
realigned, which promises to be a bear:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

*I'd* consider it, but only with a fair amount of time to insure that
the procedure results in an aligned frame.

I think the OP's original plan (OP-OP?) is quite practical. If the
newer Sturmey-Archer S-RF3 hub is available in 110mm over-locknut
spacing (ask Sheldon), I think the setup will be the bee's knees.

Jeff

11-17-2004, 11:55 AM

maxo <maxo@NOSPAMhome.se> wrote in message news:<pan.2004.11.17.02.35.07.458425@NOSPAMhome.se >...
>
> Hmmm, rereading your post I noticed the spacing of your dropouts.
> You'll need wider for the average 3spd hub, of which you're most obviously
> aware, but if the frame is steel, just cold set it to a wider spacing,
> it's relatively easy and fun.

>

Hmmm... the Monocog frame is 110mm spacing, while the Nexus hub is
135mm spacing. Once the frame's widened, the dropouts will need to be
realigned, which promises to be a bear:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

*I'd* consider it, but only with a fair amount of time to insure that
the procedure results in an aligned frame.

I think the OP's original plan (OP-OP?) is quite practical. If the
newer Sturmey-Archer S-RF3 hub is available in 110mm over-locknut
spacing (ask Sheldon), I think the setup will be the bee's knees.

Jeff

11-17-2004, 11:55 AM

maxo <maxo@NOSPAMhome.se> wrote in message news:<pan.2004.11.17.02.35.07.458425@NOSPAMhome.se >...
>
> Hmmm, rereading your post I noticed the spacing of your dropouts.
> You'll need wider for the average 3spd hub, of which you're most obviously
> aware, but if the frame is steel, just cold set it to a wider spacing,
> it's relatively easy and fun.

>

Hmmm... the Monocog frame is 110mm spacing, while the Nexus hub is
135mm spacing. Once the frame's widened, the dropouts will need to be
realigned, which promises to be a bear:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

*I'd* consider it, but only with a fair amount of time to insure that
the procedure results in an aligned frame.

I think the OP's original plan (OP-OP?) is quite practical. If the
newer Sturmey-Archer S-RF3 hub is available in 110mm over-locknut
spacing (ask Sheldon), I think the setup will be the bee's knees.

Jeff

11-17-2004, 11:55 AM

maxo <maxo@NOSPAMhome.se> wrote in message news:<pan.2004.11.17.02.35.07.458425@NOSPAMhome.se >...
>
> Hmmm, rereading your post I noticed the spacing of your dropouts.
> You'll need wider for the average 3spd hub, of which you're most obviously
> aware, but if the frame is steel, just cold set it to a wider spacing,
> it's relatively easy and fun.

>

Hmmm... the Monocog frame is 110mm spacing, while the Nexus hub is
135mm spacing. Once the frame's widened, the dropouts will need to be
realigned, which promises to be a bear:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

*I'd* consider it, but only with a fair amount of time to insure that
the procedure results in an aligned frame.

I think the OP's original plan (OP-OP?) is quite practical. If the
newer Sturmey-Archer S-RF3 hub is available in 110mm over-locknut
spacing (ask Sheldon), I think the setup will be the bee's knees.

Jeff

11-17-2004, 12:56 PM

On Wed, 17 Nov 2004 12:55:12 -0800, Jeff Wills wrote:

> Hmmm... the Monocog frame is 110mm spacing, while the Nexus hub is 135mm
> spacing. Once the frame's widened, the dropouts will need to be realigned,
> which promises to be a bear:
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> *I'd* consider it, but only with a fair amount of time to insure that the
> procedure results in an aligned frame.

Apparently that's a really stout frame so respacings not an option.

I've cold set my current ride and realigned the dropouts by eye, took
about an hour. Some string and a ruler worked just fine to keep everything
straight. It ain't hard at all, at least on an old racer.

11-17-2004, 12:56 PM

On Wed, 17 Nov 2004 12:55:12 -0800, Jeff Wills wrote:

> Hmmm... the Monocog frame is 110mm spacing, while the Nexus hub is 135mm
> spacing. Once the frame's widened, the dropouts will need to be realigned,
> which promises to be a bear:
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> *I'd* consider it, but only with a fair amount of time to insure that the
> procedure results in an aligned frame.

Apparently that's a really stout frame so respacings not an option.

I've cold set my current ride and realigned the dropouts by eye, took
about an hour. Some string and a ruler worked just fine to keep everything
straight. It ain't hard at all, at least on an old racer.

11-17-2004, 12:56 PM

On Wed, 17 Nov 2004 12:55:12 -0800, Jeff Wills wrote:

> Hmmm... the Monocog frame is 110mm spacing, while the Nexus hub is 135mm
> spacing. Once the frame's widened, the dropouts will need to be realigned,
> which promises to be a bear:
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> *I'd* consider it, but only with a fair amount of time to insure that the
> procedure results in an aligned frame.

Apparently that's a really stout frame so respacings not an option.

I've cold set my current ride and realigned the dropouts by eye, took
about an hour. Some string and a ruler worked just fine to keep everything
straight. It ain't hard at all, at least on an old racer.

11-17-2004, 12:56 PM

On Wed, 17 Nov 2004 12:55:12 -0800, Jeff Wills wrote:

> Hmmm... the Monocog frame is 110mm spacing, while the Nexus hub is 135mm
> spacing. Once the frame's widened, the dropouts will need to be realigned,
> which promises to be a bear:
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> *I'd* consider it, but only with a fair amount of time to insure that the
> procedure results in an aligned frame.

Apparently that's a really stout frame so respacings not an option.

I've cold set my current ride and realigned the dropouts by eye, took
about an hour. Some string and a ruler worked just fine to keep everything
straight. It ain't hard at all, at least on an old racer.

11-17-2004, 03:24 PM

On Wed, 17 Nov 2004 13:20:31 -0500, Sheldon Brown
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>> Of course, it won't be really English without 700C or 27" rims, but
>> there are some concessions that will just have to be made.
>
>700c is EXTREMELY un-English, actually. Most British 3-speeds used 590
>mm (26 x 1 3/8), but the MonoCog has cantilever brakes, so it would be
>asking for trouble to use anything but the 559 mm (26 x decimal) size it
>was built for.

I've seen quite a lot of very used older Euro-origin 27" 3-speed stuff
coming through of late, though you're correct that the 26x1 3/8" is
even more common. I've been watching the specs for the
current-production English-market bikes, though, and the 700C has
replaced the 27" for the typical Gents' bike, as evidenced by the
models that Raleigh (and others) have in their catalogs. My personal
"English" bike (It's a Puch Rugby Sport, which is certainly aimed at
the English market) has 27" rims.

FWIW, on one occasion, I slipped EA3-rim wheels into a frame that was
built for 26" 559-rim units, but it does not always work. The one
that was a success had the old cheap side-pull calipers with a huge
range of radial position adjustment for the pads. That size of wheel
*would* make it "even more English", but I think that if even if it
worked for that frame (which, as you note, due to the canti brakes it
most likely would not), I'd stay with the 559 rim size to keep the
greater tire selection it affords.

>>>Recommendations on gearing?
>
>The MonoCog comes geared very low, with a 32 tooth chainring.

Yeesh. Well, that would not be too useful. And in thinking about it,
the better choice would (as you suggested) be to swap up to a 44 front
ring and get the chain length matched to that so that links would not
have to be added later when the inevitable swap became needed.

>The smallest readily available sprocket for an internal-gear hub is 14
>teeth, which would give you a 43 inch low and a 76 inch high gear, a bit
>on the low side overall.
>
>It is possible to modify a Shimano cassette sprocket to fit, permitting
>you to make a usable 12 or 13 tooth sprocket.

If you get a chance to put up details on that, I know someone who
would appreciate them. (A 'bent with a chainring clearance problem is
involved.)

> > Get yourself a set of 26" prebuilt Shimano Nexus hub wheels.
>
>Nope, this won't fit the 110 spacing of the Mono Cog. This is a steel
>frame, so it theoretically could be spread wider, but it is a VERY heavy
>duty, BMX type frame, and would likely require a LOT of force to
>re-space it--I woud advise against trying.

And I'll add that one must at present be wary of reading too much into
the Nexus name when shopping on eBay, as there's a seller who is
trying to unload a bunch of Nexus-roller-brake *freehub* 7-speed
wheels and hubs at the moment. The pictures are a bit dark, and the
incautious buyer who doesn't read the description completely (where
the seller does, in fact, say that these are not internally geared)
could wind up with a nasty surprise.
--
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