Need your advice. I am planning to go commute through most of the winter in NYC. One suggestion that I got was to get a 3 speed instead of a single speed. I don't think that my knees plus the hills can take a fixed gear. I could force it on say 42X16 or 17 but, when coming home after a long day at 9pm I sometimes just cant handle not having an extra gear. The funny thing is that I only use 3 gears on my current setup.
It was suggested that I have Sturmey Archer 3 speed built up to my specs. I wont get into the details, but my friends feeling is that they can be virtually winter proof.
Has anyone heard of this? Am I out of my mind?
Thanks

I rode a 3 speed as a commuter for about 15 years/25K miles. Finally wore out the guts. I went through a few rear cogs, a few chains, and one axle. That hub used the 3-spline cogs, and they were only available in 1/8" chains (not 3/32" like used on derailleurs). The heavier chains held up well in year-round winter commuting. The old SA hubs had thin, steel flanges and were hard on spokes, so you had to use heavy gauge. Pretty low maintenance system. The gearing used to be 3/4, 1, 4/3 - IOW, compared to the front/rear tooth ratio, low gear was 75% and high gear was 133%. This worked fine for me on relatively flat ground. I used the low gear for starting up from a stop, and the high gear when I got a serious tail wind. If you're getting a used hub, then the $$ probably work out, but if you have to buy one new, I think it's cheaper to go with derailleurs, last I checked.

No need to go custom.
What about a Bianchi Milano? 8 speed internal hub, drum brake...
I use one for a low-maintenance/water-resistant commuter.

I got mine on eBay for under $400.

I've been commuting for about 7 years to mass transit on a $10 garage sale 3speed Sears bike, day in day out, snow, rain, you name it. I used to go about 3mi RT to the train, but now go ~1mi RT to the bus.

After going through the bike & lubing everything when I first got it, I've done NOTHING since, save for adding air to the tires.

S.A. hubs are nice, but I d/n how they hold up to abuse/neglect. Sheldon would know.

- Chris

One suggestion that I got was to get a 3 speed instead of a single speed...It was suggested that I have Sturmey Archer 3 speed built up to my specs...Has anyone heard of this? Am I out of my mind?
Thanks

If your a strong rider then the hub will not be able to take it. Here is what I use, and because all the parts were laying around anyway it cost me zero dollars :cool:

a single 42T half worn out chainring mounted in the outer position
one friction downtube shifter
a scratched up but functional rear deraileur
any old cassette laying in the parts bin. I use a 12-25.
an old chain that had a few damaged links from a mishap I don't even remember. After the links were removed it was just the right length.

Even if you had to buy the parts it would not cost much to gather a similar list. 42x12 is plenty high enough for this time of year and if I am spinning that out I am satisfied to coast cause it is too cold to go that fast. 42x25 is low enough to get me up all but the really nasty > 18% grade hills.

Get a wheel with a two speed fixed gear hub from these guys:

http://www.thebikesmith.com/special.htm

The lower gear is 30% of the upper gear. A lovely solution.

Get a wheel with a two speed fixed gear hub from these guys:

http://www.thebikesmith.com/special.htm

The lower gear is 30% of the upper gear. A lovely solution.

How much $ ?

How much $ ?

I don't know. Contact them & give us the low-down.