21 spd vs. 3 spd internal

Howdy!

I'm debating between those two arrangements in a Townie cruiser, and I
wonder which one is better in situations where wind (not hills) could
be a factor. Is a 3 spd internal equivalent to 3 spd external?

Thanks in Advance!

donquijote1954 wrote:
Howdy!

I'm debating between those two arrangements in a Townie cruiser, and I
wonder which one is better in situations where wind (not hills) could
be a factor. Is a 3 spd internal equivalent to 3 spd external?


Uhhh... the subject line says "21 vs 3-speed" and then the body says
"3-speed internal" vs. "3-speed external". I think you need to clarify
what you're asking about.

Jeff

donquijote1954 wrote:
Howdy!

I'm debating between those two arrangements in a Townie cruiser, and I
wonder which one is better in situations where wind (not hills) could
be a factor. Is a 3 spd internal equivalent to 3 spd external?

Thanks in Advance!

I ride a three speed utility bike in hilly middle Tennessee, and
mine is geared so it's a got uphill, flat, and downhill gears. Dead
simple and it gets ridden a lot. Remember that you can change the cog
in back to alter the overall ratio. The idea of external gears on a
bike that calls itself a cruiser is ludicrous. Have a look at a more
conventional Breezer with a 7 or 8 speed hub or even a Bianchi Milano
if you want more ratios.

Per landotter:
I ride a three speed utility bike in hilly middle Tennessee, and
mine is geared so it's a got uphill, flat, and downhill gears. Dead
simple and it gets ridden a lot. Remember that you can change the cog
in back to alter the overall ratio. The idea of external gears on a
bike that calls itself a cruiser is ludicrous. Have a look at a more
conventional Breezer with a 7 or 8 speed hub or even a Bianchi Milano
if you want more ratios.

And check out Heinz Stucke - not went around the world by bike, but spend
virtually his entire adult life on the road.

His take is that 3 speeds is enough.
--
PeteCresswell

Per (PeteCresswell):
Heinz Stucke

Oops, forgot the URL:
http://www.bikechina.com/ct-heinzstucke1z.html
--
PeteCresswell

donquijote1954 wrote:
Howdy!

I'm debating between those two arrangements in a Townie cruiser, and I
wonder which one is better in situations where wind (not hills) could
be a factor. Is a 3 spd internal equivalent to 3 spd external?

A SRAM DualDrive hub has a 1.36:1 overdrive (3rd gear), a 1:1 direct
drive (2nd gear) and a 0.73:1 underdrive (1st gear). By comparison, the
standard 52/42/32 road triple has 1.24:1 large ring and 0.76:1 "granny"
ring (relative to the middle ring) and the common 44/32/22 ATB triple
crank has ratios of 1.375:1 and 0.69:1. So it really depends on the
teeth range of the crank (the maximum difference of which is limited by
both front and rear derailer capacity).

Thanks in Advance!

You are risking getting flamed for appearing illiterate by Herr Brandt:
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.bicycles.tech/msg/1358551cf31cb80f?dmode=source.

--
Tom Sherman - Here, not there.

JeffWills wrote:
donquijote1954 wrote:
Howdy!

I'm debating between those two arrangements in a Townie cruiser, and I
wonder which one is better in situations where wind (not hills) could
be a factor. Is a 3 spd internal equivalent to 3 spd external?


Uhhh... the subject line says "21 vs 3-speed" and then the body says
"3-speed internal" vs. "3-speed external". I think you need to clarify
what you're asking about.

Jeff

The case at hand is in the tittle, the other is a hypothetical
question. Thanks!

(PeteCresswell) wrote:
Per landotter:
I ride a three speed utility bike in hilly middle Tennessee, and
mine is geared so it's a got uphill, flat, and downhill gears. Dead
simple and it gets ridden a lot. Remember that you can change the cog
in back to alter the overall ratio. The idea of external gears on a
bike that calls itself a cruiser is ludicrous. Have a look at a more
conventional Breezer with a 7 or 8 speed hub or even a Bianchi Milano
if you want more ratios.

And check out Heinz Stucke - not went around the world by bike, but spend
virtually his entire adult life on the road.

His take is that 3 speeds is enough.

I guess then it's not a problem in headwind. Thanks!