Is it possible to convert a single speed town cruiser bike into a 3-speed cruiser?

Question

I love my bike, but I just moved to a town that is not so flat. I don't really want to get a new bike, but I wouldn't mind some new gears. Advice?

Answer 1

Yes it can be done.

You'll need a rear wheel that has an internally geared hub and a coaster brake. Also required will be a shifter and a cable along with good old fashioned know-how. You can probably cannibalize an old bike for these parts that can be purchased at a flea market cheap, or a new Nexus hubbed wheel could set you back a couple of hundred bucks especially if it has to be built from scratch.

The last possibility is to have a Nexus hub built into your existing wheel.

Answer 2

Shimano makes an internallly geared hub similar to the old english 3 speed bikes, called the Nexus System. With a new rear wheel that contans the new hub and a shifter attached to the handlebar, you'll be good to go. Take it to a local shop that sells higher-end bicycles and they should be able to do it for you.

Price? I really don't know, but I'm guessing it should be less than a couple hundred bucks? Any shop owners/mechanics want to offer a guess?

Answer 3

I would think that your bike came with a single speed hub in the rear. If you want to add cogs in the rear you need a new hub plus shifters, cables, housing. It can get pricey for an upgrade like this.

Answer 4

Shimano also sells an automatic shifter, all housed in the hub, so no cables are need, etc. They are currently being sold on Trek, so you may want to go to a Trek bike shop. But it can get pricey $$$.

Answer 5

truthfully, you can, but it would be very expensive to do, a few hundred bucks, you'd have to by a new hub, the gears, shifters, and cable, which adds up fast. if you really like the bike, you can do it.

Answer 6

Find old Sturmey hub as used on Raleighs, some schwinns . proper bracket and cable lever on top frame tube or handlebar. Clamp on rim brakes would be needed for back wheel.. another way would be front variable sprocket from Huffy, tensioner on back of frame for taking up chain slop- standard deraillier part. depends some an actual 'Town Cruiser' , brakes on now.

Answer 7

i trust Nexus is equipped in 3,5 and 7 %. in basic terms parts on my own, $2 hundred-$250, except you locate some used parts. inner gears are fairly bomb evidence, so see you later as you'll discover it and it has the right brakes (coaster/no coaster) it might nicely be ok.

Answer 8

http://www.bike.com