Hi,
I have a 3 speed pub bike. I use this for getting around town and doing the school run which involves a towing a 6 year old up a massive hill.
After 2 years of doing this I have decided I need more gears.
There is no mech hanger so I think I need a new rear wheel/hub with more gears.
This is the bike - boardman ur 8.6
What are my options?
Was thinking a nexus hub or Alfie upgrade however don't really want to spend more than £150/200.
Or can I tune the gears so they are easier?
YOu should be able to change the chainring or rear sprocket to alter the overall gearing.
A smaller chainring would help on the hill, but that might mean a new crank depending on what's available for the one you have. You'll obviously lose a bit of top end but that might not be an issue for you?
Infact I have a range of rear sprockets I could send you. PM me
Ah yes. A small cog in the back would sort it!
Thanks.
@tjagain amazing, will have a look and see how big it. Thanks.
@scotroutes yeah wouldn't be a problem.
big at the back to lower the gearing
Bigger sprocket and a new (perhaps longer) chain will help. Go two teeth bigger at least. Range will be the same but your top will be your old middle and middle your old low. That gives you an extra lower gear. Sprockets are easy to change.
Drop the gearing by switching to a 33t chainset £26.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/chainsets/33-mwave-alloy-single-chainset-with-170-mm-cranks/?geoc=US
Assuming existing bottom bracket is standard sq taper and the length is ok
I have the 39t version in my 1*9 bike. Very good for the price
Use a gear calculator to work out the new gearing options, I wouldn't just change stuff without having an idea of the ratio/ground speed with a new sprocket.
Punch in your current setup, and perhaps a few other bikes you own to get a feel for the numbers. Then you can try simulate the new gear on another bike, or that you like that gaps on the current set up but want to gear it so the middle gear becomes top, and a new lower gear.
I like Sheldon Browns Gain Ratio as it includes crank length and tyre size so you can compare completely different bikes, but I'm sure there are apps that would give similar results.
Sprockets are cheap enough and easy enough to change to just experiment tho you will need a longer chain. I have a 3sp SA on one bike. Usually they are geared so that 2nd gear is a nice cadence at cruising speed on the flat but if you lower the gearing you can have 3rd for the flat and that gives you a nice low first gear. I would go at least 25% bigger on the sprocket. probably a 20 or 22 rear sprocket.
I put a bigger rear sprocket on my Raleigh Grifter as a kid, we thought we could almost ride up walls 🤣
Funny now looking back at what we thought were super challenging hills, though to be fair I was probably only 8 🤣
Sorry house sprung a leak. Back now.
So it's an 18T on the back will try a 22T and see where that gets me.
Would rather not mess around with chain length so a small change makes sense.
I never really use the 3rd gear unless I am in a hurry.
Will also try the a gear calculator. Thanks folks.
If your pub bike is going round town and the school run, your doing it wrong.
Needs more pub...
