Sturmey Archer 2-speed Fixed?

i've got a decent set of free 700c wheels in the back garden with a 3-speed sturmey archer hub in the rear, and i've a crappy metropole frame i want to run as a polo bike. so i'm after some info on the whole 2-speed fixed conversion of the sturmey hubs a la sheldon brown. has anyone got any experience with this? i vaguely remember ted might have done one? maybe not, i could be wrong. but yeah, anyone got any gems of knowledge/experience? anything appreciated. cheers! :)

2 gear fixed? Black magic!

heresy, i know, but it'd be sweet for polo... :P

There is meant to be alot of slack and it is not really up to back pedalling / skidding from what I have herd so may not be the best for polo.

I think Ted is the man to speak to, last time I spoke to him he was in the process of building one.

I'm kind of curios about that too.... also about fixed-conversions of the 4/5/7-speed SRAM-hubs? someone must know something..

TheBrick(Tommy) There is meant to be alot of slack and it is not really up to back pedalling / skidding from what I have herd so may not be the best for polo.

ah, yeah, that'd be a bit weird. hmm. plan be is finding a 20t sprocket. haha!

mattster blaster [quote]TheBrick(Tommy) There is meant to be alot of slack and it is not really up to back pedalling / skidding from what I have herd so may not be the best for polo.

ah, yeah, that'd be a bit weird. hmm. plan be is finding a 20t sprocket. haha![/quote]
i've never done it, but happy to have a play if you find instructions on how to do it or how it should work.

There are instructions on Sheldons site but It looks quite difficult - you need to machine a few parts I think. if you can't brake or skidd what would be the point?

lukerative There are instructions on Sheldons site but It looks quite difficult - you need to machine a few parts I think. if you can't brake or skidd what would be the point?

what would be the point? havent you ever built something, and then sold or given it away because the point is the process not the end?

its the journey, not the destination...

I heart tinkering.

carlito sway [quote]lukerative There are instructions on Sheldons site but It looks quite difficult - you need to machine a few parts I think. if you can't brake or skidd what would be the point?

what would be the point? havent you ever built something, and then sold or given it away because the point is the process not the end?

its the journey, not the destination...[/quote]

Word to that.

Also remeber that a two speed fixed is more about (and was originally marketed towards) club riders for winter training, just keeping the legs moving was the point, not allowing yourself to be lazy, and two brakes would be use for braking not skidding.

there was a marketing scheme built entirely around a hand-retrofitted and customized (as apposed to off the shelf) internal transmission hub? wow... now, i can see there being a fad amongst club riders for that reason, but i cant imagine SA getting into it...

I know it is a hack but the original two speed fixed hubs where marketed in the way I stated above, hence what I am referring to as the point of a two speed fixed hub. i.e There can be a point ot a fixed hub which is not up to skidding.

TheBrick(Tommy) [quote]carlito sway [quote]lukerative There are instructions on Sheldons site but It looks quite difficult - you need to machine a few parts I think. if you can't brake or skidd what would be the point?

what would be the point? havent you ever built something, and then sold or given it away because the point is the process not the end?

its the journey, not the destination...[/quote]

Word to that.

Also remeber that a two speed fixed is more about (and was originally marketed towards) club riders for winter training, just keeping the legs moving was the point, not allowing yourself to be lazy, and two brakes would be use for braking not skidding.[/quote]

+1 for tinkering just to tinker

and tommy i believe you are referring to the elusive sa 3 speed fixed hubs created for that purpose, but only a a small number, if any still exist today. i think that the 2 speed version was a diy way of getting the benefits of the 3 speed.

mattster blaster [quote]TheBrick(Tommy) There is meant to be alot of slack and it is not really up to back pedalling / skidding from what I have herd so may not be the best for polo.

ah, yeah, that'd be a bit weird. hmm. plan be is finding a 20t sprocket. haha![/quote]i got a 20t sprocket in my bits box if ya want it

I bought one from a bike shop in Seattle and couriered with it in Vancouver. Definately some slack. Upon return to London gave it to Mog at Brixton as he's a Sturmey fan.

TF is the sturmey code for this hub. Afew do still exist. They work fine giving a 25% reduction, but they miss the point of fixed, which first and foremost is simplicity

Sheldon's page covers it for the AW conversion, but apparently a better 2 speed fixed conversion can be had by starting with an SRAM T3 see (warning 20Mb download):

http://fixedgeargallery.com/articles/grahamwebster/grahamwebster1.pdf

The same guy has also done a conversion of an SRAM P5 to fixed 3 speed:

http://fixedgeargallery.com/articles/grahamwebster/TECHNICAL_ARTICLE_SRAM_P5.pdf

So did anyone do this?

Searching the net you can convert a 4 speed to give a three speed fixed. The gears are reduced first and second with a direct drive third.

There is less lash so slowing/skidding would still be possible.

No one has yet mentioned the two speed bottom bracket?? leaving you free to use your std hub/wheel assembly. Shifting from the crank.

Or have i missed something?

No one has yet mentioned the two speed bottom bracket?? leaving you free to use your std hub/wheel assembly. Shifting from the crank.

Or have i missed something?

Like a two or three 'normal' geared bike?

I think there would be problems with chain line.

Nope, it's like a Sturmy Archer built into your BB. You change/shift by pressing your heel into the center of the crank arm/hub. There's a kind of 'button' you push one way for first gear, then press your heel the other side to shift to the other gear. It's a BMX thing ;-)

So the chain line isn't effected at all.

So the chain line isn't effected at all.

Interesting got a link?