Nexus 3 speed gearing

Dr. Tankenstein · Jul 8, 2014

Got a question for the Nexus 3 speed users out there.

This week on vacation I was riding my Huffy bobber and quickly noticed that with my 36/18 gearing, 1st gear useless, 2nd gear meh, and third as the only useful gear.

Would moving to a larger chainring help/hurt the gearing to make better use of all three.

PS, I was at the beach, so I'm referring to flat ground pedaling.

Thoughts?

Cheers,
Dr. T

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

CCR · Jul 8, 2014

Pretty sure I was running a 52t with mine at first, went to 44t and was happier when a hill showed up. Would have to look again at what was on the rear but I'm guessing an 18t on back.

ZygoteLittle · Jul 8, 2014

If you have a 26” wheel, then you are pulling 52 Gear Inches. IMHO, that’s a little too low for flatland riding at the beach; try running a 42T crank, that’ll result in a neutral pulling gear of 66.667 Gear Inches.

Gear Inch Calculator

mikeeebikey · Jul 8, 2014

I run as low as 36/16 on a 26" with the nexus, and with slicks a 44/18

Bicycle808 · Jul 8, 2014

A Nexus 3 has second gear as the 1:1 direct drive, so being in 2nd is the same gearing as you'd have if the bike is singlespeed, with low being 73% of the direct gear, and high being 136% of the direct.

When I set up a 3 speed, I tend to try to keep my 2nd what I would normally do as far as a singlespeed. For me, that's typically between 60 and 65" on a 26" cruiser that mostly sees street duty. This will give you a 43.8" to 47.5" low, and a 81" to 88.5" high for a Nexus 3; it'sd be slightly narrower on a Sturmey-Archer. Most Sachs/SRAM 3speeds are geared like the Nexus.

Incidentally, a 44f/18r rear will give you 46"/63.5"/86" gears with a Nexus on a 26" bike... Which is good for leisurely flatland cruising, in my opinion.