I regularly ride two bikes that were considered lightweights by the manufacturer when they were built in the mid-1940s though I question whether the first generation of Schwinn Continental is considered "on topic" here. One is my rendition a Clubman with a number of unoriginal parts and the other is mostly original with inverted moustache bars and a B-17 (the non-original part). Both were originally equipped with AW hubs.
I have to agree that the AW seems to have a great deal less "enthusiast" appeal than the AM, AC, etc. but unless you do most of your riding on fairly level roads, I think you'll find the AW much more useful. I tried to use an FM for a while this spring but found the range too narrow and switched back to the AW. To my mind that negates any thought of trying an AM or an AC though I do own an AM.
A couple of week ago I built an FW into a wheel for the "Clubman" and am finding that I like it a lot. The only problem I'm having with the FW is that there seems to be an excessive amount of friction in first gear which suggests to me that an overhaul may be in order.
My next internal hub project is to use an AW with two cogs on an early '60's Viking. I have yet to try fitting the hub in place but I'm thinking that the Viking's Cyclo-Benelux derailleur should handle the two cogs.
Regards, Alan Weeks Lake Placid, NY
At 08:35 PM 9/25/2007, Dr. Paul Williams wrote:
>I think I have come down to building the Carpenter with either a
>three-speed hub or go with a single-speed. I like the idea of the former
>as it would be fun as a club-bike set-up. I was interested in reading
>Sheldon's views that the three-speed is looked down upon by many - I
>note that we don't really talk much about three-speed set ups on this
>list although they were aspects of the British club scene. How many
>others on the list have recently built a lightweight up with a
>three-speed hub?
Paul, Anything with a coaster or drum brake, or dynohub would probably be inappropriate. But among three speeds, an AM, AC, or fixed gear ASC will get plenty of respect. Wide ratio AWs don't have much status, but they are bulletproof if you keep the indicator adjusted and parts are readily available. I know 5 local guys running them on lightweights.
Or consider a 4 speed. I just built up a 1957 RRA Moderne with an FM, which has 3 fairly close gears and a big drop to a low "Bottom" gear. Very nice indeed.
Close ratio FCs are pretty scarce. The easier to find FW is supposedly "Wide ratio". But I find the spacing just enough tighter than an AW to provide a very pleasant ride. In fact my ride today was on my FW equipped 1950 Norman.
All of the hubs I mentioned were available in 1949 when your Carpenter was built.
Mark Stonich;
BikeSmith Design & Fabrication
5349 Elliot Ave S. - Minneapolis. MN 55417