Boomer kids grew up on two wheels. From the time the training wheels came off, we were spotted buzzing around town on our Sting-Rays, or on less expensive banana-seated clones.
However, many of us had more technologically sophisticated rides. Perhaps we inherited them from our parents or older siblings, or perhaps the non-conformists among us showed our rebellious traits at an early age by opting for them over the high-handlebarred models that everyone else preferred.
The result was the fairly common sight of three-speed bikes on the 1960's streets where we lived.
The three-speed bike has a venerable history. Before the invention of the automobile, bicycles were seen as an alternative method to getting around town for those without a horse. And let's face it: it was difficult for a city dweller to own a horse, so the bicycle may well have been an essential part of his or her life.
Thus, around the turn of the century, technological developments were taking place very rapidly on bicycles. In 1909, the British Raleigh bicycle, equipped with a Sturmey Archer 3-Speed hub, started production. Thus began the three-speed revolution.
The three-speed hub allows for variable gear ratios. This makes for easier hill climbing as well as greater speed on level areas.
Comfort was the priority of the three-speeds. Most of them had a spring-loaded cushioned seat. They also had upright handlebars that your hands found naturally comfortable to grasp. The shifter might have been found on the bike frame in the form of a "stickshift," but was more likely found near the right handgrip.
Front and rear brake levers were also found attached to the handlebars. The three-speed hub made it impossible for the bike to use the coaster brake that most single-speed models used.
The bikes were designed for a leisurely trip through town. Many were equipped with front or rear baskets. All of them came with fenders, to prevent that nasty road grime from covering your back while pedaling in wet conditions.
What they weren't was cool. Riding around on a three-speed meant that you were not:
- A sports jock
- A babe magnet
- Likely to be voted Most Popular in school
- More concerned with image than functionality
- Afraid to be seen riding a contraption more suited for your Uncle Joe
At the time, non-conformity was a course taken by a courageous few. The rest of us were slaves to image, and were sadly likely to poke fun at those who weren't.
The three-speed bike was a classic design that had the further advantage of being extremely durable. Bike frames were generally made of good old heavy steel. The gear mechanism was sealed against the elements. The tires were massive rubber monstrosities, with thick treads, designed to go thousands of miles. Try THAT on those skinny 27" tires that came on the later ten-speeds.
Thus, many a three-speed pedaled by a Boomer kid was a hand-me-down. Those bikes could last for decades with just a bit of care and the provision of a dry place of storage.
Nowadays, three-speeds have their fan clubs. For instance, take a look at the 3-Speed Adventure Society, who enjoy dressing up in tweed and hitting the road like it was 1920.
It was the ten-speed that caused an explosion in bicycling in the 1970's, and a future article will cover that in full. But here's a doff of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball cap to the three-speed: the triumph of function over form.
Comments (5)
My parents always bought us Raleigh bikes.I remember the last one they bought us. My sister and I both got bikes one year for Christmas. It was the 60's and mine was aqua.
I never left it out to be rained on or weathered by the sun. Our parents taught us to take care of what we owned.
I kept that bike until I went away to college and had a motorcycle. At which time my parents gave it to a neighborhood child who didn't have a bike.
Thanks for the memories...
Southern smiles and world peace,
Sharon
~The Baby Boomer Queen~
Posted by Sharon/The Baby Boomer Queen | May 11, 2009 12:36 AM
Posted on May 11, 2009 00:36
Yeah, I do remember some bigger kids with 3 speeds. I did not understand them and did notice you could pedal backwards. We used to be entertained by boys while visiting, who at times also baby sat for us and they were into what they called English Racers. The tires were much more thin than even the 27 inch tires common to later 10 speeds.
But in Maine, it seemed like Sting Rays really caught on about 1966 in my area. But it took a few more years before nearly every one had them. I do remember that later StingRay types gained 3 speed gears. I saw 3 speeds around but they did not have quite the stigma that they did in your area.
But as a kid at age 7, you had to have a basket. And Fenders. And Chain guards and white walls and those streamers that hung our of the handle bar grips. And there was the baseball or playing cards held on by clothes pins to make those cool motor cycle sound, right? And a bell or horn. I had a Huffy with 26 inch wheels in 69 at age 10 maybe. Two big baskets on the back.
But everyone had a bike as a kid and used them all the time. It was not a luxury, it was an essential right as a kid. I never understood 3 speeds. But when I later tried one, I had wished that I had gotten one earlier. But I had a 20 speed by that time, anyway.
And it was 1972 when 10 speeds swept through and became a rage. It was almost impossible to even find a Schwinn 10 speed in the more affordable prices. I eventually got a Varsity model, yes, with fenders, which I would later learn was not cool. What? So I was told.
Only had to go 35 miles to get it. Outrageous!
But as you think about it, bike styles were changing fast and by 1978, when after graduated for a year, I got another 10 speed and they were more affordable and less popular. I remember BMX style bikes at first. Mountain bikes had not come around yet. Look at that craze.
We had become a nation of fads and many changes, never staying too long with anything. Of course, technology was filtering down to our everyday lives and pursuits and it improved bikes a lot. Shock absorbers, 21 speeds, composite frames, and who knows what else. I have never had a mountain bike. I have always been a road man in adult years. Still got my red 1978 Schwinn World Traveler. Proud of it, too. Fads didn’t really serve me, although mountain bikes could be had for an affordable price in later years. But 10 speeds was enough. Its never enough anymore for many.
Posted by Scott I | May 11, 2009 1:50 AM
Posted on May 11, 2009 01:50
In 1960, for $10 I purchased a used 26 inch Raleigh 3 speed English bike from my baby sitter’s brother. It was in pristine shape with a faux pigskin leather saddle bag and matching seat. It also had a large headlamp powered by a magneto which had a toothed wheel that rotated and generated an electric current when engaged (pressed against the side of the tire) and required energetic pedaling to power the light which would dim if one slackened the pace, it also made quite the high pitched whine which increased in pitch and intensity with speed.
I didn’t experience the lack of coolth stigma that Ron described as 1 speed American bikes were the norm and English bikes were The COOL ride (the only person in the neighbor hood who had a cooler bike was the kid who had a Huffy Radio Bike which had a transistor radio built into the center strut.
The Sturmey-Archer 3 speed shifter was quite the innovation and would eat the balloon tired competition’s lunch once one was pumping in 3rd gear. I was told that one should pedal backwards during each gear change up or down but after empirical experimentation (I don’t take anything at face value) it didn’t seem to matter. One of the downsides of the shifting scheme was occasionally when power pedaling in 3rd (standing up) was that the 3 speed hub would slip causing the pedals to free wheel and one would find one’s crotch jammed into the center bar which could be downright uncomfortable (hurt like hell if one landed just so.)
That bike was my primary mode of motion until my parents gave it away after I left home at 14 and I only rode a bicycle once after that (a borrowed 10 speed for a couple of months when I was without motorized transport.)
Posted by Burt | May 11, 2009 5:06 PM
Posted on May 11, 2009 17:06
Back in 1964 after wearing out the Sears "Wishbook" Christmas catalog from the time I got it until Christmas IT arrived. IT being Sears version of the Stingray, only better! Candy Gold with chrome fenders. twin mirrors, banana seat, chrome headlight, chrome sissy bar, chrome chaingard, front and rear hand brakes, 20" front wheel, and 24" rear, and yes a 3 speed rear hub with a twist grip throttle type shifter control.
The front tire lasted forever since it was never on the ground.
Up hill, down hill it was alway in the air. A trait I soon mastered to any bike I got on, but my Stingray was set up so all I had to do was a weight transfer and up she went.
I found an early model MX bike and "built" a very close copy of my old gold two wheeler for my son 35 years later complete with the 3 speed hub. I don't know if there is a slight difference in the bike frame or my added 50lb but wheelie days for me seem to be over. I just can't seem to find the old "sweet spot" that my old bike had. Or maybe my butt has lost the feeling it once had for the seat of the pants balance I used to have.
I miss my old bike. In fact I have in front of me right now a picture I took of my bike back in 1965 with my old (still have it) Brownie Hawkeye camera.
Many a night I used to fly home in the dark from my girlfriends house.
44 years later we're still good friends...It seems I hold on to things a long time. BTW my old bike,,,I put a motor on it. Something the frame couldn't handle.
Posted by R Henry | May 11, 2009 9:44 PM
Posted on May 11, 2009 21:44
My three speed had the gear shift in the right handlebar grip. You had to turn the grip to shift gears. This sometimes sent me straddling the frame when I was standing up laboring up a hill and holding tight to the handlebars and the plastic-like grip gearshift would turn and--zzzzip----I was suddenly between gears and my foot had slipped off the peddle. Ouch.
Posted by lisa | June 13, 2009 3:46 PM
Posted on June 13, 2009 15:46