Three Speed Roadster

A three speed roadster is the workhorse of the bike world. For general purpose getting around this is the best bike in the world. A roadster has 26 x 1 3/8 wheels, flat handlebars, mudguards and usually a 3 speed hub gear.

Prices for these now start at £220, if we have a servicable used AW hub. If we have to use a new one the base price rises to £250. 

This picture also appears on the Trent Tourist page. More roadsters are here.

If you have one of these and the gears don't work, click here.

What’s so good about roadsters?

1. Wheel size. The 26 x 1 3/8 inch size is a good compromise between speed and comfort. It’s much larger in diameter than the mountain bike 26”, which is really 24 or 25”. The tyre is wide enough to give comfort without excessive drag. (There are three more 26” wheel sizes, just to confuse you.)

2. Frame design. A Roadster has relaxed geometry, which means that for a given saddle to pedal distance the seat is closer to the ground than it would be on a racing or sports bike, and the wheels are further apart. This makes the bike more comfortable, but doesn’t add as much weight as a spring and pivot suspension system.

3. Gear system. A three speed hub gear is very reliable and lasts a long time. It is also very simple, 1, 2, 3, slow, medium, fast. The chain won’t fall off if it is adjusted properly, and you can have a chain guard to keep your trousers clean.

4. Simple brakes. Most roadsters have side pull brakes, which work well enough, and keep working well with occasional adjustment. The pads are easy to replace and cheap.

5. Design philosophy. Back in the days when Raleigh was run by engineers, they made the roadster for the cyclist who just wanted a bike that worked, and wasn’t that interested in speed. Planned obsolescence was a dirty concept they had no truck with. The bearings in the headset and bottom bracket last far longer than anything you can buy today. Cottered cranks need skill to fit, then keep working.

6. Happiness. Often when we finish and test a roadster, it just feels like a happy bike.

The only bad thing about roadsters is that they came with steel rims, which do not stop in the wet. We replace these with alloy rims on all the bikes we sell.

There's a lovely singlespeed roadster here.