Dutch style bike - 3 gears enough ?

little bess

Hi, I'm considering buying a dutch style bike or an old fashioned kind of bike anyway, one I'm looking at has 3 gears but I don't know if this will be ok for my commute 3 times a week , about 12 k roundtrip with a few hills(not mad hills really more long inclines) ?

At the moment I'm cycling an old mountain bike , 15 gears but I only ever really use 3 on that anyway. I've only started commuting the last month so the old legs are still not too strong , would 7 gears be better or would the 3 be ok ? Total newbie back to cycling here , so sorry if it seems a stupid question

petethedrummer

From the location in your profile it looks like you're talking about going up the Malahide road. You should be ok going up it in 3 gears. If you're buying the bike in Fairview, the shop should let should let you take it for a test ride up the hill.

Are both options hub (old fashioned) gears? Or is the 7 speed modern derailler type gears? What type of bike is it?

Seaswimmer

little bess wrote: »

Hi, I'm considering buying a dutch style bike or an old fashioned kind of bike anyway, one I'm looking at has 3 gears but I don't know if this will be ok for my commute 3 times a week , about 12 k roundtrip with a few hills(not mad hills really more long inclines) ?

At the moment I'm cycling an old mountain bike , 15 gears but I only ever really use 3 on that anyway. I've only started commuting the last month so the old legs are still not too strong , would 7 gears be better or would the 3 be ok ? Total newbie back to cycling here , so sorry if it seems a stupid question

most of the dutch style bikes sold now come with 3, 5, 7 or even 8 gears. i would aim for at least 5 for dublin terrain. The difference in price cant be too much..

penexpers

It's not the amount of gears that matter, it's more the range.

VinDevo

little bess wrote: »

Hi, I'm considering buying a dutch style bike or an old fashioned kind of bike anyway, one I'm looking at has 3 gears but I don't know if this will be ok for my commute 3 times a week , about 12 k roundtrip with a few hills(not mad hills really more long inclines) ?

At the moment I'm cycling an old mountain bike , 15 gears but I only ever really use 3 on that anyway. I've only started commuting the last month so the old legs are still not too strong , would 7 gears be better or would the 3 be ok ? Total newbie back to cycling here , so sorry if it seems a stupid question

I have 8 speed nexus hub on mine - a heavy Dutch steel bike - I don't use 1 or 8 much but I'm glad I have them. I think you could live with 3 speed but 5 would be more comfortable.

I rode a bog-standard 3 speed in Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago and found the gearing interesting - 1st was not as low as mine and 3rd was quite high - guess it was geared to suit Dutch conditions.

tomasrojo

On quite a few of my rides I use a Brompton folding bike with three hub gears. I've found it fine, though going up Killiney Hill fully laden with guitar and luggage is tiring. Other than that, I find three gears cover just about all gradients you find in Dublin quite adequately.

But I have to assume I'm fitter than average, since cycling has been my primary mode of transport for donkey's years.

DisasterIRL

The thing to remember is the 3 speed hub will have a similar range as your standard geared bike, just less steps in between

little bess

Thanks for the replies folks .
Well the bike I really love the look of is the blue Pashley poppy , but I don't think I'd be able to test ride it here, I'm off to london in a couple of weeks so might try over there . Little Sport in fairview have a Dawes Duchess but the reviews I've read haven't been too good really? I also had a look at a Real Classic in Halfords but it didn't feel great quality to me ?
Any ideas on other makes of this type of bike , my budget is about 500 euro?
And yes , it is the Malahide road I'll be cycling on:)
Yes , the bike is a 3 speed hub gear .

Seaswimmer

little bess wrote: »

Thanks for the replies folks .
Well the bike I really love the look of is the blue Pashley poppy , but I don't think I'd be able to test ride it here, I'm off to london in a couple of weeks so might try over there . Little Sport in fairview have a Dawes Duchess but the reviews I've read haven't been too good really? I also had a look at a Real Classic in Halfords but it didn't feel great quality to me ?
Any ideas on other makes of this type of bike , my budget is about 500 euro?
And yes , it is the Malahide road I'll be cycling on:)
Yes , the bike is a 3 speed hub gear .

you should try 2Wheels in Sandymount as they do Gazelles there. Good value if you are entitled to bike to work scheme...

kona

Look at the Electra amsterdam. Much better than any of the others you have looked at.

little bess

DisasterIRL wrote: »

The thing to remember is the 3 speed hub will have a similar range as your standard geared bike, just less steps in between

Sorry for sounding thick, but how des this affect my cycling ?:)

kona

little bess wrote: »

Sorry for sounding thick, but how des this affect my cycling ?:)

Well think of your car, you have gears probably 1,2,3,4,5.

Imagine if it was 1,3,5 , youd still be able to drive the car but youl be less likely to find a gear that suits your cadene (in car terms Engine RPM), BUT youll still be able to drive it.

tomasrojo

little bess wrote: »

Sorry for sounding thick, but how des this affect my cycling ?:)

Well, the similar range means that you should have a gear that allows you to go fast, and one suitable for going uphill. However, you might find it hard in every scenario to find a gear that allows you pedal at your preferred cadence (how quickly you turn the pedals -- most people have a rate that if they stick with it allows them to cycle with less fatigue).

Cadence isn't that big a deal if you're not cycling long distances, I think.

Civilian_Target

3 speed hubs are grand so long as you're not in a hurry or looking at a steep hill. It'll make a nice, relaxed ride, and much less maintainence and mess.

Going around most of Dublin you'll be fine, but you'll probably have to walk your bike up Christchurh hill, and avoid Mount Merrion or Dalkey... Personally, I would prefer that over the equivalent derailleur.

Squidgy Black

Malahide road's not too steep, the steepest part is from the corner of Griffith Avenue up to Marino Casino, and after that it levels out and drops down to donneycarney church, and after there's only an incline for about 200 metres.

3 would be fine in my opinion, I only use 2 or 3 cycling up it everyday

kona

Civilian_Target wrote: »

3 speed hubs are grand so long as you're not in a hurry or looking at a steep hill. It'll make a nice, relaxed ride, and much less maintainence and mess.

Going around most of Dublin you'll be fine, but you'll probably have to walk your bike up Christchurh hill, and avoid Mount Merrion or Dalkey... Personally, I would prefer that over the equivalent derailleur.

:eek:

tomasrojo

Is Christchurch hill Nicholas Street? I've cycled up it on a three-speed. And I've seen Dublin Bikes go up, so it's definitely far from impossible.

If Christchurch hill means Winetavern Street, then, yes, you definitely would have to wheel your bike up it, because it's a one-way street. :-)

starfish12

kona wrote: »

Look at the Electra amsterdam. Much better than any of the others you have looked at.

I've been looking at the those online - but can't seem to find a stockist in Dublin - want to avail of the bike to work scheme. Does anyone know of a stockist in Dublin?

kona

starfish12 wrote: »

I've been looking at the those online - but can't seem to find a stockist in Dublin - want to avail of the bike to work scheme. Does anyone know of a stockist in Dublin?

Try Cycleways on parnell street, they stock the Electra Cruiser range. I know Hotlines are the Supplier for them so any shop with a Hotlines account can get them in.