extra all-weather stopping power: 3 speed hub with coaster brake?

[Maxants33]

Hello,

I'm currently riding an old restored 1970s Vindec atlantic with an old SA 3 speed hub. I swapped out the old 18 tooth sprocket for a 13 toothed sprocket and now its the fastest 3 speed in Manchester (I think)...

However, I have caliper brakes on old vintage steel rims and I ride in the rain a lot. I think I'm going way to fast for the the stopping power I have, I'm going to get killed. I'm also moving to London soon and I always feel uncomfortable with my current stopping distance riding around London, despite my optimizing the brakes as best possible.

I'm looking for a 3rd brake. I was thinking of upgrading my SA hub to an SRC3 with coaster brake - so as to have that additional weather proof stopping option to supplement my caliper brakes.

But - I'm a little unsure of the tech suitability for my riding style. I would want to keep my 13 tooth sprocket, as I love the additional speed, and I like to go fast. Are the new SA hubs as tough as the old ones? Could an SRC3 handle the extra torque and punishment a small sprocket provides?

Also, does anyone know if a coaster brake is really going to be able to provide that much useful stopping power? Particularly given I need my stopping power at short notice (I've never used a coaster brake before). But to be fair, I would appreciate any additional stopping power at the mo....

I would still intend to rely on my calipers primarily, so the coaster would be my emergency back up for rainy days....

Many thanks for reading!!
Max

 

[andrew_s]

Coaster brakes work well enough to lock the wheel, but as they act on the back wheel your braking is limited compared to a bike with two good caliper brakes. If you brake too hard on the back wheel, it will just skid. Still far better than steel rims in the wet.
They also take a bit of getting used to, which will take longer if you use it for emergency backup only.

 

[Maxants33]

Thanks Andrew, I think I'll take the leap, I need the insurance - skidding is better than being unable to stop I guess! I'll build a new wheel so that if I cannot adjust to coaster-ism I can just pop my old 1970s hub back on.
Ta!

 

[mcshroom]

I'd be tempted to switch out the front wheel for one with an alloy rim. It should be cheaper and improve wet braking distance remarkably.

 

[Maxants33]

I'd be tempted to switch out the front wheel for one with an alloy rim. It should be cheaper and improve wet braking distance remarkably.

Yea, I thought about that, but I use 26 x 1 3/8 wheels, I hear the alloy replacements for this size are few and of low quality, so its a choice between braking power or wheel toughness it seems. My current steel rims are solid things (and quite pretty!). But thanks for the suggestion!

 

[fossyant]

Bin the steel for any ability to stop. A coaster brake wont stop you quickly enough.

 

[andrew_s]

Yea, I thought about that, but I use 26 x 1 3/8 wheels, I hear the alloy replacements for this size are few and of low quality, so its a choice between braking power or wheel toughness it seems. My current steel rims are solid things (and quite pretty!). But thanks for the suggestion!

You could try rebuilding your front wheel on a drum brake.
You'd have the torque arm up one fork blade, which is less than beautiful, but on the other hand the right version could be more or less period correct.

 

[sreten]

Hi,

FWIW a small rear sprocket reduces the torque and punishment you can put through a hub gear.

Also FWIW for emergency stops the better you can use the front brake the less use the
rear is and additional braking is not necessary, I'd remove the rear rim brake with a
coaster, co-ordinating all three simply isn't going to happen reliably, whilst with
no rear rim brake, you would learn the rear / front brake co-ordination.

Also note coaster brakes are a pain is heavy traffic for setting your pedals to set off.

rgds, sreten.

 

[Maxants33]

Thanks Sreten, I may go for gear hub with built in coaster or drum now. Not sure. Part of me likes the coaster idea, as it introduces a bit of fixie DNA into my bike, but drum does allow me to move my pedals at a stop. I think I will try coastering out - style over practicality.

Many thanks for the input guys!
Max

 

[Maxants33]

So, I've fitted my coaster brake - figured I could add a rolling review for anyone else considering coaster-ism.

The new rear wheels been on for 24 hours and I've had a mixed experience...

My stopping power is amazing, and I'm loving the flare well timed skids provide. I can now stop in the rain with no worries.

However, my bike now feels like a fixie - and I've been thrown over the handle bars a few times!
The biggest loss has been losing the ability to re-position my legs when coming towards a bump at high speed. Normally if I see a bump at short notice I can backpedal to get my knees flexed to ameliorate the shock, but I've done this with the coaster and suddenly stopped in the middle of traffic, hit the bump and fallen over the bars!!
I also ride fast - the back pedal business creates a lot of forward momentum when used.

These problems are in part due to the fact that I've been riding non-coaster and non-fixie most of my life, so my reflexes are very much not adapted to losing the ability to back pedal.
However, I do laugh at the idea of someone stealing my bike now, I think any crook that takes this bike will crash it in no time - it requires so much awareness and thinking to ride safely.

I'll post in a few weeks when I've settled in - if I cannot adapt I will be re installing my reliable old AW or getting a drum brake 3 speed hub. I'm really hoping I can tune into its use - I'm very 'at one' with the AW and that allows me to cycle at very high speeds and pull off some crazy riding - I feel in danger trying that kind of thing just now, so hopefully me and the SRC 3 will sync up and I can regain my unofficial title of the fastest 3 speed in Manchester....

 

[Maxants33]

I'm just going to update my review of the SRC3 coaster brake 3 speed gear hub -
Its been 10 days now and I've moved to London, where the need for added stopping power is far more acute than in Manchester.

I've adapted to life without back pedaling now - no accidental braking when re-positioning my feet, and I've been automatically positioning my pedals before I stop at junctions - eliminating the common problem in coaster brakes.

Having a 3rd brake has been great. Rain affects my riding style a lot less - so I have the benefit of strong and attractive old steel rims without the same rainy day concerns.

The coaster brake also saved my life the other day - I was at a junction starting to pull out, when a taxi came screaming round the corner - I did not have time to preposition my hands to the brakes, but I instinctively back pedaled, stopping instantly allowing the taxi to zoom past with cm's to spare...

So in short - the SRC3 is brill. And I think its really advantageous having a 3rd brake which is not hand operated. It also feels very awesome kicking the back pedaling at traffic lights and engineering a well timed skid....

Thanks for reading!