Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,392 
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Post by Jem on Jun 29, 2021 21:15:20 GMT
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bendo
Viscount
Posts: 538
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Post by bendo on Jun 30, 2021 0:23:20 GMT
Great bikes with a great story. There's something so pleasing about such a straightforward build and design. I love the full mudguards matched to the frame colour, swept handlebars, 5 (or 6?)speeds only, comfortable platform pedals you can ride barefoot if need be. So good. b
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Post by brianbutler on Jun 30, 2021 11:52:13 GMT
Great bikes with a great story. There's something so pleasing about such a straightforward build and design. I love the full mudguards matched to the frame colour, swept handlebars, 5 (or 6?)speeds only, comfortable platform pedals you can ride barefoot if need be. So good. b I agree with that, Bendo. I have been pondering an idea for a long time - find a bike like this for small money, refurbish the mechanicals and clean up the appearance, then take it on a minor epic adventure, documenting the whole process. The trip should be something that seems unlikely or impossible on such a bike, but would actually be quite feasible. It would be a tribute to recycling old bikes and showing that the cost of entry into cycling doesn't have to be many hundreds or thousands of dollars. Many trail descriptions specifically call for a hybrid bike with knobby tires when an old ten-speed with 1-1/8 inch road tires works fine.
Brian
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Post by franco on Jun 30, 2021 22:46:26 GMT
Those pair have been around a while Jem, you are right.
I’m sure the original Metro was 3 Speed with a SA hub, I nearly bought one last year. Or did they offer a derailleur option at the same time?
The Colorado I was riding around on for some time was only 5 Speed and the simplicity of it was quite liberating. Every gear had its purpose, there were no useless in between gears or time wasted fannying around.
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Post by wheelson on Jun 30, 2021 23:19:51 GMT
Those pair have been around a while Jem, you are right. I’m sure the original Metro was 3 Speed with a SA hub, I nearly bought one last year. Or did they offer a derailleur option at the same time? The Colorado I was riding around on for some time was only 5 Speed and the simplicity of it was quite liberating. Every gear had its purpose, there were no useless in between gears or time wasted fannying around. I’m beginning to think more about simplicity. On my recent beach vacation, I honestly don’t think I used more than 3 or 4 gears. I certainly didn’t change from the middle chainring on the 3 x 8. At least it gives one an excuse for multiple dedicated bikes! Best, John “wheelson” |
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Post by brianbutler on Jul 1, 2021 1:10:52 GMT
Those pair have been around a while Jem, you are right. I’m sure the original Metro was 3 Speed with a SA hub, I nearly bought one last year. Or did they offer a derailleur option at the same time? The Colorado I was riding around on for some time was only 5 Speed and the simplicity of it was quite liberating. Every gear had its purpose, there were no useless in between gears or time wasted fannying around. I’m beginning to think more about simplicity. On my recent beach vacation, I honestly don’t think I used more than 3 or 4 gears. I certainly didn’t change from the middle chainring on the 3 x 8. At least it gives one an excuse for multiple dedicated bikes! Best, John “wheelson” I agree. Every now and then I try a ride using only one gear to see if it would be possible with a single speed. I can do my standard 28 mile bike trail ride in a single gear, 40/17*27=63.5 inches. That ride includes six miles on roads to get from my house to the trail and vice versa. The problem is the all-road routes with hills. I might be able to do the steepest hills in a 40/21*27=51.4 inch gear out of the saddle but I would spin out on the flats. It probably means I need to work on technique/training and stick to the higher gear. But even 63.5 inches is too low for even slight downhills, where I often use 52/17*27=82.6 inches.
As Wheelson points out, the best solution might a different bike for each route!
Brian
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Post by franco on Jul 1, 2021 21:53:23 GMT
I’m beginning to think more about simplicity. On my recent beach vacation, I honestly don’t think I used more than 3 or 4 gears. I certainly didn’t change from the middle chainring on the 3 x 8. At least it gives one an excuse for multiple dedicated bikes! Best, John “wheelson” I agree. Every now and then I try a ride using only one gear to see if it would be possible with a single speed. I can do my standard 28 mile bike trail ride in a single gear, 40/17*27=63.5 inches. That ride includes six miles on roads to get from my house to the trail and vice versa. The problem is the all-road routes with hills. I might be able to do the steepest hills in a 40/21*27=51.4 inch gear out of the saddle but I would spin out on the flats. It probably means I need to work on technique/training and stick to the higher gear. But even 63.5 inches is too low for even slight downhills, where I often use 52/17*27=82.6 inches.
As Wheelson points out, the best solution might a different bike for each route!
Brian
Definitely. I like to have some reassurance with gear ratios for routes with big hill climbs, but for standard riding/routes you can’t beat simplicity. It’s almost like being a teenager again cruising around on something basic, feels good and brings back that casual joy of just riding. I have the parts to do a Singlespeed conversion but my knee problem has put me off. It’s on the ‘to do’ list though once I get sorted. |
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Post by whippet on Jul 22, 2021 19:10:25 GMT
I love my SA Metro. Great for popping to the shops. Probably my most used bike.
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Post by franco on Jul 23, 2021 8:26:37 GMT
I periodically look to see if there are any around for sale locally but nothing yet.
Having said that I’ve had to empty my lock-up as the property has been sold that it was on, so spare bikes have had to either be sold or come back home. Any future purchases will have to be in very good condition because there is no project space anymore.
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Post by sprockit on Aug 8, 2021 20:25:42 GMT
I have a Metro 3 but it needs the frame sorting as it spits me off if I let go of the handlebars! It has the Sturmey Archer AW 3-speed hub gear.
Viscount later produced the Metro 5 with a 5-speed derailleur and a Union bottle dynamo lighting system.
My 5-speed Sport is just a Metro 5 with drop handlebars and a Sport sticker. I guess towards the end, Viscount created whatever bikes they could from the frames, parts and transfers (decals) available.
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