How Easy is a 3 Speed Bike

Benefits of 3-Speed Bikes

Internal hub gears. All of the gear mechanics are enclosed on a 3-speed bike, which keeps dirt and debris away. It also keeps your bike's most important mechanisms clean, which reduces wear, tear, and maintenance.
Increased gear range. A step up from a single-speed bicycle, 3-speed bikes give you more range, which in turn makes riding over different types of terrain easier. You'll have no problem with hills, city streets, and sloping ground.
Less maintenance. Thanks to the internal gear hub, your bike will stay well-lubricated and require less maintenance. This can also make your bicycle chain less likely to fall off, preventing further issues.
Ability to shift gears while stationary. This benefit is especially important if you live or ride in an urban environment. A 3-speed bike allows you to change gears even when you're standing still — which is super handy if you're frequently stopping at signals, stop signs, or find yourself surrounded by traffic.

Types of 3-Speed Bikes

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Utility Bicycles

A utility bicycle is one that's designed for all kinds of everyday riding, particularly running errands, commuting, and traveling around town. They're a great choice for city or suburban streets, and utility bikes typically have mid- to heavyweight frames that are durable. Utility bicycles are usually built with an internal hub gear system, which is used for three-speed setups.

Cruiser Bicycles

Cruiser bicycles are a popular choice if your bike riding style is more laid-back and comfort-focused. These three-speed bikes are built with heavy frames, balloon tires, curved backed handlebars, and other features that are designed for extra comfort while riding. They're great for cruising long distances, and they're particularly popular for those who like hitting the road and biking to relax.

Touring Bicycles

Touring bikes are another option if you're looking for a 3-speed bicycle. Designed for long journeys and a lot of riding, touring bikes are very durable and highly capable. You'll get agility, solid speed, and the right structure to survive many miles. Though they tend to have a wide gear range, you can find 3-speed options within this category of bicycle.

Road Bicycles

A road bicycle is ready for any road — but it's a great choice for riding on paved streets. A good option whether you live in a populated city or rely on your bike for frequent street riding, road bikes are workhorses. With 3-speed gears, they can also deliver speed variety to suit different environments.

Top Brands

Sixthreezero

Founded in Hermosa Beach in 2005, sixthreezero is known for its cruiser bikes built with California culture in mind. With an array of three-speed bikes, the brand makes durable and comfortable cruisers for every need. Models like the sixthreezero Ride in the Park Men's 3-Speed Touring City Bike and the sixthreezero Men's in the Barrel 3-Speed Beach Cruiser Bicycle are perfect examples.

Schwinn

If there's one bicycle brand that everyone knows, it's Schwinn. Founded in 1865 by Ignaz Schwinn, the company has more than 125 years of bicycle experience. And there are plenty of high-quality three-speed Schwinn bikes to choose from, like the Schwinn Mikko & Huron Adult Beach Cruiser Bike and the Schwinn Phantom Urban Cruiser Bike, two different cruiser choices.

Firmstrong

Firmstrong focuses on designing high-quality three-speed cruiser bikes right in Hermosa Beach, Calif. With a special emphasis on the rider experience, Firmstrong bikes deliver everything from comfort to exceptional materials. Options like the Firmstrong Urban Man Beach Cruiser Bike and Firmstrong Chief Man Three Speed Beach Cruiser Bicycle show off the brand's great bikes.

3-Speed Bikes Pricing

$200 to $450: The most budget-friendly 3-speed bikes fall in this price range. You can find great options for kids as well as affordable bicycles for adults for under $450.
$500 to $900: Consider the middle of the road, 3-speed bikes that cost between $500 and $900 offer a great mix of quality, performance, and long-term durability.
$1,000 and up: This is the top-tier price range for 3-speed bikes. You'll find the highest level of quality and the most perks if you opt for a premium bicycle.

Key Features

Comfort

Most 3-speed bikes focus on comfort above all else — and that's because many 3-speed models are cruisers or utility commuters that are meant to carry you for long distances. Whether you're riding around town at a leisurely place or rely on your bike to get to work, you'll want to think about your comfort. Perks like well-padded seats and extra-large wheels can offer you more comfort on lengthy rides.

Tires and Wheels

The tires and wheels of your 3-speed bike are equipped to determine how smooth it rides and how capable it is on different types of terrain. If you're riding primarily on paved streets and roads, you'll want slimmer wheels for agility. If you tend to ride over various surfaces, you may want tires with better tread and increased thickness so they roll smoothly.

Handlebar Shape

Don't forget about the handlebars — they can affect everything from your comfort to your braking ability to how you shift gears. Cruisers tend to have longer, curved handlebars for easy reach. Utility bikes will have shorter handlebars with easy-to-twist gear shifting. Consider which style is the best fit for your biking needs so you're always comfortable on the go.

Other Considerations

No Lubrication Required. Thanks to the enclosed internal gear hub found on 3-speed bicycles, you don't have to worry about greasing or lubricating your bike's gears regularly. You can skip this maintenance and trust that the internal hub is keeping everything moving smoothly with the right lubrication.
Match Gears to Your Needs. Don't forget that your 3-speed bike will be able to adapt to different needs and biking conditions. One gear is for climbing inclines, one gear is for descending hills and slopes, and one gear is for cruising smoothly. You can easily match your gear to your pedaling speed and save yourself some physical effort along every ride.
Versatility. Thanks to their versatile gear choices, 3-speed bikes are great for tackling uneven or changing road topography. If you might encounter hills and slopes, this is a great bicycle choice to adapt and easily shift between just a few gear choices as you ride.

Best 3-Speed Bikes Reviews & Recommendations 2021

The Schwinn Mikko & Huron Adult Beach Cruiser Bike is a fantastic overall pick for a 3-speed bicycle. Made by one of the most respected names in bicycles, this 3-speed cruiser is designed for smooth rides, long-term durability, and a bit of stylish fun. With 26-inch wheels and a step-over frame, this bike is best for people between 5-foot 4-inches and 6-foot 2-inches tall. It's designed for riding around your neighborhood, the shoreline, or parks, and it offers a wonderfully low-maintenance 3-speed internal drivetrain. This cruiser can tackle light hills and allow for easy, quick gear changes when you need it most.

Constructed out of steel, you'll enjoy the comfort of a wide dual-spring padded seat and classically styled cruiser handlebars. An intuitive rear coaster brake makes slowing and stopping easy, and you won't have to worry about making it through many miles on this bike.

Bicycles aren't cheap, especially if they offer good quality — but fortunately, the Adept Family Lightweight 3 Speed Kid's Bike is solidly affordable and built for durability. Built with safety for small riders in mind, this 3-speed bike offers a strong combination of all the features you want, plus a more budget-friendly price. It's made with an aluminum frame, 16-inch wheels, and an internal geared 3-speed Shimano shifter so kids can ride easily on common types of terrain. Kids will get a hang of the three gears quickly, and the lightweight frame makes the bike easy to master.

Designed for kids ages 4 to 8 years old, it's a suitable 3-speed for riders between 38 and 50 inches tall. It includes coaster brakes, the safest option for smaller kids, and gives any kid the power to ride uphill.

The sixthreezero Ride in the Park Men's 3-Speed Touring City Bike may be a little pricey, but some biking fans will find it worth every cent. This 3-speed is seriously impressive, built with high-quality materials and designed for a smooth, sleek ride. The bike sits on 26-inch wheels and features a 3-speed Shimano internal hub and an easy-to-use Nexus gear shifter. This gives you the versatility to need to take leisurely rides, travel long distances, and even ride around town. It comes with front and rear handbrakes, and the wheels feature double-walled rims. A comfortable seat made with synthetic leather pairs with matching grips.

Classic styling makes this 3-speed bike a great choice for those who also want to look good while biking. It does have a high price, but the performance is worth the investment.

If you're looking for a 3-speed bicycle that'll have you covered whether you're cruising along the beach or commuting around town, the Firmstrong Urban Man Beach Cruiser Bike has you covered. Don't believe that the beach is the only place you can take this bicycle; despite its name, it's a great choice for many riding environments. It performs wonderfully on paved paths with its 19-inch frame and a set of 26-inch wheels. Suitable for most men who stand at least 5 feet 4 inches tall, this 3-speed is powered by a 3-speed Nexus Shimano internal hub.

A classically designed cruiser frame features an oversized dual-spring saddle paired with balloon tires. You'll be able to travel about 20 miles and at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour on this 3-speed bike.

The focus of the sixthreezero In The Barrel 3-Speed Beach Cruiser Bicycle is smoothness, and it delivers. You don't have to grit your teeth on rough surfaces; this 3-speed cruiser features especially crafted components that'll keep you rolling smoothly whether you're on a paved street, dirt path, or even a wood plank boardwalk. With a low profile and an 18-inch extended steel frame, you'll have a smooth riding experience even if you're quite tall. This 3-speed is great for riders up to 6 feet 4 inches tall.

Built with a Nexus gear shifter and a 3-speed Shimano internal hub, this bike can thrive on long rides and when you're facing moderately-sized hills. You'll be cozy even if you come across bumps thanks to balloon tires, an extra-wide saddle, and dual springs that are shock-absorbing.

Being tall can make finding the perfect bike more challenging — but you'll love the Firmstrong Chief 3-Speed Beach Cruiser. This 3-speed bike features an extended, elongated frame that's perfectly suited for taller riders. It's comfortable for men between 5-feet 4-inches and 6-feet 4-inches tall. The seat is closer to the ground, but it offers a great amount of leg extension as you pedal.

A quality choice regardless of your height, this bike's frame is quite durable thanks to its steel construction. A circular, high arching top tube design and 26-inch wheels offer a stylish look. The tires are cushioned for a comfortable ride, and the easy-to-use coaster brakes are perfect for long rides and hills. The Shimano 3-speed internal gear system offers smooth shifting; all you have to do is twist your grips to change gears.

Women want high-quality 3-speed bikes too, and the sixthreezero Body Ease Women's Comfort Bike is a fantastic option. Made with a feminine style in mind, this bicycle features a 17-inch frame and 26-inch wheels. It's a 3-speed comfort bike that's perfect for relaxing recreation and light exercise. It offers just enough gear options to tackle small to light hills, and the vibratory front suspension helps reduce vibration and shock when you ride over bumpy roads. The Shimano gear setup allows for speeds up to 15 miles per hour.

Even the frame of this women's 3-speed is designed to help lessen bumps and jolts, which helps riders feel more comfortable every mile. A smooth cruiser style makes pedaling easy, and the seat sits on a suspension post to offer extra comfort and fewer bounces.

Sleek, speedy, and wonderfully easy to control, the Schwinn Phantom Urban Cruiser is so much more than your average cruiser. Sure, it's a great fit for comfortable leisure rides around your favorite local landscapes. But this 3-speed bike is also built for urban environments, making it equally good for commutes and rides around city streets. With an 18-inch frame and larger 27.5-inch wheels, this 3-speed is lightweight thanks to its aluminum construction.

You'll enjoy a sleek retro double tube top and a comfortable upright riding position. The internal 3-speed drivetrain and easy-to-use Shimano twist shifter make gear changes happen seamlessly when you're riding. The retro balloon tires offer extra traction, which gives you better control when you come to a stop. It's smooth whether you're in stop-and-go traffic or cruising along a stretch of beach.

The Dahon Vybe I3 Folding Bike almost defies expectations of what a 3-speed bicycle should be. This bike is convenient and lightweight, easy to ride, and easy to carry. And it's especially wonderful for city dwellers who need a compact solution. Constructed with a lightweight aluminum alloy frame, this bicycle folds down so you can easily store it in smaller spaces. It measures 31.5 x 13.58 x 26.18 inches when folded and weighs a total of 26.4 pounds.

Suited for riders between 4 feet 9 inches and 6 feet 2 inches in height, it can carry up to 230 pounds. And it offers a 3-speed genuine Shimano rear derailleur, which lets you easily shift gears for cruising or bigger road challenges. A set of linear-pull brakes gives you total control too.

Tips

3-speed bicycles offer great versatility, but they aren't equipped for off-roading or mountain bike trails. They're best used on city streets and roads for everyday riding.
You can reduce your pedaling effort and physical exertion by using all three gears at different points of your ride. 3-speed bikes can adapt, so let them help you do exactly that.
A 3-speed bike is agile, but most of these bicycles do have more weight than folding or single-speed models. Keep this in mind if you're choosing a 3-speed for your daily commute.
Though they can adjust and adapt, 3-speed bikes aren't built for high speeds. You won't be able to shift gears to ride faster or pick up your speed. Instead, they help lessen your physical effort.

FAQs

Q: Is a 3-speed bike enough?

For most people, a 3-speed bicycle will offer enough — particularly if you're looking for versatility. A 3-speed will handle your everyday city streets, and they can make inclines and descents easier. If you're looking for extra speed or off-roading capability, higher-speed options are a better fit.

Q: Is a 3-speed bike good for hills?

Yes, a 3-speed bicycle is a great choice if you're riding a route with hills. The different gear options will allow you to adjust for inclines, downhill rides, and regular flat terrain.

Q: Should I get a 3-speed or 7-speed bike?

This depends on your riding style and where you plan to take your bike most frequently. A 7-speed bike is better for rough road conditions, like bumps, steep inclines, and challenging trails. A 3-speed bike is better for paved roads and slight hills.

Final Thoughts

Our choice for the best overall 3-speed bike is the Schwinn Mikko & Huron Adult Beach Cruiser Bike, a bicycle that'll deliver no matter where you'd headed on lengthy rides. The Adept Family Lightweight 3 Speed Kid's Bike, meanwhile, is a good value pick — and a great choice for kids. Which 3-speed bike tops your list?

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Source: https://www.thedrive.com/reviews/38172/best-3-speed-bike