Bike gearing is all about ratios: front teeth divided by rear teeth. Lower ratios mean easier pedaling (think hills), higher ratios mean more speed.
Back in the day, covering that range meant a front derailleur and a pile of overlapping gears. Modern rear derailleurs cover the same range without the extra hardware, hassle, or risk of misalignment. Why go simpler?
- Fewer parts, fewer problems
- You still get the high and low gears you actually use
- You ditch half the in-between gears you probably never touched anyway
Quick guide to our lineup: internal 3-speeds (Franklin 3) are happiest on flat-to-rolling terrain. For real hills or longer rides, go wider: the Franklin 8, Bedford 8, or the 9-speed Roebling and Lorimer.
Deeper dive: Bicycle gearing options
