Dec 28, 2009 03:19 PM
46422 Views
I have a Hercules top gear for about a decade now. It was a gift from my friend. I used to be in Bangalore where a gear cycle is very useful considering that there are lots of slopes in Bangalore. I grew up in chennai which has more or less flat terrain and hence the need for a gear cycle is not felt much. I used to have a BSA SLR when I was in my school, UG & PG(about 10 years say). It was also a cycle I liked very much and maintained it well by myself, as is the case with all gadgets I own(read my other posts).
When I moved from Bangalore to chennai(home) about 8 years ago, I brought this cycle along with me(I didnt want to part with the gift my friend had given me). It is now almost a decade since I have been having this bike.
My hercules top gear is a 5 speed bike. It it one of the initial ones in the top gear series I think. The frame is uniquely styled with 2 think horizantal bars going side by side all the way from the fork tube to the rear axle, gradually bending as a curve.
Recently I serviced the gear system all by myself. Refer my postings at https://xkmph.com/discuss/index.php?topic=2092.0 to help out an enthusiast for doing a similar job.
I have also replaced the original seat with a seat from BSA ladybird. This one has springs attached to the seat(like what was available originally). The new seat has two convex bumps on its surface to meet up with your pelvis bones. The ride comfort is greatly improved by replacing with this seat.
Indian manufacturers give you less of comfort and more of style in any of their products. They are not to be blamed for it as it is the buyers who are by and large novices who get lured by looks(to help them show off) than user friendly functionalities. The seat that originally came with the hercules top gear is one of them.
I also changed the handle bar to be the one from a BSA ladybird. This change helps me avoid in bending too much forward(as was the case with the original handle bar). It helps me in avoiding lower back pain also.
The frame of this bicycle is unique and I like it very much too.
If any of you feel that the tires are too thick(as many of us are still riding MTBs within city limits) and want to have the ease of pedalling, you may consider using thinner tyres of size 26 x 1.75 instead of 26 x 1.95(which are usually fitted on MTBs). This tyre size is not available easily. You must try with the larger bicycle spares dealers in your city. One such is - Balaji Cycle world at Jones road, West Saidapet, Chennai where I get all my supplies.
