Need bike help!!!!

[RandomMess]

So I have a much loved traditional Dutch style bike.

Is it possible to add more gears to a 3 gear bike??? Like for it to be at least 18 gears???

Alternatively apart from Bobbin 21, can anyone find me an upright bike with lots of gears?

Not likely to be able to add many gears. The bottom bracket, the sizing & geometry of the bike won't allow (probably).
Some of the hybrids would do you... but pricey.

Hmmm they never seem to be upright enough with bendy bars

www.liv-cycling.com/gb/flourish-2
This sort of thing?

Fabulous it's a contender!!

Although the bar handles are too straight I'm going to ask a local independent about putting different handle bars on something like that!

I have a bike from here: www.bristolbicycles.co.uk/product/hybrid-bike/

It's fairly upright anyway, but I got them to put an extra bit on the handlebar stem to raise it up even more.

I love it.

It doesn't need to be higher it needs the handle bars to be nearer the seat so a really short reach, I am tiny and it's the leaning forwards that aggravates my RSI and upper back issues

I guess it depends how tall you are but the one I posted has women specific geometry and smallest size says ok for someone 5ft. Perhaps compare the measurements to your current bike?

I think the Bristol build a bike looks like the best option, just wish I was close enough to visit

I need the 33 degree sweep back handles that's what makes the difference.

The answer to the OP’s question is YES. The 6 gear Brompton achieve that number by having a simple 2 sprockets and a crude derailleur on the end of a 3 speed hub. If you’ve recently won the lottery or premium bonds google “Rohloff hub”, a ludicrously over-engineered 15 speed expensive hub. Shimano make several multi-speed hubs up to 6 or 7 ratios.

.....mind you I’m bound to ask what’s wrong with a derailleur. I build up all my own bikes and when they get so knackered that everything is worn to buggery and being binned (apart from the frame) the derailleurs almost always survive to the next incarnation

I ended up with a brownie 21 and it's fab on the hills, the handle bars just raise up high enough to be a good fit!

So far so good...

Still miss stuff from my old bike though, haven't been able to part with it.

about OP: adding gears to a bike is possible depending on the bike but going from 3 to 18 sounds impossible.

great to hear about your new bike!