Good catch, Wes! I hadn't thought of that.
Wes Gadd wrote: A Sturmey Archer FW with a 16/18 combo (as is usually supplied with the Benelux comversion ) works as a nice half step setup, giving 8 discreet and well spaced gears. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Wes's comment piqued my interest, so I checked the old Sturmey manual. Wes nailed it for the more common "FW" or wide-geared S/A 4-speed, since 18/16 ~ 1.12, or 12% step-up. The FW has increase from 3 (normal, with 1:1 ratio) to top of 26.6%, and step-downs of -21.1% and -33.3%.
Of course, for the Club Rider with the rare "FM" medium range model, one might prefer something like a 17/16 or the rare 15/14, since the FM gears were 12.5% up, and -14.3% and -33%. So even there, the Cyclo would give a useful additional bottom gear, but just be replicative above that.
harvey sachs
mcLean va usa