Originally Posted by
rccardr
Great info, Pat.
Let me add that many Deore/MT/6206 triples will work fine with a 3N or 3P 119mm asymmetric spindle; new nutted versions are available for under $10 online. .....
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FD’s for a triple can be tricky, but a Deore/MT from the 6-7-8 speed period can handle it, plus they are often 28.6 clamp models.
I'll only add that sometimes you just have to try things--- I just got a relatively cheap OEM Bianchi-branded triple from the 90s to work on my daughter's 1987 Ironman (with the 24" front wheel). I had to go from the 113mm spindle on the stock 105 BB to a 118mm BB-UN55 shimano cartridge, but the inner chainring clears just fine. I had purchased a 122mm unit just in case, but I returned it unopened.
The stock 105 friction front derailleur and downtube lever also seems to shift this setup fine. So often you just don't know what will work until you try.
I also moved the 48-tooth big ring from the 105 crank over to the new crank, so my 9 year old daughter now has a nice 48-42-30, makes the 13-28 in the back entirely sufficient even for steep Vermont hills (Vermont road builders apparently never heard of switchbacks....)
N