Freewheels. More than 7speeds? 34t?
10-15-20, 03:16 PM
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Freewheels. More than 7speeds? 34t?
Have freewheel clusters gotten any bigger than 7 speeds or larger big rings than 34t? I know there won't be anything like 11-12 speeds or 50t big rings, but I'm wondering if clusters with more range are being made.
10-15-20, 03:42 PM
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There were a few 8-speed freewheels made and are still available. Here is one: https://www.amazon.com/SunRace-Race-...KF4MGPDMQT9E6P
However, 6 and 7-speed freewheels caused enough axle breakage and 8-speed made it worse so they never got popular. The Freehub made tham moot.
However, 6 and 7-speed freewheels caused enough axle breakage and 8-speed made it worse so they never got popular. The Freehub made tham moot.
10-15-20, 06:30 PM
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Those Shimano MegaRange 7-speed freewheels with ranges around 14-34 are really awkward. There's a huge jump from the 6th cog, around 24 teeth, to the largest cog, around 32 or 34T, especially when bogged down with a heavy load and pedaling uphill.
I finally switched to 13-28 and 14-28 freewheels for my older bikes/wheels. Much more sensible gear steps. And the 28T big cog was plenty with the 28T and 30T small chainrings on my hybrids with triple chainrings. Even when hauling up to 50 lbs of stuff, it was good enough on hills. And I'm not a particularly strong climber.
The next best improvement would be to get a different rear wheel with freehub and get an 8-speed cassette with the range you need. I switched one of my hybrids from 7-speed 13-28 freewheel to 8-speed 12-32 cassette, and it's much more useful without any really annoying gear steps. There is a bit larger gap than I'd like in the middle of the 8 cogs but it's not bad if I'm ready for it and shift carefully on a climb.
I finally switched to 13-28 and 14-28 freewheels for my older bikes/wheels. Much more sensible gear steps. And the 28T big cog was plenty with the 28T and 30T small chainrings on my hybrids with triple chainrings. Even when hauling up to 50 lbs of stuff, it was good enough on hills. And I'm not a particularly strong climber.
The next best improvement would be to get a different rear wheel with freehub and get an 8-speed cassette with the range you need. I switched one of my hybrids from 7-speed 13-28 freewheel to 8-speed 12-32 cassette, and it's much more useful without any really annoying gear steps. There is a bit larger gap than I'd like in the middle of the 8 cogs but it's not bad if I'm ready for it and shift carefully on a climb.
10-15-20, 07:47 PM
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Six-speed plus 34
While I agree that the Shimano 14-34 7-speeds with 10 too the jumps are awkward, I've got one and thank goodness! I think of it as a closely spaced 6-speed system, plus bailout.
Sheldon's gear calculator showed a variety of other 7-speed options with more even spacing, they weren't obviously available the day I decided to change. Better google-fu may find you the other choices, such as an 11-34 that ends 24-29-34.
Sheldon's gear calculator showed a variety of other 7-speed options with more even spacing, they weren't obviously available the day I decided to change. Better google-fu may find you the other choices, such as an 11-34 that ends 24-29-34.
10-15-20, 07:49 PM
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Those Shimano MegaRange 7-speed freewheels with ranges around 14-34 are really awkward. There's a huge jump from the 6th cog, around 24 teeth, to the largest cog, around 32 or 34T, especially when bogged down with a heavy load and pedaling uphill.
I finally switched to 13-28 and 14-28 freewheels for my older bikes/wheels. Much more sensible gear steps. And the 28T big cog was plenty with the 28T and 30T small chainrings on my hybrids with triple chainrings. Even when hauling up to 50 lbs of stuff, it was good enough on hills. And I'm not a particularly strong climber.
The next best improvement would be to get a different rear wheel with freehub and get an 8-speed cassette with the range you need. I switched one of my hybrids from 7-speed 13-28 freewheel to 8-speed 12-32 cassette, and it's much more useful without any really annoying gear steps. There is a bit larger gap than I'd like in the middle of the 8 cogs but it's not bad if I'm ready for it and shift carefully on a climb.
I finally switched to 13-28 and 14-28 freewheels for my older bikes/wheels. Much more sensible gear steps. And the 28T big cog was plenty with the 28T and 30T small chainrings on my hybrids with triple chainrings. Even when hauling up to 50 lbs of stuff, it was good enough on hills. And I'm not a particularly strong climber.
The next best improvement would be to get a different rear wheel with freehub and get an 8-speed cassette with the range you need. I switched one of my hybrids from 7-speed 13-28 freewheel to 8-speed 12-32 cassette, and it's much more useful without any really annoying gear steps. There is a bit larger gap than I'd like in the middle of the 8 cogs but it's not bad if I'm ready for it and shift carefully on a climb.
They have the exact same gearing for an 8 speed cassette but with the addition of a 12t. Very nice cassette.
John
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