Gwame

Hi all. Struggling to replace a missing part on a bike that I'm getting fixed up. It's an old road bike, with a triangular-to-rounded frame with a braze-on hold. Front derailleur is missing altogether. So far I've only been able to find double swing FDs instead of triple.

3 sprockets on chainring, 8 on rear cassette.

Any advice on where to look would be much appreciated. If I've omitted any necessary information, please let me know.

Thanks!

trailangel

https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...87&category=71

Gwame

That says 9/10sp. Would it work on an 8sp?

trailangel

How many teeth are your chainrings? I had this DR on my 8 speed triple and it worked good.
If you have 52 or 53 tooth big ring might not be best. Look for Microshift DR instead.

Gwame

I believe the big ring is 52. Not sure about the other two, but I can find out if necessary.

I can't post URLs here, but would the Shimano Claris R2030 work? Can be found on Amazon or Bike24

Edit: Found the FD-R253-B/F on MicroShift but can't seem to find a place that has it in stock. Like the above one, it specifies a 50-tooth CR. Would 52 be too much for either of them?

Edit 2: I think the original part was a Shimano Sora 3304 but I don't know if they make that anymore.

Bill Kapaun

You need to state if it's a "road" bike or "mountain".
They use different cable pull ratios.
What kind of shifters?

Gwame

It's a road bike. And I think they're called Shimano Sora shifters. The brake handles operate with a sidewards pull to lower the gear while a small lever on the inner side of each handle shifts the gears upwards.

Bill Kapaun

That's what I found first.
It's a downgrade from your original FDER "level" but now days you probably won't find 8 speed in the "higher levels.

Gwame

As long as it works, I'm happy. Out of curiosity, what makes it a downgrade?

Bill Kapaun

Look at Shimano's component heirarchy.
If it's an "old" road bike, 8 speed would have been a higher level during that era. 7 (& possibly less) would have been the bottom level.
Since I have no idea of what you mean by "old"..........
It's got to be pre 95ish before I consider it old.

Gwame

It's a Reflex Alpine T6, originally sold 10-15 years ago

Bill Kapaun

OK 8 speed was a Claris/Sora level about 15 years ago
I don't have a chart for 10 years ago.

Gwame

It's hard to find info on the bike online, and the few posts I did see were early 2000s. Could be older for all I know

Bill Kapaun

IF it has original Shimano parts still attached, look for the 2 letter date code and then you can search that.

Gwame

Can't seem to spot that anywhere...

I realise I was mistaken on the bike name. It's actually Alpina Reflex. It's now actually easy enough to find on Google, though only second hand listings