vintage road bikes, no granny gear
09-07-11, 09:25 PM
#51
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,092
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I bought a 1974ish Roberts bike (custom uk builder) the gearing was insane, 45-55 on the front and 13-18 on the back, I assumed he had it set up for time trials or the like but was assured that it was pretty typical for the era and the guys would just power up the hills.
I think it was a bit of bravado rather than good sense... rather like the weight obbsessed carbon freaks of today, or the fixxy obsessives.
I ended up changing the rear cassette for a 13-24 which is much better on the hills, but I only use the big chainring about 1% of the time.
I think the 'half step and granny' was common in touring bikes, but i guess that would be later when better chains came allong
I think it was a bit of bravado rather than good sense... rather like the weight obbsessed carbon freaks of today, or the fixxy obsessives.
I ended up changing the rear cassette for a 13-24 which is much better on the hills, but I only use the big chainring about 1% of the time.
I think the 'half step and granny' was common in touring bikes, but i guess that would be later when better chains came allong
Can you make the 45 the outer ring, sub. a smaller inner ring, and move the front derailleur down as needed? What crankset do you have? That 24 is way better than 18 - is 24 the max. your rear derailleur can handle?
09-07-11, 09:32 PM
#52
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,092
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
...and bazillions of bikes back then had 144 BCD copies of Campagnolo cranks, so add the words "the vast majority of" to the poster that said 42 was the smallest, and he is then 100% correct.
09-07-11, 09:46 PM
#53
"Chooch"
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Prairieville, Louisiana
Posts: 1,659
Bikes: Late 1990s Ciocc Titan
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
09-07-11, 10:39 PM
#54
Anachronist.
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 298
Bikes: 1981 Schwinn Le Tour, 2010 Motobecane Sprint
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I must be weird, my 29lb vintage Schwinn has a traditional road double up front, and a moderate freewheel(not a corncob, but not a huge range either), but my 19lb wunderbike has a triple and a wide range 10speed cassette.
As yet there has only been one hill I haven't been able to conquer on the Schwinn, and it was quite a doozy!
As yet there has only been one hill I haven't been able to conquer on the Schwinn, and it was quite a doozy!
09-07-11, 11:20 PM
#55
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 909
Bikes: Casati, Look, Torelli, Ridley, and a bunch of steel bikes from the 80s and the 90s..
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I'm willing to bet the op has a 42 as the small ring on front. A 39t is a $3.00 change at most if the op can do the work. I had to make that change on my bikes for the hills here.
The other change is in riding style. You can't expect to maintain a constant speed in hilly areas. Gain speed going in, change gears properly ahead of time and keep pedaling. Judging from your name, you're in Los Angeles. I am fairly certain there are few hills there that a 39 can't deal with.
The other change is in riding style. You can't expect to maintain a constant speed in hilly areas. Gain speed going in, change gears properly ahead of time and keep pedaling. Judging from your name, you're in Los Angeles. I am fairly certain there are few hills there that a 39 can't deal with.
Train and raced on a 5 speed 42x21 for over 20 years around here. Suffered lots. about 10 years ago, I man up and dropped down to a 39x23.
09-08-11, 12:46 AM
#56
Old Skeptic
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: New Mexico, USA
Posts: 1,044
Bikes: 19 road bikes & 1 Track bike
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
I love that! 
I don't think any of us should feel bad about needing lower gears.
Here is the famous Koppenberg hill of the Tour of Flanders.
Every year, it is common to see strong seasoned PROFESSIONAL racers simply dismount and run or walk up the steep sections of this relatively short (but deceptively steep) climb. In some cases those who stubbornly continue to ride are forced to go so slowly on their racing geared bikes that they will lose their balance and actually fall over.
Now... Back to the original subject...
Cheapest solution would be to swap out the cranksets, freewheels and derailleurs (probably bottom brackets, too) on the two bikes.
If the 311 still has its original equipment, it came with a Suntour ARX_GT (long cage) rear derailleur, a 14-30t Atom freewheel and a pretty nice looking SR (Sakae-Ringyo) crankset (40x52).
The 760 came with a Suntour Superbe (short cage) rear derailleur, a 13-21t Suntour New Winner freewheel and a Suntour Superbe crankset (42x53)
After the swap, your lowest gear drops from 52 gear inches down to 35.5 inches - Thats a MAJOR reduction!
Leave the original crankset and BB on the 760... Get a Shimano Megarange freewheel for $25... add an efficient yet inexpensive modern MTB derailleur for maybe $30 (maybe something like a Shimano Deore or Deore XT 9-speed). You now have your bailout gear. Even with your 42 tooth inner chainring, your lowest gear has now dropped to under 33 inches with the 34t cog.
And you may even have a hidden "plus" with this option because the newer hyperglide-style profiled teeth of the freewheel, combined with the improved shifting of a more modern derailleur, may give you surprisingly smoother gear shifts.
Bob
I don't think any of us should feel bad about needing lower gears.
Here is the famous Koppenberg hill of the Tour of Flanders.
Every year, it is common to see strong seasoned PROFESSIONAL racers simply dismount and run or walk up the steep sections of this relatively short (but deceptively steep) climb. In some cases those who stubbornly continue to ride are forced to go so slowly on their racing geared bikes that they will lose their balance and actually fall over.
Now... Back to the original subject...
Option #1:
Cheapest solution would be to swap out the cranksets, freewheels and derailleurs (probably bottom brackets, too) on the two bikes.
If the 311 still has its original equipment, it came with a Suntour ARX_GT (long cage) rear derailleur, a 14-30t Atom freewheel and a pretty nice looking SR (Sakae-Ringyo) crankset (40x52).
The 760 came with a Suntour Superbe (short cage) rear derailleur, a 13-21t Suntour New Winner freewheel and a Suntour Superbe crankset (42x53)
After the swap, your lowest gear drops from 52 gear inches down to 35.5 inches - Thats a MAJOR reduction!
Option #2:
Leave the original crankset and BB on the 760... Get a Shimano Megarange freewheel for $25... add an efficient yet inexpensive modern MTB derailleur for maybe $30 (maybe something like a Shimano Deore or Deore XT 9-speed). You now have your bailout gear. Even with your 42 tooth inner chainring, your lowest gear has now dropped to under 33 inches with the 34t cog.
And you may even have a hidden "plus" with this option because the newer hyperglide-style profiled teeth of the freewheel, combined with the improved shifting of a more modern derailleur, may give you surprisingly smoother gear shifts.
Bob
09-08-11, 10:01 AM
#57
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,784
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3587 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
09-09-11, 06:14 PM
#58
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 384
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks for the info. Taking parts from my Trek 311 is not an option I will do. I plan to keep that bike stock except i am changing the headset stem to make it longer because that bike is a 21". I am 5'9 and find it too small. My Trek 560 is a 56cm (approx. 22"). I bought the 311 new and it was fitted but either I got it too small or I grew (I was 18) or else maybe I am just more uncomfortable hunched over now.
If I get the Megarange flywheel for my 760 do i need to change the wheel? I think it has the stock wheel (which has 7 speed cogs.)
Alternatively are there individual cogs or a replacement Suntour set of cogs available anywhere with different gearing (above poster says my cogs are Suntour New Winner.)
If I get the Megarange flywheel for my 760 do i need to change the wheel? I think it has the stock wheel (which has 7 speed cogs.)
Alternatively are there individual cogs or a replacement Suntour set of cogs available anywhere with different gearing (above poster says my cogs are Suntour New Winner.)
Last edited by GaryinLA; 09-18-11 at 02:41 AM.
09-18-11, 02:43 AM
#59
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 384
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I got my Trek 311 back from my mechanic with a taller headset stem. The handlebars are now level with the seat. Looks weird with a tall stem but its a good fit now. The mechanic thinks I'll be able to bike the steep hills with this bike now (comparing it to my hybrid bikes with a triple crank that work for me on the hills.) Im not so sure but i will try it. Again the Trek 311 has much easier gearing than the Trek 760.
09-18-11, 11:25 AM
#60
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,509
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2746 Post(s)
Liked 3,390 Times
in
2,053 Posts
My Trek 400 came stock with a 52-42-32 triple (Sakae SX), Deore RD, and 14-28 FW.
Try the ISO or trade threads and you should be able to find a similiar vintage triple set up from someone who upgraded and just has this stuff in a box.
Try the ISO or trade threads and you should be able to find a similiar vintage triple set up from someone who upgraded and just has this stuff in a box.
09-18-11, 12:38 PM
#61
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Maidstone, Kent, England
Posts: 2,637
Bikes: 1970 Holdsworth Mistral, Vitus 979, Colnago Primavera, Corratec Hydracarbon, Massi MegaTeam, 1935 Claud Butler Super Velo, Carrera Virtuoso, Viner, 1953 Claud Butler Silver Jubilee, 1954 Holdsworth Typhoon, 1966 Claud Butler Olympic Road, 1982 Claud
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
I built this up for touring, so no real problem with walking up a hill if I want to, but I haven't had to yet. The Chainwheel is a 42/52T, but the freewheel is a Suntour with (I think) a 32T low sprocket. The Suntour VX-GT derailleur handles this in it's stride.
I used a Suntour mech on this one too, although the cassette here is a Shimano 8 speed and it still works fine -
......and on my tandem -
...... decided I like Suntour so much I also found one for this, which does have a compact chainset -
............ And even fitted a Suntour Superbe onto this - a 1993 Giant!
This is from a self-confessed Campagnolo snob. Suntour is great, just fit it and it works perfectly all the time.
I used a Suntour mech on this one too, although the cassette here is a Shimano 8 speed and it still works fine -
......and on my tandem -
...... decided I like Suntour so much I also found one for this, which does have a compact chainset -
............ And even fitted a Suntour Superbe onto this - a 1993 Giant!
This is from a self-confessed Campagnolo snob. Suntour is great, just fit it and it works perfectly all the time.
Last edited by Oldpeddaller; 09-18-11 at 12:42 PM. Reason: Errors
09-18-11, 12:53 PM
#62
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 16,874
Bikes: 1980 Masi, 1984 Mondonico, 1984 Trek 610, 1980 Woodrup Giro, 2005 Mondonico Futura Leggera ELOS, 1967 PX10E, 1971 Peugeot UO-8
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1856 Post(s)
Liked 664 Times
in
506 Posts
I've used it on bikes with otherwise stock friction shifting. It's great for getting a versatile capability, and after you discover if it's good enough (range, steps, convenience ... lot's of criteria), you can come back and ask us what's next. With a 40/34, you'll have a low end of 32 gear-inches, a helper in time of need, by any measure.
