I would like to know if, during the 6-speed freewheel era, 13-26 was a popular choice for a freewheel. Whether it was that or just close to that, I'd like to know the specific cogs usually used.
All my asking about chain for my Raleigh has reminded me that I have mixed-breed Shimano freewheel on there now because that's how I could piece together the combination I wanted, which is 13-15-17-20-23-26. I recall hearing that using a 22 in the next to the last position was more common but that seems like too big a jump to me. I'm pretty sure the freewheel body I'm now using originally was configured as 13-14-16-19-22-26.
If it matters, and I believe it does, I'm riding with a 42/53 in the front, and I think 42/52 and 42/53 were both popular then.
I confess that my inspiration for both cog and chainring choices comes from my working out my preferences with modern 2x9 drivetrains, where I also ride 42/53 and 13-26, the latter as 13-17,19,21,23,26. I'll also note that 13-26 is neither a racer's nor a tourist's choice, but since I'm neither a racer nor a tourist, I think that's OK.
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Steve Freides in ever more sunny Ridgewood, NJ.