Re: [CR]Re: Gearing down bikes - Mighty Tour Cranks

(Example: Framebuilding:Paint)

Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2001 11:51:19 -0400
From: Jerry & Liz Moos <moos@penn.com>
To: Joseph Bender-Zanoni <jfbender@umich.edu>
Cc: Diane Feldman <feldmanbike@home.com>, Mark Poore <rauler47@hotmail.com>, Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Re: Gearing down bikes - Mighty Tour Cranks
References: <F75LMasiZAPG4vEjaGj00000f38@hotmail.com> <3.0.5.32.20010704110925.01737100@j.imap.itd.umich.edu>


On the custom-built Arthur Caygill audex frame I should have soon, I plan to use a Duopar rear. I've got the Eco version with a lot of steel - anyone got a Duopar Ti for sale? Probably works the same, but higher snoot. I'm going to try the Simplex SLJ triple front derailleur I got from Mike Kone a while back. Looks a little strange on a double, but maybe just the thing for the TA triple crank I took off my Teledyne Titan. Anyone have an opinion of what the best length Phil Wood BB would be for use with a TA triple?

Regards,

Jerry Moos

Joseph Bender-Zanoni wrote:
> I really like Mighty Tour Cranks too but beware: early models (about half)
> have an exceptionally wide distance between the chainrings. They are best
> used only with full width chains or modified as you can literally drop a
> thin chain in the gap..
>
> I really believe in having low gears available. This especially comes into
> play for long distance multi-day touring. Knee trouble can spring up and
> lead to abandonment if you can't rest the knee in a granny. Also a long
> time into town or camp after a 100 mile day can be a lot more fun at your
> own pace.
>
> I often like to set up triples on double spindles to get lower Q factors
> and better chainlines. That means the little chainwheels is only intended
> to work with two or three freewheel cogs.
>
> Now that the gearing is wider- What about classic derailleurs for touring
> bikes? I always used to use Suntour- Cyclone GT, VXGT or VGT-Luxe. But they
> are not really that classic, especially on a high zoot bike. I am trying a
> later version Campagnolo Rally (NR type pantograph) on my Witcomb USA but
> it is really bad in my opinion. Yes it can wrap the chain but otherwise the
> shifting is clunky. Is the earlier Rally so much better? What about the
> Duopar? It always looked fragile to me but I have never used one. For front
> derailleurs I have been using the Campy 980s but they are a bit sketchy in
> the cage length. I think I will try a Huret I have which I presume is the
> companion to the Duopar.
>
> Joe
>
> At 07:02 AM 7/4/01 -0700, Diane Feldman wrote:
> >A suggestion for those wanting to gear "classic" lightweight bikes down,
> >especially Campy NR/SR bikes--Sugino Mighty Tour cranks. They have a
> >similar spindle hole shape to that era's Campagnolo, have a 110mm bolt
> >circle so they will fit as small as a 34 tooth ring, are light, look the
> >era, and have a narrow tread. Their front derailleur clearance is slightly
> >better than Campagnolo or French cranks--they'll work with a Shimano 105
> >front derailleur, for instance. They can be had cheaply; I've come into two
> >low-mileage sets for an outlay of less than $30.00. They were such a common
> >OEM crank for a number of years that lots of sets lurk on $25 garage sale
> >bikes!
> >
> >David Feldman
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Mark Poore" <rauler47@hotmail.com>
> >To: <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> >Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2001 6:51 AM
> >Subject: Re: [CR]Tennessee mountains and classic race bikes?
> >
> >
> >> Living in the mountains where a typical ride will consist of at least 5-6
> >> miles of climbing and that isn't including the hills, just the mountain
> >> climbs I have had to gear down. About a month ago I was on my Rauler with
> >a
> >> 42x23 and felt a twinge of pain in my knee so I turned around and headed
> >> back down the mountain. The next day I took out the Merican with it's
> >triple
> >> and a low of 30x23 and did some climbing. The knee was still somewhat
> >sore,
> >> but I came through OK. That day I ordered the gearing I needed to make the
> >> bike climb with less pain to the rider. It now has a 39x26 and it has made
> >> all the difference in the world. The tighter cog will be saved for the
> >flat
> >> lands. Now I don't think I would take it out on a 100 miler with 9
> >mountain
> >> climbs or anything like that, but for a couple of climbs it will and my
> >> knees will do just fine. At times I do have to remind myself that I am no
> >> longer as young, strong and as fast as I used to be. There was a time when
> >I
> >> would do Skyland Drive with a 47x21 and it was all right, but not anymore.
> >> When I get a little older I will probably have to gear down even farther.
> >> The main thing is to keep on riding and sometimes that means making
> >> concessions do to age and the like. Can one use the small cog as a granny
> >> and the inner chain ring for a big cog? Just a thought.
> >>
> >> Did 42 miles yesterday with 9 miles of mountain climbing in preparation
> >for
> >> the Mountain Mama Challenge. A friend and I will be doing the last 50
> >miles
> >> of this century tomorrow. She did the 50 miler last year and what to see
> >if
> >> she is up to the full 100 and the 5 additional mountains it has to offer.
> >>
> >> Larry Osborne are you coming?
> >>
> >> Mark, the older I get the faster I was, Poore