[CR]Experience with Suntour Spirt f/der.'s ??

(Example: History)

Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 09:20:31 -0600
From: "Steve Kurt" <kurtsj@mtco.com>
To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Experience with Suntour Spirt f/der.'s ??
References:
In-Reply-To:


Ben asks, and adds.....

From: Ben Kamenjas <bici_pimp@mac.com>
> I am not sure what front derailleur to use but I want to keep the
> roller guides on the BB intact. That leaves me looking for a clamp on
> front derailleur where the cable anchor point is on the non-drive
> side. see pic ...
>
> http://homepage.mac.com/bici_pimp/.Pictures/speedwell/eng5.jpg
>
> Im not fussed with make or brand but would like something that could
> handle a 34/48 double chainring set-up and works/shifts well.
> I like the unusual braze-on feature, wish to keep it in place and aim
> to make it work as a reliable rider. Standard seat tube diameter. Bang
> for bucks is my scene. What should i be looking for??? How 'bout
> something reliable for a triple front? Aks-ing too much?

Maybe an answer to my own question, but I am thinking a Suntour Spirt front derailleur may be what Im looking for with regard to my frame specific search for a solution that works (see below). Thing is I have no idea if they work well - what say ye?

http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/shifters_derailleurs/17107.html" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hi Ben,

I used the oddly-named Spirt for 14 years on a Raleigh Gran Sport, which was equipped with the required downtube braze-on. It worked just fine, imho, which means it was worked as well as any decent front derailleur of the time.

Nice looking cable roller, as well a nice BB shell! It definitely deserves to be utilized! However... the Spirt may not be what you want. The Spirt has the cable clamp to the derailleur *body*, and uses the cable housing to actually move the parallelogram. This is opposite of every normal derailleur, and wouldn't work with the roller on your frame. Have you considered a nice SunTour Cyclone from ebay, or a standard Campy NR? or did I miss a key element of your question?

good luck, Steve Kurt Peoria, IL, northern hemisphere... (where all the nasty weather seems to be)