[CR]Dumb gearing question

(Example: Framebuilders:Dario Pegoretti)

From: "Doug Van Cleve" <dvancleve@cox.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 10:29:31 -0700
Subject: [CR]Dumb gearing question

Howdy folks.

I realize that most serious riders have always tweaked their gearing to suit their taste and terrain, but I am wondering what typical 1975 road bike gearing would have been. For instance, 99% of new performance road bikes in say the past 10 years have come with 53/39 up front and something like 12-23 in back. I gather most older bikes would have been 52/42 up front, but what was a typical 5 speed freewheel? Thanks in advance :^)

Doug Van Cleve
Chandler, AZ