http://www.dooberywhatsit.com/
Greetings,
A picture of my 1971 Raleigh Supercourse I am updating is on the link above. I just repurchased it from a friend and am trying to figure the best system to maintain it. Sheldon has been (extremely) gracious enough to help me understand most all options available to support gearing. Its not easy to understand, like any Japanese exploited industry. I am very happy with my bike after riding it, and in fact am enthusiastic about how it is coming along after (local shop) installed used dura ace v1 crank/Ultegra BB (and previously, my friend installed Suntour rear derailler/5 sp freewheel).
When I saw IRD's freewheels, I finally had a breath of hope. Now if I can figure out rear derailers that would work with them as well as they look technology wise, I'd be happy. I don't have gear thickness or spacer thickness, but they do advertise:
Stack height: 5-spd: 29.2mm, 6-spd: 31.5mm, 7-spd: 34.1mm.
If the 6 speed was 30mm (Ultra 6 height), I could put a Shimano rear derailer and friction shifters integtrated with Kelly Take Offs (for example), and leave my frame unmolested at 120mm. The Shimano 7 sp (same exact gear/space mm's as Ultra 6) sti would index, but I would just like down tube or end tube shifter levers for simplicity and better chances of survival. There will always will be downtube friction shifters in the future.
Other than that, I do not have a clue how to size (hopefully a Shimano) rear deraillers to IRD freewheels, especially the 5 speed(!).
My Suntour is not bad, and fortunately, I am a flat lander in Sarasota, FL, so I rarely change gears to keep constant cadence rate up. And maybe Suntour is as good as it will get for 5 speed. But I can't help but to think IRD would not have made an investment into a 'dead' market without available deraillers to go with freewheels: especially 5 speed which is the only 3 versions shown on Sheldon's site. The freewheels look very robust, but will the limits of compact rear deraillers restrict the movement from slamming into spokes and/or lifting over smallest chain?
If anyone has any suggestions on how to exploit the IRD 5, 6, or 7 Defiant freewheels with supportable quality rear deraillers, I'd certainly appreciate the information. I saw an earlier topic on IRD freewheels, but except the notice of the product introduction, little else seem to be communicated in thread. Please forgive me for my ignorance, and I am grateful for the supportive biking retail shop level industry. IRD is definitly a breath of fresh air as well in supporting older bike owners. Mine has at least another 35 years in it :-)
Thanks,
Phil Bailey
Sarasota, FL