Joe Bender-Zanoni wrote with suggestions for getting a low gear that do not involve pushing the limits of my Nuovo Record derailleur. Of course Joe is correct, I could get a different derailleur or a different set of cranks. However, neither of those options is particularly attractive to me.
The bike in question is a '74 Masi GC. While the parts are not absolutely period correct (most are from 1975, and the rims, freewheel and chain are incorrect) the bike is not far off. I do not want to change it very much if I can help it. A bigger freewheel and or a smaller chainring seem reasonable, and essentially invisible. And not too expensive. A triple would be complicated, less appropriate, and much more expensive.
I have received several off-list responses. Generally they fall into these categories: It can work; set the wheel far back in the dropouts It can work; set the wheel far forward in the dropouts It won't work well; better to get a triple up front It might work; better to find a 41t chainring It won't work well; be a man, and stand up while climbing
Best regards, Marcus Helman Huntington Woods, MI
This is question is begging for the response I hate to make- read the archives.
However, Dave's recipe gives good details of what must be done to make 28T work. What I say is, why torture the poor thing? The dropout is not intended to be used all the way back. What about the short dropouts? Why not take the adjusters out all together? Do you really want an extra 3/4" of effective chainstay length from either a functional or aesthetic viewpoint? Why size the chain for the big/big combination? It is likely useless in practice and now you are setting out to torture the chain, at least a stiff classic chain.
There are so many decent wide range derailleurs that tormenting a Nuovo Record is just a bad practice. If you simply must have a Nuovo Record, use a 25t max freewheel cog and a chainset that allows a 38T or lower in the front. For a Campy purist you could use a NR triple or a Gran Sport (with TA or other 3 arm rings), or the 116mm BCD five arm Gran Sport. A TA or Stronglight with a 36T or 38T inner ring is a good choice also.
Joe Bender-Zanoni
Great Notch, NJ