At 12:12 PM 10/11/2007 -0800, Festiva 90 LX wrote:
>I noticed your emails on the Simplex downtube mounted front changers. If
it is of any help, My Chemineau touring bike came with the one in the
picture (see Link). To me, the cage looks longer, also, than the one you
are getting I had an even smaller inner ring on it, and it shifted just fine.
>
>http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/David+L/Front+Shifter+and+Crankset.jpg.
html
That's a very nice example. I've been doing some searching and it appears there have been some changes in this shifter over the years. The earlier ones didn't have a big ring stop welded on the handle. I notice yours has the small ring stop screw missing, so I imagine the stops aren't critical so long as one is careful, since you are shifting the chain directly, not via a cable and housing. Also, from what I've found, shifting over a 10-tooth gap is do-able.
Anyone interested in these style shifters should take a look at Dave
Moulton's blog here:
http://davesbikeblog.blogspot.com/
He compares the Simplex, Benelux and Huret models and the pros and cons of each.
John Betmanis
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada