I have a 1980 Woodrup with a hybrid on-topic/OT friction system using a Racing T rear mech, a Sachs freewheel (not ranped, but nice grabby teeth!), Suntour friction levers, and an SRAM chain. It shifts like a dream. Instant, quiet, minimal feathering, and remains in place. Who needs indexing?
My 1980 Masi has its original Nuovo Record system with 7-speed rear end, and while the NR derailleur works very quick in the 13-24 tooth span, it is hard pressed to shift reliably to a 26 tooth (Suntour). I've tried a Regina 13-21 7-speed (CX-S) on it, and besides being downhill only with my legs, it shifts a lot better.
But drifting to the lower cog positions is a continued problem with the NR system. I think it's based on frame flex, and the old problem of finding the best "magic" posiiton for the NR shift lever friction screw. Tight enough to hold the gear under load seems to be too tight for easy movement and feathering.
My on-topic Mondonico is still undergoing conversion to OT Campy 10-speed, so Meister permitting, I may be able to report results by the Spring.
Ken Freeman Ann Arbor, MI USA
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of David Ross Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 11:30 AM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]Friction shifting and ramped cassettes
I've been waiting to see if this thread would survive the On Topic Filtering Software, and it seems folks have been able to keep it relevant, so I'll add my two cents.
I've been riding a (KOF) Ed Litton frame for a while with a Shimano Sante group except for the wheels, which use a modern, ramped 9-speed cassette (too many gears? too much money? yeah, they're both problems I wish I had!). Friction shifting and 9 speeds work fine, but maybe there's something different about the Sante DT shifters and derailer.
The only problem I have with this set-up is one I've had since my On Topic days using a Campy NR set-up with only 5 speeds. Under very heavy load (me out of saddle trying to power up a steep road), the chain would rather be on a lower, smaller cog. It doesn't (and didn't) seem to matter which cog the chain started on, left to its own devices it will always eventually find the smallest available. Unless I fall (fell) off first. Of course, I have this problem with completely off-topic drive trains, too.
Dave Ross Portola Valley, CA
At 3:33 PM -0500 12/4/07, Adam Hammond wrote:
>However, friction shifting and ramped cassettes (from what I read)
>don't appear to go well together. It seems that "ghost shifting" is a
>problem. I'm only planning on running 8 gears in the back, so things
>aren't as narrow as a 9 or 10 speed setup would be. But it seems like
>it would still be a problem.