Josh Berger asks:
I am restoring an early 60's Masi Special and would like to have the lowest possible low gear for my aging legs, yet remain reasonably close to the original componentry. The Campy "steel Record' rear derailleur is marked 13-36. Does this mean it could handle a freewheel up to 36 teeth (or 34, which I believe is the largest made) along with a 44-49 Record crankset? It seams like a lot for a derailleur this size. I'll be using a Campy Record front derailleur. ++++++++++++++++ If you use a 4- or 5-tooth rear split, you can certainly run a 31, and I suspect a 32. With a Record crankset in 42/47, a 13-31 FW (Regina, of course) gives you 48 - 97" gear. When I needed lower, as for L'Eroica, I subbed a Stronglight 99 crankset, which can be had down to a 28 tooth front. Indeed the SR "clone" of the 99 is even nicer, since all of them used the industry-standard removing tool, while that is true only of the later 99s.
harvey sachs
mcLean va.