Alex,
The thought that a 45 x 40 tooth chainring might not be original to the bike is probably correct, but the five tooth jump between the top two rings would be appropriate for a 14 - 32 freewheel using half step gearing. If you're not familiar with half step, it essentially allows very closely spaced gears on a five speed set up with a good low gear when combined with a granny, a good touring combination before 6, 7 or more cog sets became readily available. To maybe really weird you out a bit more, plotting a half step set of gears on semi-log paper would show you just how cool the gear set really is.
A half step freewheel would be 14, 17, 21, 26, 32. Even though jumps are wider for each gear, the change feels exactly the same at your foot. A standard five speed 14 - 32 would have a slightly different combination of gears, which for the life of me, I can't remember the combinations since mine are all set up as half step. The five tooth difference in front would make a perfect jump to the middle of any gear change in the back.
Sooo ... Perhaps instead of just a 50 toothed outer ring, you may wish to also find the 45 tooth middle ring. A 32 inner ring would still give you a 1:1 or 27" gear. A 28 toothed inner would work out to approximately a 23" gear that would allow you to climb just about anything, even with a heavy load. And if you do plot the gears out on semi-log paper, you'll see exactly what inner would get you a perfect overlap of gear too. I believe those chainstay mounted Cyclo's will handle a really wide range of gears, though I admit to only getting to ride a poorly adjusted one once at a previous Cirque. Just wish my big feet didn't keep banging agains the derailleur mount! It's a beautiful bike and Taylors just have a lovely ride. Hope you ride it enough to really enjoy it.
Happy trails,
Dan Artley in Parkton, Maryland USA
Archive-URL: http://search.bikelist.org/
Hello CR listers,
I've enjoyed lurking and learning for a month or so now, and this is my first post to the list.
I'm overhauling and cleaning up a very nice 1963 Jack Taylor Tourist in excellent condition.
http://www.flickr.com/
... (buncha' stuff) ...
I plan to show this bike at the Seattle Bike Expo in March.
** ALSO: I'm looking for a 50T TA Pro 5 Vis outer chainring for this bike. It has a 45T now, and judging by the height of the front derailleur, I think it originally had a 50-40-32, instead of the 45-40-32 it has now. Not sure I absolutely need the bigger gears, but if I lower the front changer to the proper position, it will reveal a large paint chip, and the darker paint that has been under the band clamp all these years. So, if you happen to have an older 50T (stamped logo) you'd like to sell or trade for the 45T, please contact me off list.
Thanks in advance.
Alex Moll
Seattle, WA