ted: (sorry for delay, I've been digging out from Sandy)
Well, the shifting is pretty good, but I think I needed to use that particular front derailleur to get it to work well. It's a Suntour Cyclone/Superbe continuous band mounted FD, with a very short cage. If the angle of the cage isn't just right, I will occasionally throw the chain when shifting from the 26 to the 44. Dialed in I have no worries. Shifting up to the large ring usually requires at least a three cog shift in back. If I'm feeling fit, I'll mostly use the big ring, and bail out to the 26 for hills, or off-road, or hauling a trailer and such. As for how much is too much, I don't know. Sheldon Brown set up his Hetchins with a 50x28! with a 12-28 9 speed in back. (It was this bike that inspired me to try the Cyclotouriste as a double, but the 50 seemed too high to me.) http://sheldonbrown.com/org//hetchins/index.html close up: http://sheldonbrown.com/org//hetchins/source/3.html On Monday, October 29, 2012 8:14:19 PM UTC-4, ted wrote: > > Jonathan, as others have said lovely bike. But how is the front > shifting with that 18t gap? > When I was younger 10 or 11 (42-52 or 53) seemed standard, then 14 > (39-53) became the norm, and then came the "compact" cranks with 16. > How big a jump do you think is too much? > > I have a 650b Hilsen with a sort of half step set up (42-45 in front). > I have been considering going to something like a 30-46, but if an 18t > gap in front would work fine, well ... > > thnks > > > On Oct 29, 6:52 am, Jonathan Poor <jpoorra...@aol.com> wrote: > > Thanks for the compliments! > > > > The big ring is a 44, so a 44x26 double (both chainrings are from TA), > and > > the 6 speed cassette is 13-14-16-18-21-24. > > > > The 44x13 is a surprisingly big gear, especially with the larger tires, > and > > I find I can hang in a fast group just fine, 'cause I like to spin. I > joke > > with the local tri-guys that the rims are made of "carbon fiber" > > > > Braking: the pads are dura-ace cork pads meant to use on carbon fiber > rims. > > The Braking is not super great, but adequate. The wood smoke aroma on > hard > > braking is a plus. At first I used regular rubber pads, and the braking > was > > better, but they generated an unpleasant melting rubber smell, and made > > black streaks on the rims. > > > > Toe straps: yes, these are set up a la Power grips. No toe clips, just > the > > leather straps, set up so the strap goes diagonally from front outside > to > > back inside. I tried powergrips, but I didn't like the extra hardware, > and > > that you couldn't easily adjust between different shoes. This is much > > simpler, and lets me use my collection of old toe straps. I find it is > the > > ultimate "float" since you can move your foot fore and aft, in and out, > and > > also swivel. I still like to be connected to the pedals sometimes. > > > > Rims: Those are the Nashbar rims you remember. Had them in my basement > for > > years, before building the wheels. So far the finish is holding up > fine. > > No sign of wear. > > > > Cheers! > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rbw-owners-bunch/-/aw1nezcCTv0J. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
