14-32

[velomaniac]

When you went looking for a freewheel in recent times, 99% of them were 14-28T.
In olden times 14-32T were more common and thus only remaindered stock in the 5 speed variety, seems available in this gear range today.
I know there new freewheels just apearing in this size.
My question is why were freewheels in this larger size available BITD but not available untill recently ?
Did low gearing go out of fashion or did some other technological leap make them pointless and if so why are freewheels that mimic cassettes making a comeback as 13-32T 9 speed freewheels now exist :?

 

[hamster]

A lot of the 14-32 were those ghastly gimmicky megarange ones with a 6 tooth or so jump to bottom gear.

 

[Old Ned]

Compact chainsets making them redundant?

 

[velomaniac]

Compact chainsets seem a new thing to me, those 50/34T ones that now seem common. Only a very short time ago 39T was as low as you got on a roadbike double and before that 42T. Did compact 50/34T doubles exist in the 70's/80's ?

 

[47p2]

I'm a convert for these new fangled 'compact' chainsets

Having ridden thousands of miles on 14 gears of F53/42 R11/19 and then hung up the bike for almost 25 years it takes the sting out of pedalling when you have 20 gears spread across F50/34 R12/25. What a great idea and it certainly helps my old knees.

I currently have 2 compacts with 50/34, 1 bike with 52/39 and two with 52/42

 

[BobToo]

I'm sure the 1984/1985 Raleigh Royal I've just bought has a 50/34 chainset and I think it's original. It's got a 14-32 freewheel too, which has been replaced but I believe that's the spec of the original.

 

[Spokesmann]

I have a 14-36 6-speed block on my Carlton Continental - great for the hills of Plymouth. 49/42 fron rings.

 

[velomaniac]

14-36 6 speed block :shock:

Who the heck made that ?????????????

 

[Spokesmann]

14-36 6 speed block :shock:

Who the heck made that ?????????????

I'll check...

 

[MONTYBURNS56]

It's probably because chainrings have now got smaller. Years ago your average road bike would have a 52/42 and tourers/MTB 48/38/28, whereas now it's typically 50/34 on a road bike and 44/32/22 on a MTB.