1980 Claud Butler tourer needs more gears

[muirmackean]

My road bike is a 1980 Claud Butler Sovereign 10spd tourer, and I can't get up the hills on it.

Current drivetrain:
Front Chainring: 35-50, no maker's name but the cranks are Silstar. 5 bolt, BCD 122mm
Front Mech: Campagnolo
Rear Cassette: 14-28 5spd
Rear Mech: Campagnolo Rally 3rd Gen long cage

I'm pretty ignorant about drivetrains - should I:
- change the cassette?
- replace the chainring with a double with different ratios?
- change the double chainring for a triple?
- add a third ring to the double chainring? (don't even know if this is possible)
Any advice welcome!

 

[FINNEY1973]

With a 50/35 & 14/28 you're in modern compact territory already, the only difference is that your on 10 gears rather than 20.

You could try a 14/32 6 speed freewheel on the back which will work with your Rally derailleur according to Velobase. Beyond that your into changing to a triple front which would in all probability require changing your entire drive-train except the rear derailleur.

 

[widowmaker]

Re:

I have been recommended these chaps by a fellow retrobiker

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/freewheels-dept75/?geoc=us

 

[mattsccm]

Re:

From my experience you would probably get away with sing the front mech on a triple. You may even be able to keep the bottom bracket.
1 thing to keep in mind. You have a freewheel at the back not a cassette. Watch you don't buy the wrong thing.

 

[muirmackean]

Thanks for replies.
Cassette/freewheel: that's how little I know! you've learned me something...
Going from a 14/28 5spd freewheel to a 14/32 6 speed freewheel: How would this feel subjectively - like one extra gear, or two?

 

[FINNEY1973]

Re:

using a gear inch calculator you can see the theoretical effect of the additional gearing. of course, this won't mean a huge amount until you put it into practice. http://www.bikecalc.com/gear_inches

With a 35/32 combination you should be able to ride up walls

Just make sure the freewheel you purchase is of the same thread as your existing so that you don't knacker the hub threads. Local bike shop will be able to transplant old for new if required and get a new chain at the same time.

 

[dirttorpedo]

I would guess it would feel like two extra lower gears. If you aren't worried about being vintage you could replace the chainset with a 110BCD mountain bike / touring triple from the 80's and have lots of chain ring options or get a modern double 50.6 BCD double like Velo Orange sells and have a huge range of rings you can customize it with to get the right ratio. Personally I'd kill for a 35/28 low end on my vintage bike - I'm running 42x25 right now and its murder on the hills. Best I can do with that chain set is a 38x25 low gear.

 

[muirmackean]

Thanks for all replies. Update: when I took the wheel off, I discovered the freewheel had been mangled in the past, probably by someone trying to get it off unsuccessfully, so it's gone to my LBS to be removed. It was something French, apparently always difficult to remove. Then when I know what kind of fitting I'm dealing with, the plan is to fit a 14/34 6spd freewheel, although I may yet go with a triple up front - will take advice from LBS & here.

 

[gxaustin]

Re:

I fitted a 6 speed to my old Falcon but had to re-dish the wheel, put a bigger spacer on the spindle and widen the rear forks from 120mm to 126mm.
It's still not great with six speeds and 28t rear freewheel so I shall rebuild the wheel with a freehub hub and use an 8 speed cassette. I shall have to respace the forks to 130mm and change the mech - but I can then use some SIS brifters. I shall then have 38 front and 32 rear - more if I feel the need