Front Mech for a TA Cyclotourist triple
- Thread starter doctor-bond
- Start date
bikeworkshop
Senior Retro Guru
TA and stronglight chainsets often had such a narrow gap outer/arm that in order to shift on a plain (no ramps, pins or cut teeth) chainring, the cage has to go quite a long way across, often fouling the arm.
Low q-factor was popular.
We wouldn't bother trying to find a mech that works - in some cases i don't think there are any.
If you have a flattish cage from the period, even matching the chainset if it's campag or mavic, that's about a good as it gets.
Where the inner ring was quite large, the cage was fairly parallel. problems arise if the inner is smaller than 30, the cage shape often became more complex to work closer to the bb
When it shifts you'll probably hear the clack, then you just back the lever off a fraction.
If you bend the nose of the inner plate out slightly, the chain will shift earlier, but you'll need to do more trimming to stop rub as you change on the back.
Low q-factor was popular.
We wouldn't bother trying to find a mech that works - in some cases i don't think there are any.
If you have a flattish cage from the period, even matching the chainset if it's campag or mavic, that's about a good as it gets.
Where the inner ring was quite large, the cage was fairly parallel. problems arise if the inner is smaller than 30, the cage shape often became more complex to work closer to the bb
When it shifts you'll probably hear the clack, then you just back the lever off a fraction.
If you bend the nose of the inner plate out slightly, the chain will shift earlier, but you'll need to do more trimming to stop rub as you change on the back.
Last edited:
doctor-bond
Feature Bike
Just seen this: I don’t think I ever resolved it. 12 years of “hindsight” tell me that something like a Suntour Cyclone with the added extender might work, but suspect that when it comes to mixing and matching frames and components and countries and eras, there is lots of trial and error needed.
Would be good to know what they were designed to work with - presumably there is an all French sweet spot?
Would be good to know what they were designed to work with - presumably there is an all French sweet spot?
doctor-bond-
The Simplex SLJ touring derailleur works really well on a TA Cyclotouiste triple set up. I have used one for 20 years and recommend them.
https://www.ebay.fr/itm/405302511976?_skw=simplex+front+derailleur&itmmeta=01JE27CXDMV3GW6K14QRT26T4Z&hash=item5e5de98968:g:8loAAOSwNr1mLqlG&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx+KZ9MfhVJKl0okiUGaceF0cybtpNCUbqn3+1qgLu++M7pOG7rBzzT1TkKAk4d7md62wMmCwDFs7lE6xxhsaKpV0FsWJU7r8nDl+shOuohiE--6Eghvc9RGLUkEGma6Advqsn8KNR3kKSI6juP1hqP1FTIkOY1owkHNDVIwBgkuwXs9tfoDN6aj4pwCz3Pxo0SOLsBHxFj1oPF0Rmja0dgedxU0YUfg14oipbXZG4KiZ6VEm76myDclB7QNkQ5FFKoiS0XJmhfs7sgUj62AAZvF8eaX96envRaR+26cYX5k43nH9bFIQLtg==|tkp:BFBM8tazx_Bk
The attached pic is my Bertin C 37 with TA/Simplex set up. It has a relatively narrow cage with a deep inner plate as seen in the EBay link.
The Simplex SLJ touring derailleur works really well on a TA Cyclotouiste triple set up. I have used one for 20 years and recommend them.
https://www.ebay.fr/itm/405302511976?_skw=simplex+front+derailleur&itmmeta=01JE27CXDMV3GW6K14QRT26T4Z&hash=item5e5de98968:g:8loAAOSwNr1mLqlG&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx+KZ9MfhVJKl0okiUGaceF0cybtpNCUbqn3+1qgLu++M7pOG7rBzzT1TkKAk4d7md62wMmCwDFs7lE6xxhsaKpV0FsWJU7r8nDl+shOuohiE--6Eghvc9RGLUkEGma6Advqsn8KNR3kKSI6juP1hqP1FTIkOY1owkHNDVIwBgkuwXs9tfoDN6aj4pwCz3Pxo0SOLsBHxFj1oPF0Rmja0dgedxU0YUfg14oipbXZG4KiZ6VEm76myDclB7QNkQ5FFKoiS0XJmhfs7sgUj62AAZvF8eaX96envRaR+26cYX5k43nH9bFIQLtg==|tkp:BFBM8tazx_Bk
The attached pic is my Bertin C 37 with TA/Simplex set up. It has a relatively narrow cage with a deep inner plate as seen in the EBay link.
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doctor-bond
Feature Bike
Excellent. Thanks BTJ. It took a while, but we have an answer. 
bikeworkshop
Senior Retro Guru
And the fact there are 10x as many usable ta/stronglight triples than working simplex triple mechs explains the price!
Just had a look around and these are quite difficult to find. Huret much easier, but not sure which models were made with triples in mind.
When I get home, must check what's on our Tandem, though I suspect the Taylor brothers would of fettled or even rebuilt it to work better with the T.A. Triple?
When I get home, must check what's on our Tandem, though I suspect the Taylor brothers would of fettled or even rebuilt it to work better with the T.A. Triple?
bikeworkshop
Senior Retro Guru
My chorus on a compact starfish with ergo clacks until the trim.
That's how it rolls
I could probably fix it with a ring with indexed profile.
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/colnago-master-gilco-96.480011/
That's how it rolls
I could probably fix it with a ring with indexed profile.
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/colnago-master-gilco-96.480011/
Thame Game
Retro Guru
I bought an Ultegra tripple to go with my Cyclotourist, all on a '91 Roberts frame.
Not fitted it yet.....
Not fitted it yet.....
non-fixie
Senior Retro Guru
My experience with both T.A. and Stronglight has been so far that as long as you use a front changer with a flat outer plate it will work fine. I haven't tried them all, so YMMV.
Concrete example in the shape of my Roy Thame. First couple of years with friction shifting and SunTour Cyclone II derailleurs:
Currently with indexed shifting and Shimano derailleurs (deerhead up front).
Concrete example in the shape of my Roy Thame. First couple of years with friction shifting and SunTour Cyclone II derailleurs:
Currently with indexed shifting and Shimano derailleurs (deerhead up front).
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