Front Mech for a TA Cyclotourist triple

[sjcprojects]

Another not-too-intrusive option is to slip a bit of outer cable liner (or similar) over the shifter cable where it runs over the shifter barrel. This will effectively increase the barrel's diameter a bit, resulting in more cable pull.

It might give you just the extra bit of pull you need.

Thanks – I did think someone might have an idea for a work-around. I'll see if it does the trick.

 

[non-fixie]

(...)

Looking through a book I've got on classic French builders, there's a lot of Huret Derailleurs from the 60s onwards, but I don't know which ones?

In the 1960's you'll find a lot of Allvit derailleurs being used by French constructeurs, as they were pretty much the best derailleurs of the time.

The internet doesn't like them, but you'll have to keep in mind that is because the internet is ruled by the Americans and Schwinn mounted the Allvit on their cheapest boat anchors in the seventies and eighties. For good reason, but there you go.

I love them and every example I own - and is not entirely rusted through - is mounted on one bike or another.

One major attraction is to see and hear an Allvit in action. I like riding behind mrs non-fixie and watch the Allvit shift.

The front changers, BTW, work beautifully with the narrow French cranks, such as the T.A. Cyclotouriste and the Stronglight 49D:

 

[Tommy27]

I think I've found that exact Huret FD on ebay, but it's listed as for a double, but were they specific?

 

[bikeworkshop]

I think I've found that exact Huret FD on ebay, but it's listed as for a double, but were they specific?

Not really. Loads of reach and the cage comes down far enough at the back to allow maybe a 28t.
I think the limitations can be the cable pull from the lever:

I have a related Stronglight triple issue with a FD. In my case a Campagnolo Record FD works fine in terms of having enough travel, and it doesn't foul the crank-arm (I'm using a Stronglight asymmetric BB axle designed for a triple) - BUT for it to shift over onto the big ring, the shifter has to go ALL the way back so that it's parallel with the ground. Obviously this is not really ideal, but for the right about of cable to be pulled, this is the only way it will do it.

I'm guessing a Suntour Cyclone or similar would solve this, but it wouldn't really look the part on a 60s bike, so it sounds like a Simplex is the only option? And as mentioned, those are rather silly money...

 

[Tommy27]

Need to weigh up which FD to go for then, Huret or Suntour Cyclone.

Going with bar end shifters and I'm planning to either try and get the orginal suntour power ratchet or the dia compe/ rivendell version.. or possibly the simplex retro friction since apparently they have a very similar feel. Wondering if that needs it's own seperate thread?

 

[doctor-bond]

Need to weigh up which FD to go for then, Huret or Suntour Cyclone.

Going with bar end shifters and I'm planning to either try and get the orginal suntour power ratchet or the dia compe/ rivendell version.. or possibly the simplex retro friction since apparently they have a very similar feel. Wondering if that needs it's own seperate thread?

I have a couple of cyclones on the bench: if helpful, happy to supply pics and accurate measurements so you can gauge if there is enough drop.

 

[non-fixie]

Need to weigh up which FD to go for then, Huret or Suntour Cyclone.

Going with bar end shifters and I'm planning to either try and get the orginal suntour power ratchet or the dia compe/ rivendell version.. or possibly the simplex retro friction since apparently they have a very similar feel. Wondering if that needs it's own seperate thread?

I think you have reached a point where all options will/should work technically and the choice is really about the look and feel you want to achieve. 1960's (Huret) or 1980's (SunTour)? Or something else?