Gearing for old legs

[bagpuss]

Nice chain set , perhaps a bit more than I wish to spend on a bike that will be only ridden occasionally .

The Spa cycles triple conversion seems my best option price wise

Thanks to all for your valued input.

 

[The History Man]

Can’t you just go subtle mtb triple up front? Stx rc, ultegra and stx

 

[non-fixie]

For keeping bikes eligible for retro events - which is pretty much the same as making sure they work with 5 and 6-speed freewheels - I like to keep an eye out for 86 BCD cranks.

They make nice super compact doubles. Examples from Stronglight and Sakae Ringyo do come up for sale regularly, and with a bit of luck for very fair prices. New rings are available from Spa Cycles, if needed.

Currently operational on bikes in the non-fixie stable:

A Stronglight 99:

An SR Apex:

Another SR:

 

[dirttorpedo]

To be honest, I didn't really look at it til now... A bit much perhaps. Velo Orange have a TA style crankset that is a "bit" cheaper:

View attachment 898337

I have a pair of these on my steel gravel / winter commuter bike and I like them. Some people complain that the rings are too soft / wear out too fast. I think I've had mine for 4 or 5 seasons now and they're still fine.

VO also sells a 110 BCD version in drillium. I found a set with a 32 / 48 ring set up lightly used on Facebook locally a couple of years ago and mounted it on my Ellis Briggs to get nicer climbing gears. I do miss the higher end on downhills though.

 

[Glug]

I'm running Stronglight 49D 52/36 with SunTour ultra 6 13-32 freewheel on the back (120mm OLD - 5 speed).
SunTour Cyclone II GT derailleur handles it fine.
Giving 36/32 as my granny gear, working quite well so far.

As you probably know you can get new TA Cyclotourist chainrings: outer 52-42 + inner 42-26 so changing rings could give 42/26 on the front.
New rings: https://www.veloduo.co.uk/products/...50-4mm-80mm-pcd-alloy-chain-rings-inner-outer

 

[ChromeChainstay]

my roommate is 66. he rides over hills and dales, in the 11cog 55t chainring

 

[pigman]

Just had a look in the shed and I have this. A halfway house between 42/52 and 30/42 at 36/48. Happy to offload at £25 UK posted if it's of any use to anyone

 

[Woz]

Like mentioned above, the humble STX-RC FC-MC34 is an interesting crank.

Practically a 94 BCD super compact double with updated rings.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Those rings are unobtainium although it can be used as a 94 double iirc, so 32/46?

 

[Woz]

Those rings are unobtainium although it can be used as a 94 double iirc, so 32/46?

The middle which serves to fix the inner too will most like be worn to death. They can be picked up cheap.

The only issue is finding a 29, 30, 31, 32 or whatever middle ring without pins and ramps.

Can be run with a 107mm JIS BB from memory to get the Q-factor and chain line in the road ball park.