Can I Upgrade These Chainrings?

[theboytaylor]

Hi

I'm currently bringing back to life a late 80's Peugeot bike as a bit of a project. I'm hoping my wife can use it as a low-cost commuter, maybe buy something a bit more swish towards the end of the year. I was trying to think ahead in case it's poorly geared (there's a tough hill to get up on the way home) - it's currently got 52-42T chainrings (I think they're Simplex?) on the front and a 5 spd 14-28T freewheel (Maillard) on the back. An option that had occurred to me was to maybe change the 42 if possible to a 39/38T.

So, I checked the BCD (pretty sure it's 130) and I was looking at the chainrings and I can't see any obvious way to change the individual rings - they look rivetted together with nothing to fit an allen key or flat screwdriver into. Here are a few pics.

Can these chainrings be changed? If so, do I need any particular tools?

Or is it a new chainset/BB job ?

Thanks in advance

 

[spandex]

If there rivetted then no you cant change them sorry.

 

[theboytaylor]

Are they definitely rivets, then? I'm only asking as that was only a guess I made based on not seeing any way of screwing them off........

 

[tyred]

Look like rivets. If you can get another chainwheel that fits, personally, I would drill out the rivets and replace with suitable sized steel bolts.

You could also look at something like a Shimano Mega-range freewheel block.

 

[PpPete]

Look out for a cheap old double chainset on ebay - if the pic is any good you can soon spot the ones with removable chain rings.

Or even pop an old MTB square taper triple on there as a temporary measure...mech will cope with two out of the three rings, chainline will be a bit off but if only a temporary job until N+1....

 

[battered]

Looks rivetted to me. If so then it's the whole lot.

Why sweat it before the thing is in use? Your wife may like it as is. Now I know we men like to find excuses to take things apart and "improve" them, but come on. You want a cheap commuter. You have one. Use it, when it wears out you can decide.

 

[theboytaylor]

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies - most helpful.

Why sweat it before the thing is in use? Your wife may like it as is.

Wise words

You want a cheap commuter. You have one.

It's not proving that cheap !

Thanks once again for all the help, including on my other post.

Chris

 

[nuovo_record]

you can get a campag mirage double for about £20 new from ribble.

 

[theboytaylor]

£20? Really? Thanks, I'll bear that in mind

 

[Genman]

£20? Really? Thanks, I'll bear that in mind

Surprisingly you can.
http://tinyurl.com/2uu2mtp

 

[nuovo_record]

chainset:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/ro...o-06-Mirage-Double-9-Spd-Chainset/CAMPCHAR300

bottom bracket if you fancy:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/ro...-Campagnolo-Veloce-Bottom-Bracket/CAMPBTBR260

ribble are out of stock of 172.5 and 170 chainsets, just showing it as a reference for you.....mirage is quite a good bit of kit

 

[Hacienda71]

I put a mirage double on an old 70's cheapo Eddy Merkx worked fine had to change the BB to get the chain line right but I picked up the BB for about £5 or £6 on ebay.

 

[nuovo_record]

i've been running a mirage 8 speed chainset since they first appeared - condition still really good. think it's one of the best pound for qualtity on the range

 

[Tynan]

isn't someone going to say that 42x25 is enough to do all the hills in Charlton?

 

[TheDoctor]

Well, doesn't that rather depend on the mass and power output of the rider?