Project: Simplify The Scott

[DCBassman]

Being old and weedy, I need looooow gears. So, using a mix of what I have on the two bikes, plus minimal new bits, this is the plan.
Move the RS550 wheels to the Scott, installing a Sunrace 11-42t cassette. Move the Alivio RD-M4000 to the Scott, with an extender if needed. Move the Claris 2x LH shifter and EF65-9 RH shifter to the Scott. Remove the outer 50t chainring. Replace the middle ring with a 44t. This gives a 2x9 setup with a gear range of 19 to 106 inches. Enough top end for me, and enough bottom end to climb walls. I'll need it.
RS500 wheels to the mixte, along with the 11-34t 8-speed cassette currently fitted. Explore minimum chainring size for that bike. OR fit a much wider-range 8-speed, again probably Sunrace. Fit stem friction shifters. And some brake levers! Mudguards and a rack, if I can find a way to get it up and down to the flat. Swap to 32mm tyres.
Then I have wet-and-dry bikes with hilariously low gearing.
I'm liking this plan.

 

[MontyVeda]

so what's the lowest gear? 44:42?

 

[DCBassman]

so what's the lowest gear? 44:42?

30:42. Lumpy around here!

 

[biggs682]

Will the RS550 wheels fit in the rear of the mixte ?

 

[DCBassman]

Will the RS550 wheels fit in the rear of the mixte ?

Yup, that's where they've lived since I got it. Never quite understood why the rear spacing was so large. I've no idea if that type of frame can be cold set. Had 27x1.25 nutted wheels on originally. In fact, I think you have them!

 

[biggs682]

Yup, that's where they've lived since I got it. Never quite understood why the rear spacing was so large. I've no idea if that type of frame can be cold set. Had 27x1.25 nutted wheels on originally. In fact, I think you have them!

Yep still in the box they arrived in 😂

 

[DCBassman]

First question: i still have the DT shifters originally on the mixte. Is there any reason I can't use those as stem shifters, taking into account the mounting?

 

[DCBassman]

First question: i still have the DT shifters originally on the mixte. Is there any reason I can't use those as stem shifters, taking into account the mounting?

Question cancelled. The mixte is to be scrapped, and I'm down to one bike.

 

[DCBassman]

Done.
Haven't actually simplified it, just converted to 3x9 for now. Has 30-50t to 12-36t giving 21 to 104 inch gears. Might take the inner ring down to 26, as that seems the easiest way to get lower still, but will leave it alone for the moment.
It now has the mis-matched cockpit from the mixte, and its 28mm tyres. That may or may not work; there's a mm to spare 'twixt tyre and downtube.
Brakes off the mixte to @cyberknight, as he missed out on the other set for sale.
Other odds and ends soon. Test ride sometime this week!

 

[T4tomo]

I think attempted to fettle the bird bath onto it as some type of rack was big mistake...

 

[All uphill]

I think attempted to fettle the bird bath onto it as some type of rack was big mistake...

But the little windmill will make him faster obvs!

 

[DCBassman]

An additional discovery today: the R500 wheels from the Scott are scrap, or the rear is at least. A dent, and the seam is opening up a bit. Front seems fine, well worn but still ok. Rear hub is ok, so might salvage that.