Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
I think my next project will be to put a triple on my Dawes.
I don't have any really good reason for this, it's mainly because I can, and out of curiosity. And so that I have a bike with low gearing for long hilly rides. The fact that I suffer from sore knees after anything over 100k with much up in it is part of the reason. When my knees get sore I can't stand on the pedals so at this point all climbing has to be seated. But really there's not too much logic in it.
I plan to use a Stronglight 48/38/28 from Spa along with the BB that they recommend.
The bike has an 11-32 8 speed cassette, but the old steel frame means that I can't use the little sprocket, so it's effectively 13-32 7 speed. I have an Alivio MTB long cage rear mech, which has 43T capacity, which is plenty. I run this with friction shifters, and it works fine.
As a front mech I'm not sure what I need. I'm guessing a Tiagra front mech, which has 20T capacity should be fine. Friction shifter means I don't have to worry about cable pull. Spa do an adapter thingy so I can use a braze on mech (no brazings on the frame). I'd replace the chain at the same time.
That would give me a 23" bottom gear, and the same 98" top that it has at the moment. I figure that with a 23" gear I could also help out on my friends' farm if their tractor breaks down.
The Dawes is currently my tough bike, with Marathon+ tyres, but I may replace those with Durano+ in the spring. Not that that has anything to do with it.
Any comments on this plan? I'm just posting this so someone can point out the obvious flaw in the plan - which I can't see at the moment.
I don't have any really good reason for this, it's mainly because I can, and out of curiosity. And so that I have a bike with low gearing for long hilly rides. The fact that I suffer from sore knees after anything over 100k with much up in it is part of the reason. When my knees get sore I can't stand on the pedals so at this point all climbing has to be seated. But really there's not too much logic in it.
I plan to use a Stronglight 48/38/28 from Spa along with the BB that they recommend.
The bike has an 11-32 8 speed cassette, but the old steel frame means that I can't use the little sprocket, so it's effectively 13-32 7 speed. I have an Alivio MTB long cage rear mech, which has 43T capacity, which is plenty. I run this with friction shifters, and it works fine.
As a front mech I'm not sure what I need. I'm guessing a Tiagra front mech, which has 20T capacity should be fine. Friction shifter means I don't have to worry about cable pull. Spa do an adapter thingy so I can use a braze on mech (no brazings on the frame). I'd replace the chain at the same time.
That would give me a 23" bottom gear, and the same 98" top that it has at the moment. I figure that with a 23" gear I could also help out on my friends' farm if their tractor breaks down.
The Dawes is currently my tough bike, with Marathon+ tyres, but I may replace those with Durano+ in the spring. Not that that has anything to do with it.
Any comments on this plan? I'm just posting this so someone can point out the obvious flaw in the plan - which I can't see at the moment.
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