Classic & Vintage - Maximum Cog for GS RD

I want to get a freewheel for climbing and I would like recommendations on how large of a granny gear I can get. The RD is a third generation Campagnolo Gran Sport and the chainrings are 50/47 but I am looking for a 49/46 or less if there is such a thing.

This will be a climbing set-up, I will put on the freewheel, chainrings and a different chain if necessary for only certain rides, otherwise my 14-22 is fine for the flats of Illinois.

I thought I have read 28 teeth is the max but that may have been for Nuovo Record. A 32 would even be better for this old man, but I really don't think that is possible. Ideally, 14-18-22-28 would fit the ticket, is this possible?

My 1960 Gran Sport (second generation???) is rated for 14-26 teeth. I am rebuilding the bike as a 12-speed: 49-46 / 14-16-18-21-24-26, using an ultra-6 freewheel for my 120mm rear axle.

If you have cottered cranks with the 3-piece 3-to-6-bolt Simplex adaptor, you can go down to 45 teeth, and probably 44, in which case you run 47-44, reusing your inner chainring as your new outer. 6-bolt 157mm BCD chainrings are not plentiful, but there is a 52-45 set currently on eBay. With your relatively large proposed jumps on the freewheel (I had a 1971 SunTour 5-speed with 14-18-22-27-34 teeth), you may want to try 50-45 / 14-18-22-26, which should work fine with the Gran Sport.

I have always liked half-step / 1.5-step setups, in which I need change only the inner chaining to accommodate either hills or flats. In the 1970s I used 50-47 / 14-16-18-20-23 or 50-42 / 14-16-18-20-23, depending on whether my route included some serious climbing.

I am watching that very auction. You're not going to bid against me, are you?:p

I'm just trying to figure out what will work and what won't before I start buying everything that pops up. So you are saying there is no hope for a 28?

As for your RD, if it is from 1960, there should be no cable adjustment screw and the body is steel instead of bronze. These were made from 1960-1963 and are third generation, version 2. I think they also did something to strengthen the springs. Hi Campy's site rocks. http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~campa/

Also, any issue with mixing aluminum and steel chainrings? CycleArt has a steel 48 for $12 that would match up nice with that aluminum 45.

I hate to bring this up again, due to previous fallout, but I routinely run a 28 on my Gran Sport bikes too.

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Italy/Legnano/Legn_TW_rear.htm