Classic & Vintage - Vintage gearing question for all you gear heads.

Here is my dilemma. My Raleigh is quite unmanageable on the hills in and around NKY and Cincinnati but great on flats and rollers. I need to know if this is feasible and which direction would be best.

The bike is 100% original in 98% condition so changing components is out of the question. Huret Jubilee derailleurs, Normandy Lux competition hubs, and a TA crank. Current gearing is 52-42, 14-17-19-21-24. Below is a chart of IRD Defiant freewheels.

1. Does anyone know if an IRD freewheel will work with the above equipment?
2. If so, what would be the suggested combination below?
3. Should I also look changing a chainring as well? (I haven't measured the bolt pattern yet, so that may not be an option)


5-speed
13 15 17 20 24
13 16 20 24 28
13 16 20 24 32
14 16 20 24 28

Not sure what size the Jubillee rear will handle but 24 might be close. Might try a 28, might work. The Competitions came with the 3-pin TA crank, good luck finding rings for that, though they're on ebay now and then. Don't know what the smallest inner was.

It doesn't have a cottered crank.
If I can find one I'm wondering how small I can go with the front derailleur. I found a 6 hole 34 but I'm not sure if the hole spacing would work. That would be a massive jump and I don't know enough about gearing to know if that is too much.

I always thought those Hurets were one of the best looking deraileurs, ever.

You should be able to get a very small chainwheel on that crank.

I know from personal experience that a 42 front and a 32 rear is very manageable, even on steep hills. It's almost too low for anything but a steep hill. What I do not know is whether that Jubilee will handle a 32 rear. Most likely not.

Putting all this together, I'd say get the smallest front chainring you can find (32?) and use that. Go up to as much as the deraileur will handle (not likely more than 28T).

Can you find a triple chainwheel version of the TA crank? I know they made them.

Thanks Mike,
I've read your posts in another thread. What are your thoughts on keeping the freewheel the same (if the 6 hole 34T chainwheel will work) on steeper inclines? It seems I could keep the 52 and not lose anything on the high end.

I've read the Jubilee was the lightest made, but I'm sure that's not the case now.
Art

It doesn't have a cottered crank.

Sorry, I didn't say it was cottered, I said 3-pin: I meant 3-bolt!

Can you find a triple chainwheel version of the TA crank? I know they made them.

I don't think there was a triple of the 3-bolt: TA made the CycloTourist in any combinations of double or triple or tandem. You can still find rings for those, but the mounting is different than the 3-bolt and they tend to be expensive.

Sorry, I didn't say it was cottered, I said 3-pin: I meant 3-bolt!

:lol: I read it wrong, so I'm the one should apologize.
I'm trying to get the dimensions on the 6 bolt I found. It's in France, so if the holes don't match it's not like I can go down to the corner local shop. I'm just not sure the deraileur will handle it and the gearing would be too extreme.

Sutherland's sez Jubilee will go to 28T sprocket with 24 mm derailler hanger drop, 31T total (difference in front + difference in rear). Long cage version goes to 40T, with same 28T max.

Thanks all for the advice.

I switched to a 28T today and it's alot better. Shimano worked just peachy, BTW. I'm fortunate to have an old school LBS who took one look and knew what would work.

He has a Waterford I'm starting to eye now.