Bicycle Mechanics - gearing on 6 speed cassettes?

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rj987652003
08-17-04, 07:18 AM
What was the smallest typical cog on a late 70's suntour equipped road bike? I road one a few days ago and even in top gear didn't seem very high.

Did road bikes back then commonly have a 12 tooth cog (high gear) in the cassette like road bikes today.

Gonzo Bob
08-17-04, 07:32 AM
The smallest cog for Shimano and Suntour 6-speed freewheels was 13 although I'm pretty sure there were some other brands out there that could take a 12.

The smallest cog for non Dura-ace Shimano 6-speed freehubs was 12. I think Dura-ace could take an 11. Suntour never offered a 6-speed freehub.
sydney
08-17-04, 07:32 AM
What was the smallest typical cog on a late 70's suntour equipped road bike? I road one a few days ago and even in top gear didn't seem very high.

Did road bikes back then commonly have a 12 tooth cog (high gear) in the cassette like road bikes today.
Could have been a 13 and even 14 was common.

rj987652003
08-17-04, 10:32 AM
It must have been a 14 because I could ride up hills sitting down in the highest gear with that bike.....talk about worthless gearing!!!! What Am I supposed to do on flat ground...spin it at a really cadence for hours on end!!!
John E
08-17-04, 12:11 PM
The original late 1960s and early 1970s SunTour freewheels had a 14-tooth minimum. The SunTour Winner had a 13-tooth minimum, as did the Reginas and Atoms of the same period.

To me, a 14-tooth high is NOT worthless gearing! The early 1970s Peugeot PX-10s had the same 100-inch 52/14 top gear as most of the other 10-speeds of that era. I use 13-tooth high cogs now only because I also use smaller outer chainrings.

My top gears are:
Bianchi: 50/13 = 104 inches
PKN-10: 48/13 = 100 inches
Capo: 50/14 = 96 inches
Schwinn: 48/13 = 96 inches (26" wheels)
UO-8: 45/13 = 93.5 inches

I rarely feel the need for a higher gear, but I am also comfortable spinning at, say, 100 RPM.