dooley

Ok, more dumb newbie questions.
I'm building up what I hope to be a bulletproof commuter bike, on it I have a 5 speed freewheel, mainly because that's all I can fit on a bullseye hub without having to dish the wheel, will an old Suntour Superbe Tech work with that? If yes what sort of shifter should I go for? the freewheel is a 14-24 shimano one.
Oh yeah, does that freewheel matched to a 42 front ring sound like it would give a reasonable range for a town bike?

sydney

Yeah, and a friction shifter.

dooley

Cheers fella!

jimmythefly

Depends on which town! First off, it's easy enough to change, so I'd just ride what you've got and if you don't like it, then get different cogs.
My limited experience is:
I have a 42 ring (biopace, woo-ha!) and a 13-26 6-speed cogset. For commuting in a town with any hills, carrying a backpack or saddlebag, I'd want maybe a 28 out back, or even a 32 if I had some really big hills. As it is I'm standing on it for short (one or two-block length) steep hills. For commuting I'd err on the side of low gearing.

dooley

The 'town' is London, but no major hills on my route, I'll keep a lookout for a wider ranging freewheel just in case though. Thanks.