amirinisrael

On long trips, my wife rides a 1949 Hirondelle mixte.
see https://www.flickr.com/photos/hironde...in/photostream

It is comfortable and cool, but shifts "badly".
My wife also rides a modern mountain bike and much prefers its reliable click shifting.

So before we go off on another trip, I must upgrade her bike to indexed shifting.

The rear dropouts have a 118mm spread into which a 120mm wheel fits nicely.
I do not want to widen the rear.

I am considering a 120mm freehub from GrandBois
see https://www.cyclesgrandbois.com/SHOP/gb_lfqr_r_120.html
That way I can use (part of) a modern cassette which should shift better than old freewheels.

Anybody have experience with this hub?
Can anyone suggest a 5 or narrow 6 speed freewheel that indexes well?

I plan to install an Exage Linear pull brake/shifters (7 speeds with one or two non-working shifts). Hope this works.

Amir

SuperLJ

Amir -

If you decide to go with this hub and use part of a modern 8-speed cassette, there's a guy on ebay that makes custom cassette spacers for Shimano hubs in any width you need to make your spacing work out.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mountain-Bik...item3a5341ab24

I've used them with great results. You' ll just have to do the math. Cog width + spacer width = center to center spacing.

photogravity

I do not have anything to offer on the derailleur/cassette/shifter issue being an IGH kinda guy, but I have to say that I really like that old Hirondelle. It is a shame that you were not able to salvage the original paint and graphics. Of course, many women want to ride a shiny looking bicycle, so I understand the new paint from that perspective. In my opinion, there are [STRIKE]three[/STRIKE] four things I would do to that bicycle:

1. Put larger tires (probably Grand Bois Hetre) on the bike since the ones on there do not fill out the fenders adequately,
2. place that beautiful headbadge back on,
3. re-create the graphics and put them back on the bike,
4. ditch the derailleurs and put an IGH on the bike.

Of course, I imagine this bike is a work in progress...

On another note, are you the same Amir that hangs out on the CR list?

EDIT: At the urging of Italuminum, added a fourth item suggesting an IGH go on the bike.

Italuminium

No, really Dallas, the answer is IGH in this case

sashimimi

I've got to agree with Italuminum, an IGH would look spectacular on that bike and be very functional!

repechage

Probably a period correct CR refugee. You could probably guess the reaction to this bike on that list/group.

photogravity

OK, then. I shall add a fourth item to the list. Build the bike with an IGH.

photogravity

Indeed! I like a period correct or all original bike as much as anyone on the CR list, but there are limits to what I am willing to spend on a bicycle. I am also willing to wait things out until a deal comes along for the stuff I might need for a period correct build.

amirinisrael

Same Amir as on CR.
Got lots of advice but no complete solution yet.

This bike was originally a derailleur geared, 3-speed city bike.
It rides great and is the right size. My wife likes it around town ... but not so much in hilly country.
So, If I want her to come on another long bike ride, I must give her better gear shifting.

I'm open to IGH but have hard requirements:

Must be wide range with hill climbing gears
Must have 120mm OLD
Must have one hand shifting
Wheel needs to slide in and out unencumbered when fixing a flat

Can anyone recommend an IGH like that?

Amir

ColonelJLloyd 

The current production Sturmey 5 speed IGH would give you an okay range, but not great, and would fill your other requirements. There are reported shifting issues with them, though, and they weigh an ridiculous amount.

But, the frame has an integrated derailleur hanger. I would use it. That Grand Bois hub is cool!

photogravity

I thought you were the same Amir. In that case, you know Harvey, who is one of the nicest and most generous guys I have ever known.

I know that the original SA S5 hubs have a narrow OLD and would work. With a 46t chainring and a 24t cog you can get it down to 33 gear inches in low and a top gear of 75 inches , which is pretty low gearing. Using a 22t cog you would have a low of 36 gear inches and a high of 82 gear inches.

Alternately, you could buy a modern SA 5-speed and reduce the spacing with thinner washers (actually the X-RF5 (W) can be acquired with a 119 OLD) and that would work. You will get a little more range out of the new hubs too...

When you say slide in and out unencumbered, what do you mean? An IGH is not going to be any more encumbered than a derailleur gear bike, though I noticed the bike has vertical dropouts and that would necessitate a tensioner, unfortunately. I do not think that will be any more an encumbrance than a derailleur at the rear wheel.

nlerner

I would guess that it wouldn't be hard to create a system with a 5-speed cluster, six-speed indexed RD and twist, grip, or otherwise 6-speed shifter. The key is cog spacing. I'm imagining that Grand Bois hub is some serious coin, so perhaps an older uniglide 6-speed freehub with some spacers removed might do the trick.

SuperLJ

Amir -

I would agree with everyone above that an IGH hub would be a much more elegant solution, but if you were still considering 6 speeds with a derailleur and the Grand Bois hub, here's what you could do. Modern 9 or 10 speed cassettes are all bolted together on carriers, so they wouldn't work with the custom spacers I mentioned above. You would need a "loose" cog cassette, like a Sora 8-speed model, which are readily available:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=...2C382&_armrs=1

They're either riveted (use a drill) or bolted (use a tiny allen wrench) together, but come apart easily.

Take it apart and discard 2 cogs. You will need 4 of the custom spacers I referenced above in 3.7mm, and 1 in .7 to add to the 3.0mm built-in spacer on the smallest cog. (1.8mm cog thickness + 3.7mm spacer = 5.5mm on-center spacing, which is standard for all 6-speed systems.) This would work with any 6-speed system as long as the derailleur and shifters matched, i.e. were designed to work together.

I have some of your brass replacement washers for MAFAC centerpulls. Great product!

amirinisrael

Thanks for the help.

Its now a toss-up between a 5-speed IGH with chain tensioner and a 6-speed freehub with special spacers.

As for the frame, it was powder coated after several braze-ons were removed and others added. What little was left of the original paint, decals and pinstriping could not be salvaged (it must have been gorgeous when new).

Amir

Bianchigirll 

Are you deadset against spreading the frame further? I think there have been a few threads about 120mm spaced 7spd cssettes. I think if you experiment a bit you migh cajole a 7spd FW on to a 120ish hub, and with a 13-34 mega range and nice long cage Rd that should give her plenty of low gear.

Looking at your pics I see there is already a XT rd on there. That is a great looking old bike. I think you should move somewhere flatter and put the original shifting back on.

I am not siding with the IGH crowd but a 8 or 11 will give lots of gearing and may allow you to forgo the FD so you can use a chain case.

Bianchigirll 

I may be late to the party eh?

ThermionicScott 

That 120mm freehub from Grand Bois is super cool -- I had no idea they existed!

YoKev

Beautiful!

But, the original frame decals and paint are long gone, as are the front canti studs. This bike frame has been around the block a few times, and, you have rescued it to ride it. My two euros worth of advice is you may as well spread the rear frame to 130 or 135 (realign the drops after) and be done with it! You'll be able to run any 8-10 speed cassette hub from the ease of a Shimano bar end, trigger, or Sram grip shifter. Your wife will love it.

ThermionicScott 

I didn't post anything really helpful in my other post, but I would agree -- unless the OP wants to hack old parts or use a very specialized rear hub, they would be best advised to spread the rear and get it over with!

Bianchigirll 

That is kind of what I was thinking. Aside from likely being the same cost as that fancy hub it the opens the bike up to (Oh no oun intended) to accepting other wheels the OP may already have on hand.