djb

don't y'all worry there mr goofy hat the Amish like, you do what works for you and it certainly appears that it does. (I'm not sure if my stupid wink humour comes across here properly, basically, you get out there and do it, so good on you, thats the whole thing with bike touring, and what I respect with whoever and on whatever and however they do tours enjoying themselves)

again, is it you doing the side trip to the TT? I think it must be given your bike history, motorbike. (again, sorry, I mix up who is who here sometimes, it aint the same as seeing and talking to folks in person face to face)

re b screw, last summer I changed out a granny gear and a new cassette for a friend of mine, and her b screw was right at the limit also. You could hear a slight slight touching when it was on the stand, but riding on the road you wouldnt know it, and like you, I figure the time she'd be in that combo would be pretty small all in all, so just let it slide.
cheers

Sharpshin

Indeed, that's from quite a few thousand miles with loaded Ortliebs, which don't appear to be wearing near as much as the aluminum.

I have been watching it though, the wear does appear to have slowed down considerably.

BigAura

• Not a stud...BUT: 75lb bicycle, 19.5 gear inches, very slow & steading, no pushing on paved roads.
• Not a granny... BUT a soon to be grandpa (august 2016)
• Never thought of myself as a stud... BUT when I was a 27yo my low gear was 42 gear inches!

fietsbob

Maybe tape on some Rubber inner tube where its wearing the soft metal.

Sharpshin

Yes indeed, motorcycles were nearly my only transportation until I was 38, the TT being the draw that lets me include my grown son on the trip. I'm doing it to bring him on a trip he'll always remember I took him on, but at 30 he ain't thinking bucket list like I am at 58. He goes home after 2 weeks, I have another seven weeks after that to ride a bicycle.

Pretty much the way it is on mine.

Actually I'm going to ride it for a bit like this, and see how well I like a nine-speed with those shifters. If it doesn't work out I'll just go back to 8 speeds and 34T, and have to suffer with a mere 16 gear inches.

Sharpshin

Like I said, maybe I need to up my game......

Already beat you to it in the grandpa dept....

Sharpshin

I was thinking some rubber tubing, slit down one side and taped on. Same principle.

robow

Before you spend any cash on a new derailleur, and I may be way off here since I'm not totally familiar with that particular derailleur, but often you can gain just a touch more clearance if you reverse the b screw and place the head of the screw against the dropout tab. If that still doesn't do it for you, swing down to the hardware store and pick up a longer screw and reverse it. I've often solved the problem in that manner in order to get a lower low, errr at least I thought it was a lower low until you came along

BigAura

Darling!!!