Hello all.
I have several bikes I'd like to half step w/ granny and could use some help in making a relatively immediate decision until I can get my head wrapped around the gearing math.........perty please.
I have been reading this over and again, as well other sites on the web, and haven't grocked it, yet.
For starters, I have an '82 Trek 614 that came w/ a Sugino AT 28/45/50. It did not come with it's original rear wheel (it had the front Rigida, though) or even freewheel, but if one is look at the Trek brochures it's OEM specs are 27" wheels w/ 14/16/19/23/27/30 freewheel gearing. What did come with the Trek when I bought it months ago was a Weinmann 27" and a Suntour 7spd AP freewheel. Don't remember what the gearing is at the moment, but it ends at 30 on the lowest gear. I think 30 is adequate enough for the intention considering I'm swapping all the Trek equipment to my Lotus Elite for sport touring and building the Trek for loaded touring. The Trek will then eventually have a Deore LX 46/42 or 40.....not sure, yet/24 up front and as low as I can get out back on a Shimano HG cassette. For now, the low on it is 28, though. And, I will be indexing it with some mtn bike rapid fire shifters. Yet another customization.
Anyway, I'd like to get the gearing set up squared away with Sugino HS triple asap since decent riding weather is coming back around. I'm in the middle of the swap, but at a stall out because of the gearing thing. I'll be running 700x32c's.
Last thing I'd appreciate some input on. I had a Univega Gran Turismo with an SR triple 36/47/52 and a 5spd Suntour ProCompe 14/17/21/27/32. I'm considering running the set up on my Dawes Galaxy down the road, but I've had one person tell me it'll shift like crap because of the big jumps, I'll be double shifting all the time, and I'm wondering if it's even geared low enough for Arkansas hills and potentially being loaded down. I'm considering this Suntour X-1 triple 28/38/48 and half stepping it if the aforementioned set up is not worth the trouble of getting it.......well...... all set up. Input********** I'll will eventually be running 700x32 or 35c's.
Thanks.