Originally Posted by lostriver
Hey, thanks to all for the replies. Let's see if I can answer all the questions:
1. I'm pretty sure I have a freewheel, not a cassette.
2. I don't know the capacity of the rear derailleur - it's a Shimano 600 SIS. Almost all the components are Shimano 600. The chainring is the controversial Biopace.
3. The rear shifter seems to be an index shifter (click, click). Shifters also Shimano 600.
I did go to a bike shop today; he said I couldn't just put on a 7 speed, and suggested the following: new 6 speed mega-range freewheel, rear long cage derailleur, and a change to 39/50 chainrings, replacing the 42/52 that's on there. I asked about putting on a triple chainring, and he said I'd have to replace the entire drive train and it wouldn't be worth it.
What are your expert opinions? I'm a pretty casual rider, but am hoping to work my up to riding over the North Cascades Highway and will need way lower gears than are on there now. Thanks again!
The LBS guy is a moron....Your RD should handle a 30 cog...I've simply switched 6 speed freewheels for 7s with no issues.You started out simply asking about a freewheel switch to get a wider range, that's alot different than considering a triple. You could keep your 6 speed cogset, and index shifters,and simply scroung an inexpensive triple crakset and matching BB and FD. Keep your RD, but avoid the small cogs when in the granny ring...What's the tooth count on the freewheel big and small cogs anyway?