The 7 speed basically works well enough to shift up and down without skipping or making noise, except I have to shift twice to get from the second to smallest to the smallest ring. I know 8 speed freewheels are supposed to have the same spacing as 9 speed, so you just set your derailleur limit screws and effectively lock out one shift position (basically how the 7 speed is operating). However, given the "availability" of 8 speed freewheels, I'm thinking I might need to sell/trade this wheelset for a wheelset that has an 8/9/10 speed cassette hub, and then just go straight to the 9 speed. The only 8speed freewheels I see are usually 13-30-something. I'd prefer something like an 11 or 12-24 max.