A month ago or so I picked up an 81 Miyata 1000 for my cousin. He is wanting to get into touring with his Rivendale/Surly riding brothers.

I bought the bike from a bikeshop in a small town. They had turned into a cheap single speed by removing two chainrings, the derailleurs and shifters. The bike had sat on CL for a while, maybe because the ad misspelled "Miyata" and didn't identify it as a 1000. And maybe because turning a Miyata 1000 into a cheap single speed was just stupid.

So I have been turning this bike back into tourer for my cousin. I had tektro brake levers, a Sora RD, a 105 FD, picked up a pair of DA bar end shifters, and used some 48cm Nitto Noodles I had. And I reinstalled the front two chain rings. Overall, the bike looks pretty nice for what we have into it.

BUT-- and there is a big BUT here-- the FD will not get the chain onto the large ring. The FD hits the middle chain ring if you try and go up. My guess is that a "modern" 105 triple FD is not meant to work with "classic" half step gearing. Is that a good guess?

So I figure that I either need a different "non-half step" middle chainring-- or a half-step particular FD. Again, is that right?

I am thinking we would rather change the middle chainring. Can anyone tell me what I would need for a new middle chainring? I think the front cranks are SR, but I don't know what chainrings will work with it. And I am not sure what teeth range would work with the 105 FD.

Alternatively, what front derailleurs would work?

Thanks for your help

Obligatory Pics of bike (first shot as purchased from add, later shots showing put back together)