Originally Posted by scudiac
Thanks for the info! I'm getting really excited about this bike - as you can probably tell. This will actually be my first complete rebuild of a bike. I really want to get started. As time and paychecks permit
Ideally, I would like an 8 or 9 speed on the rear and a triple up front. Do you think a rear 8 or 9 speed cassette would work fine if the frame was spread to 130mm? Triple upfront should also work with the proper BB. If it's too much trouble, a double will be fine. Since it's for someone who is a new rider, I want to provide plenty of gearing range for easy pedaling.
If the frame is properly spread, I don't know why a 9 speed wouldn't work, although I've never spread a Varsinental frame that much myself.
You could put a triple up front but there's more to it than just selecting the proper BB length for a good chain line. The existing front dérailleur may not have enough capacity to handle a triple -- I don't know for sure, since I never bolted a triple to a one of these bikes. The front dérailleur is of the clamp on style. The Varsinental frames use 7/8" tubing. I don't know if it's even possible to find a clamp on dérailleur, that will fit 7/8" tubing, and have enough capacity for a triple. If not, your only options are to braze a dérailleur hanger on the seat tube before you paint the frame, or use a radiator type hose clamp to mount the front dérailleur.