Originally Posted by
Grand Bois
I'm afraid that the 8 speed SA hub was a poor choice for a bike with 27" wheels. The hub was designed for 20" wheel bikes and first gear is 1:1. Usable gearing requires the use of a chain ring that is ridiculously small. I think that SA makes a crank that will work, but be prepared for people to point and laugh. I'd rebuild the wheel with a SA 5 speed if it was mine.
Well, while this is a work in progress, it is a limited budget work in progress. As to pointing and laughing...we're talking about an overweight (not tooo overweight) 67 year old riding around on a vintage (looking) bike wearing his kid's skate board helmet, so pointing and laughing is a given...
So...a newbie stupid question...I've never pulled the chain ring off a (cottered) Rudge. Is the chain ring attached to the right crank on these bikes, or does it just slip off the crank shaft once the cotter is removed? Now...(assuming I get it off)...I assume the diameter of the ring and not the number of teeth determines the leverage, right? Assuming that's correct, why can't I pull a cottered crankset off an older road bike, pull the smallest ring off it and use it? Aside from losing that great Rudge "hand" ring, what's the downside? I'm not looking to race this bike, just get easier hill climbing on my thrice or so weekly jaunts around the village...