Originally Posted by
ThermionicScott
Half-step is where the chainrings are very close in size (roughly one-half of the jumps between gears in back), so that you can use front shifts to fine-tune the overall gear selection. See how there is no duplication in this progression, and that close steps are available from top to bottom:
Right on the money, nice illustration as well.
I do not really know what I am doing, just copying what was.
"What was" bore little if any resemblance to what was OEM on a Raleigh/Carlton Pro as it came out of the shipping carton.
My '74 MKIV sported 54/45 13-18 for Time trials and went through a Criterium 50/48 14-19 phase before settling into 52/42 13-21 for most of it's racing life.
It never sported OEM gearing and used SR Royal chainrings sometimes. Bars/stem and a lot of other stuff were similarly modified just as my teammates did to suit them.
In addition drivetrains wear and Regina chain/cogs came and went and Sedis & Suntour replaced them and so on for decades of use.
My point: Do as you please and set-up your Pro to suit yourself, that's how we rolled back when and the Period Correct/OEM Police never materialized from the future to chide us.
-Bandera