Dear swift wizards,

Newbie question:

I have stripped my swift and built it back up with some new bits learning a lot as i go, mainly by all my mistakes. I'm nearly all there with the bike, its rides great, but yet one last wee problem.

For my riding i really need a gear range of 100-25ish gear inches, it's my only bike so needs to handle kid hauling and food shops plus commuting and trying to ride as fast as i can when it suits. So i'm running a double 60/44t upfront with shimano tiagra front mech not sure what model as got it 2nd hand, i think it is the FD-4700 B. At back have shimano 8 speed Acera HG41 mega range 11-34 cassette with Shimano XT M772 Shadow 9 Speed Rear Mech. Using Shimano Ultegra 6480 8sp bar end shifters set up as thumb shifters.

the problems:

1. Going into the lowest gear the derailleur rubs the back wheel. I think the rear mech is long cage, could this be the issue? and is 11-34 too big? would 11-32 be better? Or is the style of derailleur a problem? I also have set up with big apples on the wheels (probably switching to kojak's come summer time when i get some new wheels) so the rear wheel is back a bit to fit the tyre width so i added an extra chain link. 116 from 114. could that be an issue also? Chain is wippermann connex 8spd.

2. other issue (though i can prob live with it) is upfront it is super tight with the front derailleur and very close to rubbing the chain in some gears. Are there any front derailleurs that have more length on them or better shape to work with the bigger chain ring and funny angle? Would trigger shifters be better to use than bar end/thumb shifters?

Coming across this forum and thread has been incredible helpful and inspiring. Many thanks to all.

appreciate any advice.

happy riding!