Originally Posted by
juvela
You wondered about the possibility of two plateau gearing. If it had been fitted it would have employed the Competition model rod front mech. Such a fitment would have left marks on the seat tube's finish which appear to be lacking.
There marks on the seat tube, but they're hard to see. They're roughly at the level where you'd expect them for a Competition lever, but the shape and wear pattern look wrong. Perhaps from a bottle holder or a pump peg?
Originally Posted by
juvela
Another check is spindle length. As mentioned above the bottom bracket set is not the usual model 34 Verot companion for the Competition 55 chainset. In the Verot set the spindle length for single plateau gearing is 125mm. A further check would be to examine the chainline. If the chainwheel lines up in the middle of the 4V block that would seem to be it.
The spindle is about 130mm, and there's no room for an extra inner chainring. There are some grazing marks on the chainstay that suggest it has been equipped with a ring that was closer than this one. The chainline looks fairly decent.
Originally Posted by
juvela
Likely original mech candidates would be 543 and TdF. The former would be great but of staggering cost at market value. Clearly the current Prestige rear mech and white delrin shift lever are too late for the bike.
I have a TdF RD, as well as a Competition FD waiting for a project. Both are NOS, so maybe a little too shiny for this particular one ...