Originally Posted by
sweeks
I'd be embarrassed too, and partly for the reason you mention (though I don't often ride in groups), but also because bicycling is supposed to be one of the "silent sports".
My first derailleur-equipped bike (the Motobecane "Mirage" I still own) had a really loud freewheel. A couple shots of 30w motor oil shut it right up.
a Normandy? or was it an Atom? i had one of those Mirages here... yep, it was kinda loud. can't recall which one it was now... i sold that bike around three years ago.