Originally Posted by
bokerfest
Yes, As I just learned from
Sheldon article what is on the bike now is a freewheel.
What I mean by better range is something to climb better with and I felt that the 28 to 44 was to big of a jump.
I am not sure how low of a gear I need. My plan with bike is to do a cross country loaded tour. But since I have never done one before I am not sure how low or I high I need to go.
The wheels are 700. I am liking the bike. My current derailleur is bent (as you see above) but the only way it is effecting me now is I can not get in my high and low cog and sometimes it shifts by its self when I hit pot holes or high vibrating roads. Anyway, I am enjoying the learning process I have had with it so far. I am glad I bought it over getting a new Long Haul Trucker where I would just be riding something new without knowing much about it.
Thanks for your input.
If you get a 7spd freewheel you might need a thin spacer so that the chain can clear the dropout and the wheel re-trued to move the rim over the same amount. Don't know until you do it. Like other said my $.02 is to do nothing if the chain isn't worn but the derrailleur looks worth replacing to me. That long arm really isn't up to the job and some of the auto shifting is a consequence of the skewed angle and weak spring. Are you SURE the hanger isn't bent? It takes a particular tool to check and correct it.
As it is you have lower than a one to one gear,26front/28rear,that's low enough or you're carrying way too much weight.
The thing I'd be more interested in, besides replacing the derailleur is the crank length. If you're 6',,and by the way the seat is not up that high for a 6' person which makes me wonder if you have the seat at the right height. Check the crank arms. If they're 170mm it's servicable but if your inseam is more along the lines of 33" then 172.5-175 might be desirable were you to redo the whole drive train.
personally for me I'd just put on another derailleur and ride it. 44/28 is a perfectly decent hill climbing gear and if you're loaded with stuff then you shift long time before you need to and pedal, pedal , pedal in that granny gear on the middle cogs as you need.
Get the gears working before going whole hog on the drive train.