Hey everyone... first post alert!

I am overhauling an '84 Trek 510 that my uncle gave me.. I have put many miles on it since, and it's overdue for some love.

My front derailleur needs to be replaced, but I am thinking of dropping it to one chain ring on the front, and upgrading the rear cog set instead. Any thoughts on this? I'll mostly be using it for bombing around, and winter commuting... Keep in mind, I live in Seattle... lots of hills - but not too many on my route to work

Thanks!

Welcome to Bike Forums jorgy15!

With the stock SR crankset, you can try taking off the outer chain ring and run the inner ring as a single,but you are pretty much stuck with a 42t as the smallest you can go. Look for a 110 bcd crank and you can then run as low as 34t on the inner. Lets see some pictures of the bike ..driveside please..and the good folks here can help you more with your goal you have in mind..John

Talk about what you are thinking wrt "upgrading the rear 'cog' set." What is the current spacing, 126? I would think you would want a full range of gears in Seattle, unless you are sticking to the flats. Flats in Seattle?! Queen Anne would be a challenge without two or three rings up front. guess

For me in Seattle, I would fix the front derailleur and try different cranks that can do a lower tooth count small chainring, and a larger count freewheel.

In honesty, you can get around just fine with 52/42 up front and 12-28 freewheel. Queen Anne Ave. would be a little stiff going up the last stretch. lol

Have you had a chance to visit Bikeworks? they are a local nonprofit I like to shop at. I also favor Recycled Cycles.

You'll have to get a new rear wheel if you need a bigger cluster in the back, since it's a freewheel hub.

Thanks for the responses!

it won’t let me post the photos yet since I haven’t hit 10 posts, but I put them in my photo album - I’m not sure if you can see those?

1x is tempting for ease of maintenance, and what I’ll mostly be using it for(I don’t head up to Queen Anne too often) plus I like the style. But if I have to replace the wheel, I don’t think it will be worth it right now.

I’m in the process of replacing the headset, and I have a extra pair of integrated shifters I’m planning to put on (is it sacrilegious to bail on the down tube shifters?). Thinking of getting a brooks saddle too.

Pic Assist

Thanks cb400bill !

The 1984 Trek 510 was definitely 126 mm in the rear, from the factory.

I think SJX426 is right on the money, suggesting the OP really look at the gearing you'll need. Most of my riding has been Chicago, Ann Arbor MI, and Denver CO in order of hilliness. My Chicago gearing would never have worked for me for either of my other two cities, any case not once I was older than 25 or so!

A big single could cover a range maybe 44/11, maybe 4:1. A more standard one 32/11, just less than 3:1. A front triple can gt you 53/30, a ratio of (32/11)*(53/30) =5.14:1, you''d have over 25% more range, though the gears might not be the same. Anyway, keep an open mind!

Overall, I'd suggest don't try to make this bike your ideal concept bike. Just work within what it is and make it work right, then ride it a bunch! Some simple-seeming changes need changes to the frame, and this step can get complicated.