Upgrades to Batavus Professional?
 

Found a great bike last year at a yard sale - Batavus Professional, Columbus tubing and Gallis blue-adonized components throughout. In great shape, with only surface spots on the fork. New seat and tires, and I've been riding it a year. LOVE the bike.
I'm thinking about several upgrades or options and want need some feedback.
1) Replace the Regina Extra freewheel (6 sp.) with 7 sp. freewheel. From what I read, this can be done and is not too costly. The Regina is a racing setup and it's nearly unrideable in the hilly sections of my group ride.
2) Replace groupset with mid/lower level components that include brifters. This will be a bigger investment in parts and trouble, but I would like to do it for $500 or less (my family insists on eating!)
3) Sell the bike as-is and buy an updated model. Not my favorite option, but I'm not a collector.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Kevin

1. just replace with another 6 speed with a larger granny ring.
2. brifters + 6-7 speeds aint gonna work.
3. ew.

imo, get a nice hyperglide fw with a 30+ granny and a rear derailleur to match. leave everything else the same.

if you want to go the brifter route, then include a new wheelset, cassette, etc and do it with 9-speed.

anodize = electro color process for aluminum
adonize = elevate to the level of G-D.

The best you're going to do with a freewheel and brifters is a 7-speed Shimano freewheel and Shimano RSX brifters. Granted, I'm talking theoretically, as I've yet to do the setup myself - but - the spacing on a 7-speed freewheels and 7-speed cassette are identical, if my memory is still working. You'd need to change over the derailleurs to RSX or something Shimano that's newer (there are a couple of exceptions, mainly old Dura Ace).

I'd seriously suggest digging up a 14-28 6-speed freewheel (I assume what you currently have is narrower), and drop your smaller chain ring a couple of teeth. Short of tree climbing with loaded panniers, that should do for general use.

I like this suggestion.

Did some serious study of the freewheel - it's 13-18. If I replace it, use a Park f4 tool to remove and I don't have to replace with a Regina brand. Does this sound right?

Thanks for the advice.

Right. And a hyperglide freewheel will likely shift much smoother than the Regina. Don't forget to add a new chain, which will need to be longer than your current chain in order to avoid a cross-chain lockup. Any chain labeled for 6/7/8 speed should work.

By the way, those blue anodized Galli components are sweet!

Thanks for the input. I'm headed to the LBS store this week for the freewheel/chain deal. Your advice helps put things in perspective. I appreciate it.
Kevin