Cycling UK Forum

My LBS doesn't seem to be able to find a solution for the following, and wants me to "upgrade" to 8-speed with a new freewheel, rear mech, and shifter. Apparently, I'll be able to keep my current chainset, chain and front mech! At first, he suggested I needed a new rear wheel with 9-speed drivetrain but I suspect it would be more effective to buy a new bike than spend that sort of money on a two-hundred quid nail!

The freewheel that I've got is a 13-34 "megarange" seven speed. The bottom two sprockets are 34T and 24T, which is a very large gap. I've got a 28/38/48 chainset which (AFAICT from the gear tables spreadsheet) gives a jump between first and second from 23" to 32" on the small chainring and even if I shift up on the front rather than the rear, 38F/34R gives 31", which isn't much better. This means that once I've dropped down to the "last resort" bottom gear, the difference in cadence between first and second makes it hard to change back up.

I'd like a more even ratio spread. For example, with a 28T second sprocket. This would give the smaller jump from first to second gear, and so a quicker way out of "the last straw". I'm an unfit, fat bloke recently returned to cycling - so I want to keep a 34T bottom sprocket.

Keeping in mind that I've got a freewheel, not a cassette, is this possible at reasonable cost?

TIA,

Geoff

7 speeds are outside of my experience. I looked at Spa's old catalogue and the weren't any. Nor did they have any decent 6 speeds but I have a 30t sunrace and my wife has a 32t suntour/race. Both of these have no massive jump between adjacent cogs. So dont give up there must be a decent 7speed out there.
Have you considered a second hand one from the wants section?

Hi Geoff,

No idea about Shimano, except that they don't come apart very well, I think.

However, I've loads of Suntour Ultra sprockets and a body or two, just gathering dust in the loft. I think my lowest ratio is a 28t, though, not low enough for you. Many of the cogs are worn, especially the small ones (13,14,15 etc)

You're in Torpoint, aren't you? If you want 'em, I'll dig 'em out, but I don't know that you'll be able to get spares. No charge, just happy for them to go to a good home. The box is quite heavy, so postage would be prohibitive.

Maybe the best way forward is to get a new hub or even a wheel. If your rim is good, a new hub could be fitted. But sometimes it's possible to get good deals on wheelsets.

Good luck, and get back to me if you want my bits!

Mick F. Gunnislake.

GeoffL

The multiple freewheel as a gear system on bikes is pretty much dead. As you have been discovering, it is now all cassettes and even 9 speed is racing towards history.

There is plenty of freewheel stuff about in shops that cater for that sort of thing such as SJSC and Spa Cycles, but they are limited as to what is available. Six speed was probably the zenith of the freewheel, so that is the size with besta availability although the stuff being currently made is only medium standard. Seven speed and even more so eight speed, were really attempts to compete with a better system so although they are more recent than 6, there was never the same number of bikes made using them and less demand now. It's what CJ calls distress purchases - we have to make do with what is available. (Incidentally, after chains, I should have thought that second hand freewheels were the most unhappiness prone part of cycling.)

Hi Mick,

Thanks for the offer - it's very much appreciated. However, as you suggest, I want to keep the 34T bottom sprocket and 7-speed freewheels are available new with 28T bottom for under twenty quid. Thanks all the same

BTW, I mentioned you to my missus on Saturday as we were driving back from Okehampton (via Tavistock and Liskeard). After relating your exploits as we drove up the hill from the narrows to Drakewalls, she's now convinced that I want to do an end-to-end and that I expect her to accompany me

Thanks and ATB,

Geoff

TC: I was afraid of that. So, a straight swap of freewheel looks unlikely.

FWIW, an 8-speed freewheel, new rear mech, shifters and brake levers would cost just under a hundred quid, which is borderline worth doing. OTOH, the 9-speed upgrade that my LBS suggested would cost more than the bike's worth and so is completely out of the question.

Thanks,

Geoff

Geoff, if you're setup is 'friction' you wouldn't have to change anything but the hub to get 9sp cassette system. Try to see what a hub plus rebuild would cost.

Anybody else want some Suntour Ultra stuff? It's yours if you want to collect!

Mick F. Cornwall

Mick F wrote:Geoff, if you're setup is 'friction' you wouldn't have to change anything but the hub to get 9sp cassette system. Try to see what a hub plus rebuild would cost.

Thanks again, Mick!

Unfortunately, it's "rapid-fire" indexed with integrated brake levers. Also, I thought that 9-speed needed a narrower chain, which means that I'd also need to change the mechs, chain, and chainset. When I added up the lot, it came to over £200 allowing a miserly sixty quid for the wheel and using budget everything else. To be honest (except that it fits me - I'm 6ft 4in), there's nothing special about my bike. It's only one step up from a BSO so it's not worth spending that sort of money on it. For £250 or so, I suspect I could get a usable hybrid factory-built with 27 speed and if necessary I could swap the cassette to get 28F/34R with even spacing.

Perhaps, though, I'd be better saving my pennies and learning more about what I really need - and then going for a decent tourer (although the rebel in me is hankering for a Trice!)

Thanks again,

Geoff

I think there's a lot of nonsense talked about 9sp chains. During a "maintenance period" some time back, I tried my old Sedis Sport chain on my 9sp Campag gears. Guess what, it worked. The Sedis was a 7/8sp chain, only a little wider, but it worked all the same.

There's no reason why not, that all you'd have to change would be your hub -- if you were friction.

But sorry Geoff, you're indexed.

Oh well.

Regards, Mick

Could you change the chainwheels as well as the freewheel to give you the same bottom gear whilst avoiding the big jump to bottom gear? http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLqrymode.a4p?f%5FProductID=3023&f%5FFullProductVersion=1&f%5FSupersetQRY=C188%7E0&f%5FSortOrderID=0
is a 22/32/42 which could be married to a freewheel with a range of 14-28 which would give smaller jumps at the bottom (22" to 25") at the expense of a lower top (you would spin out quicker). You would probably need to change your front mech (but they start at ~£12). If you can change the chainwheels whilst keeping the spider that would be better

FB: Thanks. I'd thought about that but with a bigger capacity chainset - I looked for something like 26/38/52 - but failed. Unfortunately, the drop of top gear from 102" (48F/13R) to 83" (42F/14R) is a bit too much.

Thanks anyway

Geoff

GeoffL

Whatever else you do, don't go down the 8 speed freewheeel route. I won't bore you with why not unless you specifically ask but it is a dead end. In my opinion.

Thanks all - you've help me formulate a plan - much appreciated.

The plan is to swap my existing wheel for a budget 7-speed with freehub and to install a SRAM PG730 cassette. This is 12-32 with much better spacing than my 13-34 freewheel and it'll only take my bottom gear up from 23" to 24" rather than the 28" I'd have with a 28T large sprocket. Additionally, my top gear will go up from 103" to 111", which would be welcomed. AFAICT (counting teeth on the photo) the PG730 is 12-14-17-19-21-26-32.

Thanks again,

Geoff

At long last, I've done the deed. The hold up was that my LBS couldn't get a 7-speed 700C hybrid cassette wheel, but Natural Cycles in Plymouth had one hanging up by the counter (thanks to dodger for letting me know about that shop). I've just fitted the wheel and gone for a short ride - the new gearing makes a huge difference.

BTW, I got the ratios slightly wrong in my previous post, it's actually 12-14-16-18-21-26-32.

Thanks again,

Geoff