1988/89 rebuild - wheels and cassette help

[samsbike]

I am getting a winter bike and it has quite arrived yet as it needs to be put together.

The bike has a six speed campagnolo cassette, friction downtube shifters and a cheap campagnolo rear deraeilleur. The chainset is campagnolo.
Unfortunately it comes with tubs, which are no good to me given my aversion to punctures.

What are my options with regards to wheels etc - should I stick with the 6 speed or change to a more modern 8 speed. I do have a set of spare wheels but they are set for shimano not campagnolo, and given the cost of the bike, funds are a bit tight.

Any advice appreciated.

thanks

sam

[gaz]

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[samsbike]

Friction gear levers allow you to mix and match between manufacturers to your heart's content, a spare set of wheels with a Shimano cassette will be fine with a Campagnolo mech for friction shifts.

As six speed cassettes are no longer manufactured (I wasn't aware that Campagnolo ever made a six speed cassette, could it be a screw on freewheel?) it may be wise to go to 8 speed, it's possible that the rear mech won't cope with the extra throw required but you'll probably be OK.

If you are thinking of indexing in future then you'll need to decide if you want Campagnolo or Shimano when you buy your upgrades or do your Shimergo research first if you intend to mix and match.

thanks, he mentioned that he had a special tool for it, and you did not need a chain whip to remove the cassette, so I am not entirely sure.

Would the spacing have been 126mm then?

[gaz]

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[Brucey]

if funds are tight, and you presently have a screw-on freewheel, best to stick with that, if you are going to use those wheels.

A cheap 6s freewheel and a suitable chain will see you through a winter OK and you can decide on future upgrades as and when.

If you have spare wheels then as Gaz says, they may go in or they may not. If you use a 9s chain it will run OK on the chainset most likely and it will work with a 9s cassette too, with friction shifting.

If you have any photos of the parts I'm sure that thay can be identified OK.

Do bear in mind that a lot of stuff from back in the 1980s didn't have lots of seals on it etc; if you are not already, I would expect you to quickly become adept at stripping and regreasing hubs etc if you are going to ride in all weathers.

cheers

[samsbike]

if funds are tight, and you presently have a screw-on freewheel, best to stick with that.

A cheap 6s freewheel and a suitable chain will see you through a winter OK and you can decide on future upgrades as and when.

If you have any photos of the parts I'm sure that thay can be identified OK.

Do bear in mind that a lot of stuff from back in the 1980s didn't have lots of seals on it etc; if you are not already, I would expect you to quickly become adept at stripping and regreasing hubs etc if you are going to ride in all weathers.

cheers

The problem is the wheel, it comes with tubs and as I have a set of hewitt wheels spare (well on the summer bike) I thought I may put those on for now, except they are shimano cassette and 130. Hence my dilemma

[Brucey]

I just spotted that and was editing as you replied.

Like Gaz says you will have to measure up.

cheers

[531colin]

No problem to spring a 130mm hub into a 126mm steel frame.

[Ross K]

No problem to spring a 130mm hub into a 126mm steel frame.

I agree. My new winter bike was actually 122mm (previously 120 but had a 126 wheel jammed in for a couple of decades!) but I cold-set it as per Sheldon Brown (Google it), no problem at all. As the above chap says, in your case you can just spring the rear to get the wheel in, you're talking only 2mm each side.

A modern 8 speed set up is a good option for downtube friction shifting as shifts need not be quite so precise (as for say 9 or 10 speed) and the chains are bit hardier (thicker side plates) for winter use.

[samsbike]

Thanks all. I am very unsure what this has so am going to wait till I get it a then do the measurements.

[samsbike]

Update

The chap measured it for me and the rear dropout is 126mm, so hopefully I can fit a 9 speed on.

However he tried it (see pic) and it looks like the chain will run too close to the rear chain stay (I think the long bit is just a stick)

[Brucey]

the only fair tests for clearance are using a chain; first to see if it can be fitted in the gap OK, and second to see if it will shift on and off OK using the derailleur.
BTW if that is a chrome-plated finish on the frame, you need to protect it in some way if you intend to ride the bike in the winter; the road salt will eat it alive otherwise.

cheers

[meic]

What size is that smallest sprocket?

I managed to squeeze a modern 8 speed cassette into my 1981 Holdsworth frame but I can only use a cassette which has an 11 tooth smallest gear and even then it ate some of the braze until it had made enough space for itself.

[samsbike]

the only fair tests for clearance are using a chain; first to see if it can be fitted in the gap OK, and second to see if it will shift on and off OK using the derailleur.
BTW if that is a chrome-plated finish on the frame, you need to protect it in some way if you intend to ride the bike in the winter; the road salt will eat it alive otherwise.

cheers

I was going to use vaseline, its quite rusted so I need to fix it up first (the forks are much worse) - but thats another thread I hope to pick up the bike this week.

On the sprocket size I think it will either be 12 or 13, I am hoping to run a nine speed with the largest sprocket being a 28 and the smallest down to 12/13.

Slight update - i ran it with a chain in the derailleur and it clears with a mm to spare.