Triple chainset

citizen142 said:

So I managed to borrow the tool to remove the old Stronglight
chainset off this rather nice old Mercian frame that I lovingly
rescued from a skip about 5 years ago.

Can you recommend a cheap but good triple chainset ideally say
44/34/24 or there abouts - square tapered. Shimano seems to make some
in my price (£20-£40) range but then they qualify the specs by IG
chains and other terms that I am not familiar with.

Shimano IG chains are recommended but actually other brands of chain work
too, such as SRAM. Sorry I can't recommend a suitable chainset at the
moment. The ones I use take larger middle rings: you'll want to avoid
Campag and the Shimano "road" chainsets for this reason.

You'll probably need a new bottom bracket. Shimano UN73 is a decent one
that's bound to fit your frame.

Quoted message said:

I just want it to
use a standard chain with a 5 or 6 rear block.

A 7 or 8-speed chain will be compatible with your block, eg: SRAM PC41,
PC48, PC58 -- these are all good value 8-speed models.

Quoted message said:

I'm 61 now so need low
gears. I really haven't bought equipment for years save tyres/tubes
etc. and indeed I just couldn't afford to start cycling now -
everything seems so expensive.

Not aways terribly expensive if you shop around. Chain Reaction (online
dealer) is good for "mountain bike" equipment--which is often suitable for
tourers as well.

Quoted message said:

Forgive me if this sounds ridiculous
but do you get the left hand crank? None of the sites I have looked
at seem to show it in their photos and with modern marketing
techniques I wouldn't be surprised if it was not included!

No worries there, cranksets are always supplied with a pair of cranks and
rings. The problem is the other way around: difficult to find a single
crank when you do need one.

~PB

Have you tried ebay? I tried to find a decent triple chainset for my
road bike there recently but they mostly had mountain bike stuff, ie in
the kind of chainring sizes you are after. Would have been good
otherwise.

d.

You can get a square tapered Stronglight Impact for around £40 in
various ring combinations. This is an excellent piece of kit for the
money (Cycling + gold award for 2004)

The cheapest I've seen them is at Spa Cycles (01423 887003
www.spacycles.co.uk)

Oh and yes, you do get the LH crank.

SAM

citizen142 said:

So I managed to borrow the tool to remove the old Stronglight chainset off
this rather nice old Mercian frame that I lovingly rescued from a skip about
5 years ago.

Can you recommend a cheap but good triple chainset ideally say 44/34/24 or
there abouts - square tapered. Shimano seems to make some in my price
(£20-£40) range but then they qualify the specs by IG chains and other terms
that I am not familiar with. I just want it to use a standard chain with a 5
or 6 rear block. I'm 61 now so need low gears. I really haven't bought
equipment for years save tyres/tubes etc. and indeed I just couldn't afford
to start cycling now - everything seems so expensive. Forgive me if this
sounds ridiculous but do you get the left hand crank? None of the sites I
have looked at seem to show it in their photos and with modern marketing
techniques I wouldn't be surprised if it was not included!

citizen142 <[email hidden]> wrote:

: Can you recommend a cheap but good triple chainset ideally say 44/34/24 or
: there abouts - square tapered. Shimano seems to make some in my price

There are loads in that price range, usually 22/32/44 MTB chainsets. I
doubt a 9-speed chainset will work with the wider 5-speed chain mind -
might be best to try and find an older 8 speed chainset. That said,
I've never actually tried it so it might work. Anyone?

--
Arthur Clune PGP/GPG Key: http://www.clune.org/pubkey.txt
It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness

citizen142 said:

Can you recommend a cheap but good triple chainset
ideally say 44/34/24 or there abouts - square tapered.

If the Stronglight cranks (I think you mentioned that they were the 49D
model) are still in reasonable condition, they can be converted to a triple
using a longer bottom bracket spindle and TA Cyclotourist chainrings.

James Thomson

Try Spa Cycles (advertise in CTC mag) and get a Stronglight crankset
(Escape)

Pete

citizen142 said:

So I managed to borrow the tool to remove the old Stronglight chainset off
this rather nice old Mercian frame that I lovingly rescued from a skip about
5 years ago.

Can you recommend a cheap but good triple chainset ideally say 44/34/24 or
there abouts - square tapered. Shimano seems to make some in my price
(£20-£40) range but then they qualify the specs by IG chains and other terms
that I am not familiar with. I just want it to use a standard chain with a 5
or 6 rear block. I'm 61 now so need low gears. I really haven't bought
equipment for years save tyres/tubes etc. and indeed I just couldn't afford
to start cycling now - everything seems so expensive. Forgive me if this
sounds ridiculous but do you get the left hand crank? None of the sites I
have looked at seem to show it in their photos and with modern marketing
techniques I wouldn't be surprised if it was not included!

in message <[email hidden]>, citizen142

(') said:

So I managed to borrow the tool to remove the old Stronglight chainset
off this rather nice old Mercian frame that I lovingly rescued from a
skip about 5 years ago.

Can you recommend a cheap but good triple chainset ideally say
44/34/24 or there abouts - square tapered.

Errr... those are very small rings. Are you sure? Where are you riding?

And what's wrong with the old Stronglight set?

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; Human history becomes more and more a race between
;; education and catastrophe.
H.G. Wells, "The Outline of History"

Pete Biggs said:

No worries there, cranksets are always supplied with a pair of cranks and
rings. The problem is the other way around: difficult to find a single
crank when you do need one.

Speaking of which. Does anyone have a left hand, 165mm crank kicked
around? I'm currently riding 165mm left / 170mm right on the fixer due
to equipment availability at the Bike Station. While I don't really
notice, it'd be nice to be symmetrical!

Jon

In article <[email hidden]>, Jon Senior

jon_AT_restlesslemon_DOT_co_DOT_uk said:

Speaking of which. Does anyone have a left hand, 165mm crank kicked
around? I'm currently riding 165mm left / 170mm right on the fixer
due to equipment availability at the Bike Station. While I don't
really notice, it'd be nice to be symmetrical!

I probably will have one. Any particular colour/finish and what size
of pedal?

--
A T (Sandy) Morton
on the Bicycle Island
In the Global Village
http://www.millport.net

Simon Brooke said:

Errr... those are very small rings. Are you sure? Where are you riding?

That's normal for an MTB these days. Shimano went all compact a few
years ago. Saves a few grammes, wears out a bit quicker.

The Pyrenees!

This bike will be taken and left at pals apartment near Perpignan, France.
There are some really long and steep climbs around there hence low gears.

in message <4214f0c2.0@entanet>, Zog The Undeniable

(') said:

Simon Brooke said:

Errr... those are very small rings. Are you sure? Where are you
riding?

That's normal for an MTB these days. Shimano went all compact a few
years ago. Saves a few grammes, wears out a bit quicker.

Yes, sure, but it isn't at all normal on a road bike. However, seeing
it's to be ridden in the Pyrenees, it seems a bit more reasonable.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

<p>Schroedinger's cat is <blink><strong>NOT</strong></blink> dead.</p>

Jon Senior said:

Pete Biggs said:

No worries there, cranksets are always supplied with a pair of cranks and
rings. The problem is the other way around: difficult to find a single
crank when you do need one.

Speaking of which. Does anyone have a left hand, 165mm crank kicked
around? I'm currently riding 165mm left / 170mm right on the fixer due
to equipment availability at the Bike Station. While I don't really
notice, it'd be nice to be symmetrical!

If I get the new triple for the MTB I'll have a spare 162.5. My 165 is
in use otherwise. Hmm.. could always go for that compact double for the
road bike, leaving an ultegra double 165mm free..

...d

citizen142 said:

The Pyrenees!

Good answer! If you'd prefer changeable rings and good quality, the
cheap Stronglight one is a good candidate. If you are just after
something cheap, watch eBay as these do crop up quite regularly.

Jon

Simon Brooke said:

in message <4214f0c2.0@entanet>, Zog The Undeniable

(') said:

Simon Brooke said:

Errr... those are very small rings. Are you sure? Where are you
riding?

That's normal for an MTB these days. Shimano went all compact a few
years ago. Saves a few grammes, wears out a bit quicker.

Yes, sure, but it isn't at all normal on a road bike. However, seeing
it's to be ridden in the Pyrenees, it seems a bit more reasonable.

Something similar came fitted to my '96 Dawes Sterling (Tourer).
Still going strong, but I think the last year's all-weather commuting
might be taking its toll.