Budget drivetrain upgrade.

(Vincent M) said:

Hey there. I recently built a bike at our local
Bicycle Project out of recycled parts - and after
riding for a few weeks on the mish mash of parts I'd
like to standardize my drivetrain. I am currently
using a Falcon 6-speed freewheel, a Shimano 7-sis
derailer and shimano 5-speed shifter - so you can
probably guess how sloppy my shifting is. 🙁

Without getting into a religious debate, I'd like to hear comments
about a set of derailier/shifter/freewheel set I'm thinking about.
While I'm very concerned about price, I don't want to use the most
inexpensive/cheapest either. The C201 seem be reasonably priced,
while also being midrange in terms of their product range.

Currently I am not using a front derailer, nor do I
really think I need one. 6 or 7 speeds will be more
than enough for the flat roads of New Orleans. 🙂

For the derailer/shifter/freewheel set, I'd like to
keep it between a $60-$100 range.

I've been reading the sheldonbrown/harris cycles set, and Iam thinking
about the following combo:

Freewheel: 11-34 "Megarange" "C" Type

Derailers: MegaRange C201

Shifter: Shimano Tourney (Is the Tourney line any
good? It makes me apprehensive that they're only $7)

Would the STX/Alivio SL-MC40 Rapidfire work? I dont
see any other Shimano 7-speed shifers for under $90,
which I cant really afford right now. 🙁

Thanks for any help!

Vincent

What are you using for chain?

Right now, I think it's a Pyramid chain for derailers. What would you
reccomend? to use with the above?

(Vincent M) said:

Right now, I think it's a Pyramid chain for derailers. What would you
reccomend? to use with the above?

Try a chain with some good lateral stiffness with your current setup.
I switched from a relatively stiff KMC Z chain to a cheapy chain and
found the shifting became a lot less forgiving.

"Vincent M" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Hey there. I recently built a bike at our local
Bicycle Project out of recycled parts - and after
riding for a few weeks on the mish mash of parts I'd
like to standardize my drivetrain. I am currently
using a Falcon 6-speed freewheel, a Shimano 7-sis
derailer and shimano 5-speed shifter - so you can
probably guess how sloppy my shifting is. 🙁

Without getting into a religious debate, I'd like to hear comments
about a set of derailier/shifter/freewheel set I'm thinking about.
While I'm very concerned about price, I don't want to use the most
inexpensive/cheapest either. The C201 seem be reasonably priced,
while also being midrange in terms of their product range.

Currently I am not using a front derailer, nor do I
really think I need one. 6 or 7 speeds will be more
than enough for the flat roads of New Orleans. 🙂

For the derailer/shifter/freewheel set, I'd like to
keep it between a $60-$100 range.

I've been reading the sheldonbrown/harris cycles set, and Iam thinking
about the following combo:

Freewheel: 11-34 "Megarange" "C" Type

Derailers: MegaRange C201

Shifter: Shimano Tourney (Is the Tourney line any
good? It makes me apprehensive that they're only $7)

Would the STX/Alivio SL-MC40 Rapidfire work? I dont
see any other Shimano 7-speed shifers for under $90,
which I cant really afford right now. 🙁

Thanks for any help!

Vincent

If you're riding where its flat, you probably don't need the megarange
freewheel. Something a little smaller (up to about 28t) is fine.

If you are trying to get index (clicks = gears) shifting out of your system now,
yes it'll probably be a little sloppy. If you are running friction it shouldn't
matter too much. Friction is much more forgiving, but you'll have to learn how
to shift smoothly.

If you don't mind keeping friction, you can probably go all the way to a 7sp
freewheel without any other equipment changes. You may have to move some
spacers around on your axle and possibly re-dish the rear wheel, but that's not
a huge thing to do.

HTH,

M

Quoted message said:

If you're riding where its flat, you probably don't need the megarange
freewheel. Something a little smaller (up to about 28t) is fine.

Yeah, but we have a lot of overpasses and levees that I sometimes
cross, so I figure it may help to have the 34. I'm not dead set on
it, but it seemed to make sense at the time. 🙂

Well, the shifter I have now is a 5-speed Shimano SIS, I assume it's
an index shifter? I definately get a click when I change gears.
(From the shifter, not from the derailer.) I'd rather the indexing,
since I can be sure everything is aligned correctly. I think I would
get the indexing 7-speed. Do I have to get an indexing derailer as
well? Is the C201 not a good choice?

Thanks!

(Vincent M) said:

Quoted message said:

If you're riding where its flat, you probably don't need the megarange
freewheel. Something a little smaller (up to about 28t) is fine.

Yeah, but we have a lot of overpasses and levees that I sometimes
cross, so I figure it may help to have the 34. I'm not dead set on
it, but it seemed to make sense at the time. 🙂

Well, the shifter I have now is a 5-speed Shimano SIS, I assume it's
an index shifter? I definately get a click when I change gears.
(From the shifter, not from the derailer.) I'd rather the indexing,
since I can be sure everything is aligned correctly. I think I would
get the indexing 7-speed. Do I have to get an indexing derailer as
well? Is the C201 not a good choice?

Thanks!

I am using a Shimano six speed shifter with a falcon 7 speed freewheel
and it indexes the top six gears. To get the 28 tooth granny gear I
just drop the shift lever down to the bottom of the lever travel. My
shifter has a little button on the side to select friction mode but it
seems to work better in index mode for some reason. You may need
what's called a long cage derailer if you go larger than a 28 tooth
granny gear but most 7 in the space of 5 freewheels should work OK
once you get a compatible shifter.