Rejuvenate an old road bike

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Steve Kirkendal
I have an old Centurion Lemans road bike which I love. The
frame and most of the fittings are in great shape but the
wheels are worn out, so I'm looking to replace them. This
bike uses Shimano Exage components, including downtube
shifters and a 6-speed freewheel.

Nobody sells 6-speed freewheels anymore. However, I noticed
that Nashbar has 8-speed Exage downtube shifters (and
they're on sale!) so I was thinking of getting the
following:

Shimano Exage 8-spd downtube shifters (for steel frame)
Mavic CXP2/Shimano 2200 wheelset SRAM R 8-speed road
cassette (12x26)

All together, the cost would be about $145. Can you think of
any reason why this wouldn't work?

Can I continue to use my old rear derailleur? What about my
old front derailleur and crankset? Do I need to replace the
chain too? These parts are still in good shape, so
compatibility is the issue here.

Is there anything else I'm forgetting?

This looks easy -- Is it? Will I need any specialized tools?
Actually, as far as I can tell, I won't need any tools at
all which seems unreal.

Thanks!

Your existing frame is likely 126 mm Over Locknut Dimension.
The wheels you are looking at are 130 mm OLD so you will need to spread the rear 2 mm per side, either temporarily or permanently. .... permanently eases wheel replacement after service/cleaning/flat repair etc. ///... for an article on how to:

<http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html>

You will need a new chain as the outside dimension needs to be narrower to fit into the closer spacing... however, if you wish, you can try your old chain first to see how it works.
Your old derailers will work OK.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Steve Kirkendal
[B]I have an old Centurion Lemans road bike which I love. The
frame and most of the fittings are in great shape but the
wheels are worn out, so I'm looking to replace them. This
bike uses Shimano Exage components, including downtube
shifters and a 6-speed freewheel.

Nobody sells 6-speed freewheels anymore.

Sheldon does.
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/freewheels.html#6u

Steve Kirkendall said:

I have an old Centurion Lemans road bike which I love. The
frame and most of the fittings are in great shape but the
wheels are worn out, so I'm looking to replace them. This
bike uses Shimano Exage components, including downtube
shifters and a 6-speed freewheel.

Have the same one myself. Do you still have the
Biopace 52/42 on the front?

Quoted message said:

Nobody sells 6-speed freewheels anymore.

Actually Harris does:
sheldonbrown.comfreewheels.htmlOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

However, I noticed that Nashbar has 8-speed Exage downtube
shifters (and they're on sale!) so I was thinking of
getting the following:

Shimano Exage 8-spd downtube shifters (for steel
frame) Mavic CXP2/Shimano 2200 wheelset SRAM R 8-speed
road cassette (12x26)

All together, the cost would be about $145. Can you think
of any reason why this wouldn't work?

I was thinking of getting the Megarange freewheel (a
few too many hills around here) and switching the 42
for a 28 (did I mention hills?) The Exage set on
mine at least is 11x26 so a 12x26 cassette would
actually have less range than the existing one.

Bill

Steve Kirkendall said:

I have an old Centurion Lemans road bike which I love. The
frame and most of the fittings are in great shape but the
wheels are worn out, so I'm looking to replace them. This
bike uses Shimano Exage components, including downtube
shifters and a 6-speed freewheel.

Nobody sells 6-speed freewheels anymore. However, I
noticed that Nashbar has 8-speed Exage downtube shifters
(and they're on sale!) so I was thinking of getting the
following:

Shimano Exage 8-spd downtube shifters (for steel
frame) Mavic CXP2/Shimano 2200 wheelset SRAM R 8-speed
road cassette (12x26)

All together, the cost would be about $145. Can you think
of any reason why this wouldn't work?

Can I continue to use my old rear derailleur? What about
my old front derailleur and crankset? Do I need to replace
the chain too? These parts are still in good shape, so
compatibility is the issue here.

Is there anything else I'm forgetting?

This looks easy -- Is it? Will I need any specialized
tools? Actually, as far as I can tell, I won't need any
tools at all which seems unreal.

Going to eight is committing to another dying format.

Yes get a chain with your new cassette.Your other parts
should go OK, assuming they are not overly worn.

Six freehweels are very available and dirt cheap. Get a new
freewheel and a chain ($30-$40)while you consider a new bike
( 9sp/10sp) maybe?

--
Andrew Muzi www.yellowjersey.org Open every day since 1
April, 1971

Steve Kirkendall said:

I have an old Centurion Lemans road bike which I love. The
frame and most of the fittings are in great shape but the
wheels are worn out, so I'm looking to replace them. This
bike uses Shimano Exage components, including downtube
shifters and a 6-speed freewheel.

Nobody sells 6-speed freewheels anymore. However, I noticed
that Nashbar has 8-speed Exage downtube shifters (and
they're on sale!) so I was thinking of getting the
following:

Shimano Exage 8-spd downtube shifters (for steel frame)
Mavic CXP2/Shimano 2200 wheelset SRAM R 8-speed road
cassette (12x26)

All together, the cost would be about $145. Can you think
of any reason why this wouldn't work?

Can I continue to use my old rear derailleur? What about my
old front derailleur and crankset? Do I need to replace the
chain too? These parts are still in good shape, so
compatibility is the issue here.

Is there anything else I'm forgetting?

This looks easy -- Is it? Will I need any specialized
tools? Actually, as far as I can tell, I won't need any
tools at all which seems unreal.

Thanks!

Dear Steve,

Others have mentioned that Sheldon Brown sells six-speed
freewheels.

Lord knows whether these others would fit, but . . .

So does BikeToolsEtc (Suntour):

ts&sc=Freewheels%20and%20Cassettes&tc=Freewheels&item_id=SU-
HG60

And so does Loose Screws (Shimano):

&c=Freewheel&sc=Complete%20Freewheels&tc=Shimano&item_id=SH-
MF22428&id=16363219920

&c=Freewheel&sc=Complete%20Freewheels&tc=Shimano&item_id=SH-
MF406434&id=16363219920

And so does Andrew Muzi (Suntour):

yellowjersey.orgstfw.htmlOpen ↗

Good luck,

Carl Fogel

Bill Bradley said:

Steve Kirkendall said:

I have an old Centurion Lemans road bike which I love.
The frame and most of the fittings are in great shape but
the wheels are worn out, so I'm looking to replace them.
This bike uses Shimano Exage components, including
downtube shifters and a 6-speed freewheel.

Have the same one myself. Do you still have the Biopace
52/42 on the front?

Yeah. I still haven't decided whether I like those weird
oblong chainrings or not... but after all these years, it's
still in great shape, so I'm sticking with it for at least
another year.

Quoted message said:

I was thinking of getting the Megarange freewheel (a few
too many hills around here) and switching the 42 for a 28
(did I mention hills?) The Exage set on mine at least is
11x26 so a 12x26 cassette would actually have less range
than the existing one.

My current freewheel is 12x26.

Actually, that's an interesting idea. I could get an 11x28
or 11x32 for the same money. I'm a bit worried that the rear
derailleur might not have enough clearance for the big gear
though. It's pretty tight even with the 26-tooth ring.

A Muzi said:

Steve Kirkendall said:

I have an old Centurion Lemans road bike which I love.
The frame and most of the fittings are in great shape but
the wheels are worn out, so I'm looking to replace them.
This bike uses Shimano Exage components, including
downtube shifters and a 6-speed freewheel.

Nobody sells 6-speed freewheels anymore. However, I
noticed that Nashbar has 8-speed Exage downtube shifters
(and they're on sale!) so I was thinking of getting the
following:

Shimano Exage 8-spd downtube shifters (for steel
frame) Mavic CXP2/Shimano 2200 wheelset SRAM R 8-
speed road cassette (12x26)

Going to eight is committing to another dying format.

I realize that. But my bearings are shot, and my rim walls
are seriously worn from braking. I need new wheels. So my
choice is to either get a wheelset that uses an obsolete
freewheel, or get a modern freehub/cassette wheelset and use
whatever other parts work best to bridge the technology gap.
The freehub/cassette path sounds better to me.

If 6-speed cassettes existed, I'd probably use one. But they
don't. 8-speed seems like the easiest alternative, even if
it is a dying format.

Quoted message said:

Yes get a chain with your new cassette. Your other parts
should go OK, assuming they are not overly worn.

Excellent! Thanks for the advice.

It may not make perfect economic sense, but I'd say keep and
upgrade the bike if you like the frame so much.

Personally I'd keep the downtube shifters, spread the rear
triangle to 130 mm (see how-to info on Sheldown Brown's
website) and go with 8 speed. That gives you a big
functional advantage over 6 speeds. Your Exage rear
derailleur should work fine after you readjust the inner and
outer stops. Get a new chain as a worn or "stretched" chain
can accelerate wear on your new cassette. Also consider
clipless pedals (SPD) if you don't have them already.

Mike Yankee

(Address is munged to thwart spammers. To reply, delete
everything after "com".)

[email hidden] (MikeYankee) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

It may not make perfect economic sense, but I'd say keep
and upgrade the bike if you like the frame so much.

I agree with the strategy to fix an existing frame when it
fits and pleases you. In my case, my old favorite eventially
developed an unfixable frame breakage, so I bought a Super
LeMans for $30 - cgi.ebay.comeBayISAPI.dllOpen ↗
tem&category=7298&item=3669770637

It's a nice bike, and a huge bargain at the price. I
fit a $20 7-speed Shimano freewheel from Harris - no
need to spread my 126MM centers. That doesn't help the
OPs wheel woes tho.

My Centurian uses 27 inch tires - OP - if that's the case
for you also, then be aware that most wheel replacements
you'll find will be 700c and will almost certainly require
that you change the brake calipers for hard to find long
reach models. I'd look for some good used 27 inch wheels.
Possibly the best way to get them is to buy a good used bike
like mine, which will also get you a bunch of other spare
parts. Lots of lightly used old bike out there.

Erik Brooks, Seattle

Steve Kirkendall said:

I have an old Centurion Lemans road bike which I love. The
frame and most of the fittings are in great shape but the
wheels are worn out, so I'm looking to replace them.

What do you mean by the wheels being "worn out"? Hubs
last practically forever. Rims wear out, but rims are
cheap. Spokes will last through several rims if you get
the same size.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | You will say Christ saith this and the apostles say
this; but _`\(,_ | what canst thou say? -- George Fox.
(_)/ (_) |

[email hidden] (Erik Brooks) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (MikeYankee) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

It may not make perfect economic sense, but I'd say keep
and upgrade the bike if you like the frame so much.

I agree with the strategy to fix an existing frame when it
fits and pleases you. In my case, my old favorite
eventially developed an unfixable frame breakage, so I
bought a Super LeMans for $30 - cgi.ebay.comeBOpen ↗
ayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7298&item=3669770637

It's a nice bike, and a huge bargain at the price. I fit a
$20 7-speed Shimano freewheel from Harris - no need to
spread my 126MM centers. That doesn't help the OPs wheel
woes tho.

My Centurian uses 27 inch tires - OP - if that's the case
for you also, then be aware that most wheel replacements
you'll find will be 700c and will almost certainly require
that you change the brake calipers for hard to find long
reach models. I'd look for some good used 27 inch wheels.
Possibly the best way to get them is to buy a good used
bike like mine, which will also get you a bunch of other
spare parts. Lots of lightly used old bike out there.

The intellegent approach would be to measure the reach on
the current setup and see if it'd transfer. I have converted
many 27" bikes to 700c wheels without the need to buy new
brakes. Even then, Shimano R600 brakes aren't much money,
and Tektro has good stuff for way less.

Robin Hubert

"David L. Johnson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 05 Jul 2004 18:03:22 -0700, Steve Kirkendall

Quoted message said:

I have an old Centurion Lemans road bike which I
love. The frame and most of the fittings are in great
shape but the wheels are worn out, so I'm looking to
replace them.

What do you mean by the wheels being "worn out"? Hubs
last practically forever. Rims wear out, but rims are
cheap. Spokes will last through several rims if you get
the same size.

Hmm, I think you exagerate here.

not sure where you ride, but I have worn out hubs in a
single winter, once water gets in they deteriorate very
quickly. Over the past 4 years I have replaced 5 hubs on my
bikes (though some were already a few years old, some some
of this grouping is accidental), all were badly damaged due
to water ingress (despite exagerated manufacturer claims
about seals) with a thick rusty paste in one or both sides,
this hardly counts as forever. Not particularly high mileage
(9000 per year), reasonable maintenance (annual re-grease)
but riding in all weathers (no choice as I commute to work).

The only bike with "forever" hubs is the one I only ride on
dry days in the summer.

Andrew Webster