kfl@hoxna.UUCP (Kenton Lee) (04/04/85)
xxx According to continuing reports in bicycling magazine, shifting performance of "Ultra" type freewheels is noticibly worse than standard width freewheels. The reasoning is that the narrow chains just don't pick up as well as standard width chains. If you must use a narrow chain, they recommend the Japanese DID Lanner, which is the widest of the narrow. The ultra freewheels are best for racers whose corncob gearing (e.g. 12-13-14-15-16-17) does not really tax the derailleurs. Anyways, you can get the same wide range gearing with a standard freewheel. Just put a few more teeth between gears. -- Kenton Lee Bell Labs - WB ihnp4!wbscc!kfl or ihnp4!hoxna!kfl
brooks@lll-crg.ARPA (Eugene D. Brooks III) (04/06/85)
> According to continuing reports in bicycling magazine, shifting > performance of "Ultra" type freewheels is noticibly worse than > standard width freewheels. The reasoning is that the narrow chains > just don't pick up as well as standard width chains. If you must It is true that a sloppy, poorly adjusted derailer and Ultra freewheels don't mix. Another problem is the fact the the front two gears are spaced for the wide chain and there is enough room between the gears for the chain to slide through without tripping down on the small gear. All in all the extra gears offered by the Ultra are very nice to have. Having to use good quality derailers and keep them in adjustment is a small price to pay for the extra cogs. Otherwize you find yourself changing the freewheel to suit the type of ride you are going on. I use a seven gear freewheel which ranges from 13 to 28 teeth. Having the 28 is very nice for the very steep hills one has to climb where I ride. The 13 is a must on the other side of the hill. You have to have a lot of cogs inbetween to have decent gearing steps. I would reccomend an ultra to anyone who is serious about riding and keeping his bicycle, as well as himself, in good shape.
craig@hp-pcd.UUCP (craig) (04/07/85)
Another problem I've noticed with poor shifting narrow freewheels has been the chain. A chain like a Sedis sport is very flexable so when the derailer trys to push the chain sideways, the chain just "bends" instead of shifting. A stiff chain such as a Regina CX can't bend as much and is forced to move and thus shift.