defield@watcgl.UUCP (Dan Field) (05/08/84)
I would like to get an opinion on the mechanical viability of front derailleurs for triple cranksets. I have recently been looking at bikes for light touring (mostly single, all day trips, with an occasional multi-day jaunt), and have noticed that all the bikes with the features I want within my price range have triple cranksets. Of all the mechanical troubles I have ever had with a bike, the front derailleur has caused the most, with brakes and wheel spokes falling a close second. And it is not just a single make, I have been through several different models, and settled on a suntour as the most reliable for my present double crankset bike. While I have rarely ever needed extra low gears, there have been times when they would have been *extremely* nice. Is the present mechanical design for front derailleurs REALLY up to the task? Or, should I take the bike as is and swap the triple for a double?
halbert@ucbvax.UUCP (Dan Halbert) (05/09/84)
Modern front derailleurs work just fine with triple cranksets. The Suntour Cyclone II is OK, but I've found that the Suntour Mountech is really great, and it's cheaper. My roommate has a Dura-Ace, and he says it's fine, but it comes close to rubbing with really low gears (<27 or so). I agree, older cheap front derailleurs weren't so great, but they've gotten a lot better. --Dan, ucbvax!halbert
kfl@hoxna.UUCP (Kenton Lee) (05/10/84)
xxx Read the specs on the front derailleurs before getting them for a triple. Some of them require a MINIMUM 6 or 8 tooth spacing of your chainwheels gears. This won't do for a half-step set up where gear spacing is usually 4 tooth. -- Kenton Lee, Bell Labs - WB wb3g!kfl or hoxna!kfl
blb@cbscc.UUCP (Ben Branch) (05/12/84)
I've had a triple chainwheel setup for about 4.5 years and 13,000 miles. While I've had to adjust the front lip once or twice, it's really been trouble-free. ??Maybe having a 4 tooth and 10 tooth hop instead a 12 or 14 tooth hop helps?? My wife has a double with a 14-tooth hop and at about 16,000 miles it got very tempermental.