Forum menu
I have a '99 Giant Peloton as per below and am struggling on some of the hills in the local area which is worrying as I'm in Hampshire! Gearing on the back is 12-28 and up front I'm pretty sure it's 52-42. Colleague is convinced that I have to keep within certain ratios so providing I can still get a 7spd chain ring what's the smallest ring I can use? Ideally I would like a 38ish.
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
38 is probably about right at a push with that BCD, 39 is the normal drop from a 52 though.
yup, 38T, 39 will be easier to get and cheaper.
39 is fine. Wicked guys. Just read I could probaly use any chain ring ie 8,9spd. Am I right?
yup.
Off topic but I'd look to remount your STI levers further up to have a nicer 'riding on the tops' experience.
+1 m1kea good idea
Plus 39/52 would be ideal - I can (just about!) get up all the hills round here in Lancashire..
m1kea - yes I've already done that. I put them there as I didn't know what I was doing and was trying to brake while on the drops. Rarely on the drops now so have moved them up and it's much better.
m1kea - yes I've already done that. I put them there as I didn't know what I was doing and was trying to brake while on the drops. Rarely on the drops now so have moved them up and it's much better.
8)
'Compact' chainsets are all the rage these days and typically are 50/34.
It's been a very long time since I had 7 speed and I'm not sure if the width of the older chains will be too much for a more modern 9 or 10 speed chainset.
On rare occasions I run my old 8 speed Mavic trispoke and have never had problems using it with 9 or 10 speed chains. - Might be worth a new chainset and chain?
has the chainring spacing on chainsets change from 7 speed days? Front mech might not work?
It'll be fine if you want to go down that route. Worth considering certainly. Price of a new BB (if you're near needing one) and a 39t ring is probably the same as a Sora compact chainset.
'Compact' chainsets are all the rage these days and typically are 50/34.
i find 50/ 36 a much nicer jump.
thats a lovely bike btw. steel?
Spa Cycles in Harrogate do some very nice (and very cheap) Stronglight chainsets that might be of some use.
Decent people when sorting older drivetrains.
thats a lovely bike btw. steel?
Really? I sort of get the doe eyed adoration of a top quality steel frame, or something with a bit of heritage, lugged Colnago or something. But that's just a slightly tatty 15 year old mid-range Giant!
No offense to the OP!
I recently changed the front chain ring on a 7-speed from 52/42 to 52/39 - in order to get it to shift properly the mechanic at the lbs ended up fitting it back to front. A bit of a bodge but it seems to work ok.
Only thing to watch out for is the capacity of the rear mech. 52 - 39 + 28 - 12 = 29. I think the max capacity on old rear short cage rear mechs is usually 28. It'd probably work OK, but you'll need to take care with the chain length.