[CR]freewheels and invisable upgrading

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

From: "garth libre" <rabbitman@mindspring.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2001 17:22:11 -0400
Subject: [CR]freewheels and invisable upgrading

I have a Regina Titall freewheel threaded onto by mid eighties Suntour Superbe Pro rear hub. I guess it is cool to have a Regina freewheel with "macho" gearing (7 speed 13-19) but I obviously am not a "macho" rider, as I only recently improved my semi comfortable, training speed on a 3 mile course for laps, from 8 minutes 45 seconds to 8 minutes 30 seconds by doing nothing more than going from a high 80's inch gear to an 80 inch gear and faster cadence. There is a lot to be said for spinning versus thrashing, and all the good riders around here spin at fairly high cadence. This said, then what was the purpose of using up all those extra gears that the 90's have brought us with 12 and 13 tooth freewheels? My Regina has a 13 and I swear I have NEVER used it! From the looks of things, the good riders around here don't use the 13's or 12's either.... Then why clog up all the possibilities with them... So you can peddle slowly down hills while recovering? I want to stick to a 7 speed freewheel with my Suntour hub. I think I want a 14,15,16,17,19,21,23 freewheel of good quality to go with my 52/42 up front. I would also like to switch to index downtube shifting from non-index downtube shifting. What freewheel would you recommend with what chain for improved shifts? What downtube shifters would look mid eighties, modern sleek that index, and go right on my downtube braze-ons? How do I put on the barrel adjuster on my Superbe Pro RD? Thanks Garth Libre