Gear Cassette Question

[daz3210]

As part of the doing up of my old bike, I have ended up ordering a new set of wheels (this is now turning expensive and a labour of love LOL). So, I now have a choice, either remove the old cassette, or fit new.

I have already obtained a new chain, so fit of chain to cassette (i.e. wear) will not be an issue.

The old cassette is a five speed, being probably all that was available at the time the bike was built. It has a single chainring at the front end, which is remaining as is.

The shop that are supplying the wheels have a five speed cassette in (at an acceptable price, and will fit it for me. But they have suggested that I may wish to look at up to an eight speed cassette.

The derailleur mechanism is non indexed, so they say that should work fine.

What are opinions on such a modification?

Edited by daz3210 on Wednesday 5th September 16:57

[Rocksteadyeddie]

It should be fine as IIRC the spacing of the rear drops is the same. More options must be a better thing right?

Suspect it will be a freewheel rather than a cassette though.

[daz3210]

Well if its a freewheel, I'm guessing the new wheels are likely to be a cassette anyway, so a new sprocket set will be needed due to the change then?

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Sorry, missed that you were getting new wheels. Any reason why you wouldn't go 9/10 speed?

[daz3210]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Sorry, missed that you were getting new wheels. Any reason why you wouldn't go 9/10 speed?

Existing derailleur probably wouldn't take it?

Plus already bought a new chain.

[Gizmoish]

And for a restoration project, it's more authentic to have a small number of widely spaced gears IMO.

Can you imagine what Anquetil would have said if someone had rocked up with an 11-speed cassette?

[daz3210]

If you go for more cogs, do you get a higher range, or just smaller changes between ratios?

What I'm thinking is with 7/8 speeds, will top speed be greater, or ease of climbing hills be better?

[bbc]

daz3210 said:

If you go for more cogs, do you get a higher range, or just smaller changes between ratios?

What I'm thinking is with 7/8 speeds, will top speed be greater, or ease of climbing hills be better?

Whatever you want. You can have either the same gear range or a bigger spread - lower at the bottom and higher at the top. You can also do this with a 5 speed cassette. Bear in mind if you go this way, you may have to change your rear mech too.

As always, ask Sheldon:

http://sheldonbrown.com/k7.html

http://sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html

[Gizmoish]

bbc said:

daz3210 said:

If you go for more cogs, do you get a higher range, or just smaller changes between ratios?

What I'm thinking is with 7/8 speeds, will top speed be greater, or ease of climbing hills be better?

Whatever you want. You can have either the same gear range or a bigger spread - lower at the bottom and higher at the top. You can also do this with a 5 speed cassette. Bear in mind if you go this way, you may have to change your rear mech too.

As always, ask Sheldon:

http://sheldonbrown.com/k7.html

http://sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html

Quite so. You might get a five-speed cassette with 12-32 gears, or a ten-speed that's 12-25.

[daz3210]

Whats a typically good one to look for then?

Round where we live we have big hills, as well as some nice flat bits?

I counted the original one and it has a range of 14 to 24 teeth.

Edited by daz3210 on Friday 7th September 14:35

[bbc]

daz3210 said:

Whats a typically good one to look for then?

Round where we live we have big hills, as well as some nice flat bits?

I counted the original one and it has a range of 14 to 24 teeth.

Number of teeth on the cassette will generally depend on:
1. what chainrings you have at the front,
2. how fit you are,
3. how steep and long the hills are, and
4. what kind of riding you want to do.

If you were happy with the original gearing, leave the original cassette on; however if you have a new chain I would strongly recommend a new cassette. If you struggled up the hills, go for a 28 tooth rear, if you want to go 'faster', get a 12 tooth rear......lots of permutations.

[daz3210]

Had to have a new cassette, problem was it was awkward to get old one off old wheels.

Ended up with another five speed, 14/28.

So just need to put tyres on.