12-32 7 speed cassette

carl1983

Just received a new/old addition to my bike stable a steel Ribble 531 early 1980s bike, it is 7 speed the crankset is 52-42 not sure what the large cog is on the rear but it's small! Problem is it's very hilly round here and i'm used to a compact crank and 11-28 on my scott addict so think i might just suffer! I found a 12-32 7 speed cassette on ebay and wonder if it wil work with my gears? The shifters are 105 downtube and can't remember wether the rear derailleur is long/short without looking when i'm back home. The wheels are Mavics and are original with the frame so 1980s.

jackc6549

Would you be ok with that spread over 7 gears? I think I'd struggle with that but we've all different.
Is a chainset swap out of the question (due to budget or keeping the bike looking retro)? You could pick a Sora, or even Tiagra, compact chain set for about £45 (plus a BB for about £12).

carl1983

I want to keep the chainset to keep the bike as standard as I can, I think the cassette will be a freewheel screw on being early 80s and I found an 8 speed with the ratios 13,15,17,19,21,24,28,32 so the biggest spread is at the top of the range which will be used for the hill climbs so may not be to much an issue.

Monty Dog

With a sprocket bigger than 28, you'll need a long arm rear mech otherwise the top jockey wheel will hit the biggest sprocket and to take up the slack in the chain