Road bike circa 1990's, need smaller chainring

slimfast
slimfast Posts: 3
edited August 2016 in Workshop
I have a Chas Roberts racing bike from the mid 1990's with a Campagnolo 8-speed groupset. I'd like to use a smaller chainring but have been told the 39 tooth one I have is the smallest I can use on this crank. Is there a solution that doesn't involve changing the whole thing?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/slimandy/ ... 947434343/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/slimandy/ ... 038942884/

Comments

  • giropaul
    giropaul Posts: 414
    No. But it's a lovely bike and a new chain set ( compacts weren't about then, but I think a 9 speed one would work) might mean that you can keep on enjoying the bike.. What's on the back - checking my stash of 8 speed I think 26 is as big as they went. There were some custom cassettes about back then, for use with a long cage mech.
    If you can find some mega- rare Campground mountain bike kit that might be a route as well.
    It is a beautiful original bike though, if it was mine I'd use it for flatter rides as it is.
  • giropaul
    giropaul Posts: 414
    PS, there were some lower range , I think Victory, chain sets that went smaller. Dave Marsh at Universal Cycles near Doncaster is the guru on this era. He had acquired some modified Victory chain sets a few years ago from a the late, great Bob Maitland's estate.
  • arlowood
    arlowood Posts: 2,561
    Cheapest option might be to buy an 8 speed compatible square taper compact chainset.

    https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/chainsets/a ... 34t-170mm/

    £24 is not too much of an outlay to get you some lower gearing if that's what you're after.

    Match that with an 8 speed (13-28) Miche cassette and you should be sorted

    https://www.bike24.com/p220047.html
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    That bike's lovely, and a cousin of mine. The above comments look decisively useful for you, but it may be worth considering a custom Marchisio cassette. If you ditch that gorgeous Campag crank in the interests of sheer practicality I may have to set the dogs on you.
  • slimfast
    slimfast Posts: 3
    Thanks for all the replies. I may have to stick to flat-ish rides rather than spoil the bike. I love the bike! I might look into a bigger cassette to eek a little more out that way.

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