More gearing choice questions

[Mike-p]

Planning building up my newly repaired Stratton/ Roberts. But ive run out of money... I live in hilly country and im not exactly race fit... im light and like to spin the cranks. I have the following I'd like to combine into something with plenty low gearing. 46-11 is as fast as I'll ever bother to pedal...

Stronglight 49d cranks with 46-35 rings although id like to buy a 30t ring.
Stronglight 99 triple 32-42-48

7 speed 13-23 shimano
8 speed 14-23 campag
8 speed shimano 13-25
8 speed shimano 11-28 but I just fitted this to my partner's bike, removing the 13-25

Im currently planning to use a standard cage suntour superbe tech wrap limit 28 I think. Friction shifting.

To be honest my only thoughts about gearing in the past have been ' I wish I had a lower gear'

My other bike has 1x setup of 48x11-46 which i like a lot although I won't need THAT low a gear on the new build as I'm not carrying/ pulling anything.

Ideally I'd like 46-30 x 11-28 but want to get riding without buying new chainring casette and chain.

Does that even make any sense?

Any thoughts anyone?

 

[grantoury]

I wish I had a lower gear

A triple seems the way to go, it gives the most and smallest gears. Combined with the 13-25 so you have small steps between gears. The Superbe has a long cage, I think?

 

[Mike-p]

I guess I could also set up the triple as a double with 48-32 but I imagine that would be a really annoying jump. Although basically around here if you're not going up a hill you're going down one...

 

[Mike-p]

Mech is here

VeloBase.com - Component: SunTour Superbe Tech Short Cage

 

[grantoury]

I guess I could also set up the triple as a double with 48-32 but I imagine that would be a really annoying jump. Although basically around here if you're not going up a hill you're going down one...

With the 48 in the middle it should work, I guess.
When shifting from small to big gear and back up and down hills, a double may be quicker

 

[Mike-p]

They're these cranks

VeloBase.com - Component: Stronglight 99 (new style, triple)

I guess they're more like a normal double with longer bolts to make the triple

 

[grantoury]

Oh, they have one bolt for three chainrings, I missed that

 

[legrandefromage]

I find older Stronglight cranks to be very bendy. Sugino or later Stronglight seem to be better when stomping up the hills.

 

[grantoury]

Mmmm, the triple has a bigger bcd, that might help a bit in the stiffness dep?

 

[Mike-p]

I find older Stronglight cranks to be very bendy. Sugino or later Stronglight seem to be better when stomping up the hills.

Err, what's older and what's not? The 99s I have appear to be post 1982, normal extractor and pedal threads.