3 X 9 Heaven

Dad bought me a French racer for my 10th birthday and I thought I was in heaven! It was a 10 speed with an "alpine gear". Here I am 58 years later, I can finally quit changing cassettes and chain rings. I'm going to stop at 9spd for the old school Haluzak which is kind of mid school now we might say. I have a 17" low and 113" high for a 650% range, all I will ever need.The real gift came when I swapped the 11/34 cassette for a 12/36. The 12/36 is considerably closer ratio, way helpful for the old legs. I mostly run on the 34T middle ring which is a steel Campagnolo MTB jewel. 52t & 24t round out the chainset. I sacrificed a bit of top end speed for a stump puller low gear which is just icing on the cake. I am in 3X9 heaven. Cheers, MAC

 

That’s a gorgeous bike, and I’m right there with you on the gear selection!

 

I'm surprised you found derailleurs that can handle that setup. Not only take-up capacity of 51 teeth, but also a front derailleur with shift ramps to handle that wide-range triple. How's shifting when going from middle to small rings?

 

Front shifting is amazing! Deore XT M735 does the job, these vintage derailleurs are the bomb. You can find them on eBay new and used. I really like KMC chains for good shifting. This one shifts like there is no tomorrow, no pins or ramps on the rings. Rear derailleur, you got me there! The chain hangs slack on the smallest 4 cogs when on the 24T chainring. Sheldon says this is OK, and since I don't use those combos, I'll agree. Rear mech is a Shimano Alivio 'shadow' type w/no clutch, but with a barrel adjuster. Best shifting I've had so far.

Cheers, MAC

 

Agree, we really like our 3x9 set up's, like yours it's set up for "climbing" with a 22/32/44 triple and 11x34 cassette. I pull a home-built cargo trailer for food and supplies, (no car) so when the trailer is loaded I really NEED that 22/34 set up!! We are True "smell the roses" type riders so the 44T chain wheel for top end is all we need. No, we don't do group rides, we'd be too slow and it seems all the folks we know that ride have E-assist and they get PO'd waiting for us so we gave it up!

 

Pretty cool chain tensioners there! So this is the chain slack when on the little/little combo, LOL. Fortunately I never go there, but if I did nothing rubs and it actually works. When on the fifth cog we get chain tension and everything is as it should be. The 24T chainring only gives three gears lower than the 34T x 36T combo, so no worries.

Have bent will travel
Cheers, MAC

 

Recumbent heaven, not being the real Heaven, we can change it, LOL. All that chain slack was just not setting right with me, even though it was not a serious problem. Went back to a 24/34/46 chainset and 11/36 cassette, problem solved. However my gear range has dropped from 650% to 627% and the top gear from 113" to 109". On the plus side I reclined the seat as far as is practical and installed shorter 155mm cranks. The ride, handling, comfort and spin ease have all been dramatically improved. At my advanced age spinning out at 36mph is plenty good enough.

Cheers, MAC