Carrera TDF Limited Edition 2013 (I think!) - The Wrong Gear?

[Big_Dave]

The (new!) gearing on the Raleigh sounds perfect. Why more bikes aren't sold with this in the first place I don't know!

The Raleigh (Kellogg's Pro Tour) is 26 years old, It's had a few transformations this year, I bought it sold as scrap for £20 but it does have a lot invested in it, probably far more than it's worth, it's gone from 2x6 non indexed sachs (downtube rear indexed mainstream Raleigh's came in a year later in 1989, the 89 model had several difference incl indexed and shimano equipped, internal cable routing and unicrown forks) 3x7 non indexed, 3x7 indexed (still downtube shifters but way better being indexed) the indexed 3x8 (downtube) to be honest it had been over 25 years since I last owned a "racer" and found it difficult to change gear quickly and efficiently, so I bought the dual control brake shifters still on 3x8, now this really did transform the bike to a whole new level, next step was 3x10, again a vast improvement, sorry I'm not a "classic purist", I like to put my own stamp on it and be different.

A lot of people as I've said before buy a bike and don't realise that it can modified to make your cycling experience a whole lot better, manufacturers are to blame especially on beginners bikes putting ridiculously hard gearing on to make the bike "look" more appealing? only to find your legs explode on the first hill you come to after not riding a bike for X amount of years, then the bike is for sale on ebay or gathering dust in the shed and forgot about.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

The (new!) gearing on the Raleigh sounds perfect. Why more bikes aren't sold with this in the first place I don't know!

I would possible opt for 52/40/30 and a 12-28 or better still what I outlined before, a 52x11 is a bloody big gear 124", many people think a chainset has to have the rings it came with.
A 50/38/28 with an 11-32 would give you a range of 23-119" I would prefer a 12-28 but they don't do one as standard in 105 11-28 or 12-27, giving on the 50/38/28 a range of 27-109" with better options on the middle, but that is dependent on fitness levels, but even a 27" gear on a compact 50/34 would need to be 34x32 and you will end with some gaps on the rear.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

The Raleigh (Kellogg's Pro Tour) is 26 years old, It's had a few transformations this year, I bought it sold as scrap for £20 but it does have a lot invested in it, probably far more than it's worth, it's gone from 2x6 non indexed sachs (downtube rear indexed mainstream Raleigh's came in a year later in 1989, the 89 model had several difference incl indexed and shimano equipped, internal cable routing and unicrown forks) 3x7 non indexed, 3x7 indexed (still downtube shifters but way better being indexed) the indexed 3x8 (downtube) to be honest it had been over 25 years since I last owned a "racer" and found it difficult to change gear quickly and efficiently, so I bought the dual control brake shifters still on 3x8, now this really did transform the bike to a whole new level, next step was 3x10, again a vast improvement, sorry I'm not a "classic purist", I like to put my own stamp on it and be different.

A lot of people as I've said before buy a bike and don't realise that it can modified to make your cycling experience a whole lot better, manufacturers are to blame especially on beginners bikes putting ridiculously hard gearing on to make the bike "look" more appealing? only to find your legs explode on the first hill you come to after not riding a bike for X amount of years, then the bike is for sale on ebay or gathering dust in the shed and forgot about.

Totally agree with this, and with 105 moving to what just seems a double setup is going to limit things in the future, i suppose it depends what tiagra's next incarceration with be like as good as a 5700/3 setup. 11sp could just about replicate most gearing on a triple bar the big jump on the front.
I have an old Carleton but its taking some time to get it sorted (finances mainly), though with a new stem (modern conversion) like you I am not a purest more things have to be functional and work well, when money allows, this will become a triple but possibly more touring orientated, it would mean having a bike to do all the errands on rather than on the Viking, I do have some Old Sora 7sp triple shifters, it really just needs some new brakes, wheels like I stem, I have most of the other kit.

 

[Big_Dave]

I would possible opt for 52/40/30 and a 12-28 or better still what I outlined before, a 52x11 is a bloody big gear 124", many people think a chainset has to have the rings it came with.
A 50/38/28 with an 11-32 would give you a range of 23-119" I would prefer a 12-28 but they don't do one as standard in 105 11-28 or 12-27, giving on the 50/38/28 a range of 27-109" with better options on the middle, but that is dependent on fitness levels, but even a 27" gear on a compact 50/34 would need to be 34x32 and you will end with some gaps on the rear.

Got my 12-27 cassette now, sram version, probably the same ratio's as the 105, 12-12-14-15-16-17-19-21-24-27, looked at the 12-28 but it had the 19-22 jump like the 11/32 I was using. Not tried the 12-27 yet tho.

I got my Claris 8 speed triple shifters going spare, set if your looking to 8 speed the Carlton, I think I got still got some Weinmann calipers somewhere in nice condition.

 

[guitarpete247]

Currently the Halfords website says the TDF should be fitted with:
OVERVIEW

• Exact Frame Size: 51cm
• Forks: FULL HI-TEN STEEL
• Frame Material: Alloy
• Front Brake: Tektro R312 Dual pivot
• Gender: Mens
• Number of Gears: 14
• Rear Brake: Tektro R312 Dual pivot
• Wheel Size: 700c

DETAILED SPECS

• Chainset: PROWHEEL, AE-221C, STEEL 50/34T - 170mm
• Front Mech: Shimano Tourney
• Gear Shifters: Shimano Tourney, 14 speed
• Pedals: VP-399T Road Type
• Rear Mech: Shimano Tourney
• Rims: DOUBLE WALL ALLOY BLACK
• Suspension: Rigid
• Type: Road Bikes
• Tyres: Vee Rubber

a 55/34 tooth chainset. Has these details only recently changed?

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Got my 12-27 cassette now, sram version, probably the same ratio's as the 105, 12-12-14-15-16-17-19-21-24-27, looked at the 12-28 but it had the 19-22 jump like the 11/32 I was using. Not tried the 12-27 yet tho.

I got my Claris 8 speed triple shifters going spare, set if your looking to 8 speed the Carlton, I think I got still got some Weinmann calipers somewhere in nice condition.

Same ratios. I have the original callipers that are centre pull Weinmann too, original blocks I think as well.

 

[Mongoose]

Good point on modifying bikes to improve the cycling experience if you enjoy learning and understanding the whole concept of gearing and enjoy a bit of tinkering too. This is where I got to with my Carrera TDF. I persuaded myself that I was getting a lot of bike for the money with some good kit. It has been enjoyable learning and modifying the bike myself and has massively enhanced the overall cycling experience. The same could be said of other more basic adjustments such as seat height and position and cleat position. It is amazing how relatively small adjustments can have such a big impact on the comfort of cycling. There is a huge amount of knowledge and info available on sites like this and the internet generally and I would encourage newcomers to learn and persevere.

 

[Big_Dave]

Currently the Halfords website says the TDF should be fitted with:
OVERVIEW

• Exact Frame Size: 51cm
• Forks: FULL HI-TEN STEEL
• Frame Material: Alloy
• Front Brake: Tektro R312 Dual pivot
• Gender: Mens
• Number of Gears: 14
• Rear Brake: Tektro R312 Dual pivot
• Wheel Size: 700c

DETAILED SPECS

• Chainset: PROWHEEL, AE-221C, STEEL 50/34T - 170mm
• Front Mech: Shimano Tourney
• Gear Shifters: Shimano Tourney, 14 speed
• Pedals: VP-399T Road Type
• Rear Mech: Shimano Tourney
• Rims: DOUBLE WALL ALLOY BLACK
• Suspension: Rigid
• Type: Road Bikes
• Tyres: Vee Rubber

a 55/34 tooth chainset. Has these details only recently changed?

That is for the "New 2014 model" it is different to the previous version,
The older version was 16 speed on launch it had 38/52 12-26 with 2300 components later changed to 2400 components, and 42/52 front 12-26, the new version has had a serious downgrading to 14 speed with 28t screw on freewheel and tourney components, and at the same price (£269.99) as I paid for the 16 speed version.

 

[Big_Dave]

There are always good people around to offer help and advice, what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another, it doesn't mean the advice is wrong, it's what works for you, sometimes it's just trail and error to get the right set up until you get a better understanding of the gears, fitness goes up and fitness goes down, the right set up is generally a compromise (unless you have deep pockets) of what is best for hills and flat etc. You can have the right set up, a few months down the line as the fitness improves you may find you need another set up that suits the "new you" and it's back to the drawing board, once you learn to use the gear inches it becomes easier to know what gearing to buy to achieve the ratios you need.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

That is for the "New 2014 model" it is different to the previous version,
The older version was 16 speed on launch it had 38/52 12-26 with 2300 components later changed to 2400 components, and 42/52 front 12-26, the new version has had a serious downgrading to 14 speed with 28t screw on freewheel and tourney components, and at the same price (£269.99) as I paid for the 16 speed version.

This has happened very seriously with Viking so many have butterfly shifters now, a few years ago they were doing carbon frames and 105 equipped bikes. Though in general the bikes are quite heavy mine with a rack a mudguards and saddle bag, water bottles and pump, weighs in usually at about 12.5+Kg's.

 

[Big_Dave]

I think all budget and entry level has suffered with downgrades in recent years, popularity has pushed new bike prices up while specification has regressed to cash in while the popularity is at a current high, I look at a £500 big brand bikes and shake my head on the budget components that are fitted to them, jazzed up supermarket bikes

 

[Mongoose]

I need a hint here. How are you posting your bike specs as signatures? Can you set this up in profiles or do you do this from file?

 

[Mongoose]

Big_Dave you've hit the nail on the head. There are novices rushing through the door (me included!) blinded by bling. Too many choices, deals everywhere and new bike salesmen fast becoming like new car salesmen. As you say, the Carrera TDF has been substantially downgraded with my neighbour being an innocent and naïve victim of the downgrade.

 

[Big_Dave]

I need a hint here. How are you posting your bike specs as signatures? Can you set this up in profiles or do you do this from file?

You can set this up in your profile page, I think you have to have made a certain amount of posts before the option appears in your profile settings

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Mongoose Dave is right there is an option for signature, under personal information.