Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site watcgl.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!watcgl!defield
From: defield@watcgl.UUCP (Dan Field)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: front derailleurs
Message-ID: <2529@watcgl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 7-May-84 22:52:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: watcgl.2529
Posted: Mon May  7 22:52:27 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 8-May-84 00:55:30 EDT
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 20

I would like to get an opinion on the mechanical viability
of front derailleurs for triple cranksets.  I have recently
been looking at bikes for light touring (mostly single, all
day trips, with an occasional multi-day jaunt), and have
noticed that all the bikes with the features I want within
my price range have triple cranksets.

Of all the mechanical troubles I have ever had with a bike,
the front derailleur has caused the most, with brakes and
wheel spokes falling a close second.  And it is not just 
a single make, I have been through several different models, 
and settled on a suntour as the most reliable for my present 
double crankset bike.

While I have rarely ever needed extra low gears, there have
been times when they would have been *extremely* nice.
Is the present mechanical design for front derailleurs 
REALLY up to the task?  Or, should I take the bike as
is and swap the triple for a double?