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Post by brianbutler on Jun 3, 2021 21:04:06 GMT
I just spent a week in New Hampshire where my daughter and her family have a house on Squam Lake. I brought the Viscount Sebring with me because I wanted to see how a basic steel ten-speed with 14-28 gears and a double chain ring would do on the nearby mountain roads. It did OK. One ride in particular was very nice, a 25 mile out and back from the village of Campton, NH to Waterville Valley. The weather was perfect, the pavement was excellent, and the scenery fantastic. There was one sustained 10% grade but most were 6-7%. The route followed New Hampshire Rt. 49 along the Mad River for the entire length. Here is a typical scene:
Here is a map and additional captioned photos on RideWithGPS. The photo locations on the map are wrong, probably because I used my phone to record the ride but not to take the pictures.
Brian
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Jun 3, 2021 22:13:41 GMT
Sounds like a wonderful place to ride! I assume you rode the classic setup of a 52-42 crank and 14-28 freewheel. Back in the day, I thought it great stuff and it used to get me anywhere I wished to go. I still have a couple of bikes with that gearing and for some reason, their 40" low gear seems much taller than I remember  .
Ride Happy Jim
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Post by brianbutler on Jun 4, 2021 0:01:53 GMT
Sounds like a wonderful place to ride! I assume you rode the classic setup of a 52-42 crank and 14-28 freewheel. Back in the day, I thought it great stuff and it used to get me anywhere I wished to go. I still have a couple of bikes with that gearing and for some reason, their 40" low gear seems much taller than I remember .
Ride Happy Jim
I think it is probably 52-42 up front. I didn't mention numbers because I was too lazy to check before posting.
Brian
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Post by franco on Jun 4, 2021 14:41:22 GMT
Looks great Brian. Decent going on a basic 10 speed set up too, some saving grace is Viscount are quite lightweight but I think I’d need either a mega-range on the back or something less than 42 on the front. With those grades you mentioned.
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,418 
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Post by Jem on Jun 4, 2021 17:50:17 GMT
Sounds like a great trip Brian - loving that scenery
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Post by wheelson on Jun 4, 2021 17:57:48 GMT
Sounds like a great trip Brian - loving that scenery I agree. Brian, I’m jealous! As with others, lower gears would be mandatory for me. I expect my pseudo-Supa will not be outfitted as originally advertised. Best, John “wheelson” |
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Post by brianbutler on Jun 4, 2021 21:27:10 GMT
Sounds like a great trip Brian - loving that scenery I agree. Brian, I’m jealous! As with others, lower gears would be mandatory for me. I expect my pseudo-Supa will not be outfitted as originally advertised. Best, John “wheelson” Some of the grades were steep but the pitches were short. Generally, I like really low climbing gears, but in this case the good pavement, lack of wind, unloaded bike, and short hills allowed for fairly easy riding on the standard 10 speed setup. My uphill pace was slow and I never had to get out of the saddle.
Franco, I would agree about the lightweight Viscount frames except this was the Sebring, which is high tensile steel at best, not anything exotic. It is heavier but among my favorite bikes. It just has a nice smooth feel and the Suntour V derailleurs and freewheel are flawless.
Next time up there I will use the Viscount Grand Sport because it has a 34T cog (thanks again, John.)
Brian
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Post by brianbutler on Jun 11, 2021 1:15:08 GMT
I agree. Brian, I’m jealous! As with others, lower gears would be mandatory for me. I expect my pseudo-Supa will not be outfitted as originally advertised. Best, John “wheelson” ...this was the Sebring, ...the Suntour V derailleurs and freewheel are flawless.
Oops, I just remembered my Sebring has Suntour ARx derailleurs, also flawless.
Brian
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Post by wheelson on Jun 11, 2021 12:07:01 GMT
...this was the Sebring, ...the Suntour V derailleurs and freewheel are flawless.
Oops, I just remembered my Sebring has Suntour ARx derailleurs, also flawless.
Brian
Those ARx Suntours are excellent. Their predecessor Mountech always got a bad rap because of that strange upper pulley which enclosed a spring system and was prone to contamination. That was true and I’ve seen it but I still have one on my Schwinn Voyageur SP tourer because of the massive chain wrap. I just use a good waterproof grease (Phil green). Overall, those Suntour components were brilliantly engineered. Best, John “wheelson” |
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Post by brianbutler on Jun 11, 2021 21:37:25 GMT
Oops, I just remembered my Sebring has Suntour ARx derailleurs, also flawless.
Brian
Those ARx Suntours are excellent. Their predecessor Mountech always got a bad rap because of that strange upper pulley which enclosed a spring system and was prone to contamination. That was true and I’ve seen it but I still have one on my Schwinn Voyageur SP tourer because of the massive chain wrap. I just use a good waterproof grease (Phil green). Overall, those Suntour components were brilliantly engineered. Best, John “wheelson” My only complaint with the ARx set is the steel cable clamp screws that tighten into the aluminum bodies, which are very soft. I stripped the threads on an RD but did not throw it away. After about a year of thinking and tinkering, I repaired it with an aluminum rivnut and some complicated fitting. It is the one currently in use on the Sebring.
Brian
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