Double-to-triple upgrade, any last minute advice?

In article <[email hidden]>,

rickn rickn said:

My fat [censored], old legs, and hilly neighborhood have lead me
to the decision to upgrade to a triple-front crankset. The
components have been ordered and the upgrade project will
begin any- day-now. Any last minute words-of-wisdom (before
I disassemble the bike) would be appreciated. Here are the
facts: The bike is a late '90's (?) Bianchi Veloce
currently equipped with Campy Veloce components throughout
and includes 8-speed cassette and double chainring front.

So far I have purchased the following: Racing T 30-40-50
triple crankset Centaur 9-speed triple front derailleur
Centaur 9-speed rear derailleur (long cage) longer chain

Should work great.

Quoted message said:

The bike has very few miles on it so I am going to try the
new chain with the old 8-speed cassette and hope that they
get along with each other.

Ride carefully and stay seated when you test it. You need to
test on every cog.

Quoted message said:

Specific concerns include: Someone who seems to know a LOT
more about this than I has suggested that the existing BB
is likely the right one and that I may not need to change
it. BUT: Is this a component that I should change / upgrade
while I am at it? Any recommended upgrades?

There is probably no reason to replace the BB unless it's
worn out. The 111mm AC-H is correct for nearly all bikes
with double or triple Mirage/Veloce/Centaur style crank
(same as Racing T) except for a few that require the 115.5 -
those few will mostly be fat tube aluminum frames.

Quoted message said:

A recent My fat [censored], old legs, and hilly neiborhood have
lead me to the decision to upgrade to a triple-front
cranksetstring mentions "chain alignment" as an important
issue with this upgrade. Is this where the BB length comes
into play? Once the new crank is seated / torqued onto the
BB spindle it would seem that the chain alignment is fixed
at that point.

That is correct, although you can influence the results
slightly with thin spacers under the BB fixed cup or under
the cassette.

Quoted message said:

Or does chain alignment refer to the derailleur setup?

No

Quoted message said:

Obviously I am confused . . . A few words of advise
regarding chain alignment would also be appreciated.

It should all just work with no special tricks - you have
the right bottom bracket for the crank, and that's the main
thing that you need to get right.

Quoted message said:

Have I missed anything major?

Looks OK to me. I often replace derailleur cables and
housing in a major upgrade like this, just so everything
works like new. Sometimes just a nice new stainless rear
derailleur wire is enough if everything is in good shape.

--Paul

rickn rickn said:

So far I have purchased the following: Racing T 30-40-50
triple crankset Centaur 9-speed triple front derailleur
Centaur 9-speed rear derailleur (long cage) longer chain

Just install the stuff you have on the bicycle and
ride away.

[email hidden] (Paul Southworth) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Yes, a chain catcher gadget.

rickn-<< a LOT more about this than I has suggested that the
existing BB is likely the right one and that I may not need
to change it. BUT: Is this a component that I should change
/ upgrade while I am at it? >><BR><BR>

Nope, if it is 111mm and your seat tube is 28.6 or 31.8mm,
you don't need a new BB. If it's smooth, leave it alone.

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali
costruite eccezionalmente bene"