FS: Six nice Rivendell-appropriate Front Derailleurs

[Bill Lindsay]

For many sub-categories of parts, I have a dedicated box.  If those parts fit in their box, I'm happy, and there's at least a chance for some order.  If those parts overflow their box, it's a disaster.  Please help fix my front derailleur situation.   Here are six different front derailleurs that would be perfectly at home on a Rivendell build, or even a Riv-ish one.

1.  Suntour X-1.  This was a late Suntour Mountain bike model.  Its cage curvature matches something in the 48T range.  In other words it is not a micro-drive model.  28.6mm clamp.  It wants to shift a triple but could work a compact double as well.  $15 plus actual shipping

2. Shimano CX70.  This is in some ways the best front derailleur of all time for Rivendell country bikes.  The cage is shaped for a 46T big ring and has a short enough tail to clear the chain stay better than some other road FDs.  Riv pushed them, and when they went out of production they were pretty heavily sought after.  The only flaw is that its native clamp is 31.8mm, but came in the box with a discrete shim for 28.6mm.  That shim is included.  It wants to shift a double.  $40 plus actual shipping

3.  Suntour Superbe Pro.  I like this model for Riv builds because the cage itself is small, and has good chain stay clearance behavior.  It also has a longish actuation arm which is nice for friction shifting.  Perhaps best of all, I find this endless-band clamp style allows it to get REALLY close to the seat tube, for low-Q-factor endeavors.  28.6mm endless band clamp.  For a double.  $30 plus actual shipping

4.  Shimano Deore LX.  This is a very workman front Der for a triple.  It would have come stock on a 1993 Bridgestone MB-3.  28.6mm clamp.  $15 plus actual shipping

5.  Campagnolo Mirage Compact.  Rivendell sold Campy front derailleurs for a while in the early 2010s because their cages ran smaller than most and so they worked well for chain stay clearance.  28.6mm clamp.  This would have wanted to shift a 50/34 double when it was designed, so it should be great for most compact double applications.  $25 plus actual shipping 

6. Shimano Dura Ace 7400.  This would have come with a 6 or 7 speed group set, so it's got a nice wide cage and lends itself well to friction shifting applications because it won't make you trim every few cogs.  Because of its long tail I would not run this with a tiny big-ring.  I'd say 46/30 or bigger would set up well. $30 plus actual shipping 

Here is a link to a Flickr album of all six front derailleurs:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/45758191@N04/albums/72177720333565264

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[Bill Lindsay]

Updates

1.  Suntour X-1.  This was a late Suntour Mountain bike model.  Its cage curvature matches something in the 48T range.  In other words it is not a micro-drive model.  28.6mm clamp.  It wants to shift a triple but could work a compact double as well.  $15 plus actual shipping

2. Shimano CX70.  PENDING

3.  Suntour Superbe Pro.  SOLD

4.  Shimano Deore LX.  This is a very workman front Der for a triple.  It would have come stock on a 1993 Bridgestone MB-3.  28.6mm clamp.  $15 plus actual shipping

5.  Campagnolo Mirage Compact.  Rivendell sold Campy front derailleurs for a while in the early 2010s because their cages ran smaller than most and so they worked well for chain stay clearance.  28.6mm clamp.  This would have wanted to shift a 50/34 double when it was designed, so it should be great for most compact double applications.  $25 plus actual shipping 

6. Shimano Dura Ace 7400.  PENDING

Here is a link to a Flickr album of all six front derailleurs:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/45758191@N04/albums/72177720333565264

BL in EC