6 or 7sp freewheel with 9 or 10sp derailleur?

Hi
I´m looking to upgrade my old Raleigh Gran Tour with a 32 or 34t rear freewheel, probably a Shimano Mega6/7 and indexed thumb or push button shifters. I don´t need to buy new wheels yet, with a freehub/cassette, as mine still have some life in them. The problem I have is that all the decent quality Shimano derailleurs now seem to be 9/10 speed. I don´t know what will work with only a 6 or 7 speed freewheel. I read that some of the 9 speed derailleurs are meant to work ok with 7 speeds, but that the newer "Shadow" stuff won´t work. I don´t want to be using some "Tourney" junk from a kids bike!

Can anyone recommend what decent quality derailleur and indexed handlebar shifters would work? Do I haveto find 7 speed shifters or does the adjustment on the derailleur limit what the shifters do? Or is it vice versa? Am I going to need to scour ebay for older NOS Shimano bits?

cheers

http://www.ctc.org.uk/desktopdefault.aspx?tabid=3946

Thanks Rodabod, I had a look at that already, it just seems to be a little out of date, as far as the newer Shimano stuff is concerned.

True, but the jockey wheels / cages on the newer mechs for 10/11 speed chains may not be happy with your choice of chain for your freewheel. You'll probably be using an 8-speed chain which will probably be ok on a 9-speed derailleur.

The 105 derailleur work well with an 8 speed transmission, but not less than that.

I've got 10 speed Ultegra F+R mech with a 7 speed block and chain. Works a treat - really nice shifting

Why not using a nice XT long cage derailleur with XT thumbies and the correct chain?? Would maybe fit nicer to the "older" bike... or whats with Suntour Winner Pro freewheel up to 34 combined with some nice older Suntour equipment? They made nice parts in the 80es..

You can get it wor work with Campag but you will find shifting wont be so smooth

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I've got 10 speed Ultegra F+R mech with a 7 speed block and chain. Works a treat - really nice shifting

Really? Thats interesting to know. You managed to limit the side to side movement with the limiting screws no problem? What shifters are you using? Indexed?

Why not using a nice XT long cage derailleur with XT thumbies and the correct chain?? Would maybe fit nicer to the "older" bike... or whats with Suntour Winner Pro freewheel up to 34 combined with some nice older Suntour equipment? They made nice parts in the 80es..

The newest XT you mean? I was looking at the XT thumbies already. Those look like just the job.
The bike currently has an old long cage Shimano "Stags head" 600 derailleur, but it won´t handle 34t and I don´t know if it´ll play ball with indexed shifters. My other plan was to use a Stronglight 49 chainset with the old TA cyclotouriste rings and go way down in size on the front, instead of bigger on the back, but again, I need a derailleur that will handle that amount of difference. Not sure if my current one would.

I've got 10 speed Ultegra F+R mech with a 7 speed block and chain. Works a treat - really nice shifting

Very very interesting to know, if that the case, I can wack a 105 on my 6 speed block then...

I'm running a 10 speed DA rear mech on 7 speed cassette with 7speed DT shifters. Works flawlessly.

Cable pull is dictated by the shifter, provided this matches your cassette spacing there shouldn't be too many problems. If you get a modern 7-speed freewheel you can use either a 7 or 8 speed shifter - the spacing is the same.

I'd avoid Shadow as it uses a longer cable pull, stick with a 9-speed chain and derailleur. Chances are it won't be as smooth as a matching drivetrain but should work fine. At the worst you could put in longer limit screws, but you probably won't have to. You'll most likely need a long-cage derailleur with that cassette if you're planning on anything but a single ring setup too.

Thanks for the replies everyone.
Really? Thats interesting to know. You managed to limit the side to side movement with the limiting screws no problem? What shifters are you using? Indexed?

Indexing was pretty easy to set up. Using 7 spd Sora (I think- they'er just labelled "Shimano") Sti's. Said it before but the shifting is clean and pretty precise - at some point I'll upgrade the bike to full 10 spd, but until I get a new wheelset and sti's this is working really well.

That's shimano cheapest road groupset you're talking about that doesn't even have a name, just brunch of numbers I can't remember.

You might need to use a touring or MTB rear derailleur with a rear cassette of that size. IIRC a lot of short-cage models handle up to 28t.

Not necessary touring, just long cage derailleur, modern derailleur can go up to 28t, with the exception of the SRAM Apex being able to go up to a whooping 32t, very big for a modern road derailleur,

That's shimano cheapest road groupset you're talking about that doesn't even have a name, just brunch of numbers I can't remember.

I'm not sure you're right - they're quite old and bought from ebay. In any case, they do the job - do find that they hurt my hands after about 60 miles - but then I unfortunately seem to have "campagnolo hands" - a rare and disproportionately expensive condition.

You might need to use a touring or MTB rear derailleur with a rear cassette of that size. IIRC a lot of short-cage models handle up to 28t.

That was actually the plan. Shimano say most of their MTB long cage (SGS) derailleurs are good for 34T rear. I wasn´t even looking at roadie stuff. Have to see what sort of small sprocket chainset I can turn up. I may not need to step up to a 34t rear.