In my opinion there is no new production front derailleur for half-step. The key objective feature that a half-step front derailleur needs in order to be considered a half-step front der is an inner cage that does not reach far below the outer cage. Everything that is current is designed for a 14 or a 16 tooth jump, so the inner cage reaches WAY below the outer cage. That's something that is straightforward to look at, and nothing contemporary is going to have that. If one wants to run a new production front derailleur with a half-step setup, then they will just need to run the derailleur a lot higher above the big ring than is considered normal or optimal. There are lots of people who say "I run my FD an inch above the rings and it still shifts fine". The fact is the job of a front derailleur is pretty darn simple, particularly in friction set ups.
For me, when I'm doing a half-step build, I always use a vintage Shimano derailleur that was designed for half-step. Tons were made, and they rarely wear out, and nobody wants them today, so they are cheap on eBay. Just type half-step front into the eBay search bar and there are many to choose from. Just as a test, I put 5 or 6 of them on my watch list and I've already been given discount offers on a few of them. Bill Lindsay El Cerrito, CA On Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 11:19:55 AM UTC-7 GAJett wrote: > Thanks Garth. I have one bookmarked for future reference. > GAJett > > On Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 2:40:06 PM UTC-7 GAJett wrote: > >> See my contribution to the recent "Preparing Bleriot to Sell--Seeking >> Advice" conversation. Peter White ( >> https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/tach.php) currently lists TA making >> odd-toothed chainrings for 110 bcd cranks and some others. Here is the >> abbreviated list: >> >> GENERAL CHAINRINGS FOR COMPACT CRANKSETS >> 110mm Syrius 11 Speed Chainrings for Compact Cranksets >> Description >> TA Syrius 11 110mm 39 teeth black >> TA Syrius 11 110mm 53 teeth black >> >> 110mm Zephyr Chainrings for Compact Double Cranksets and Triples >> Description >> TA Zephyr 110mm inner 33 teeth black >> TA Zephyr 110mm inner 33 teeth silver >> TA Zephyr 110mm middle 39 teeth black >> TA Zephyr 110mm middle 39 teeth silver >> TA Zephyr 110mm outer 45 teeth black >> TA Zephyr 110mm outer 49 teeth black >> TA Zephyr 110mm outer 49 teeth silver >> TA Zephyr 110mm outer 51 teeth black >> TA Zephyr 110mm outer 51 teeth silver >> TA Zephyr 110mm outer 53 teeth black >> TA Zephyr 110mm outer 53 teeth silver >> >> So they are out there but getting harder and harder to find. That's part >> of why likely go to a 4-tooth difference on my next build. >> GAJett >> >> On Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 2:23:48 PM UTC-7 Patrick Moore wrote: >> >>> Where do you find rings in the 40-50 teeth range in odd teeth numbers? >>> >>> On Thu, Oct 23, 2025 at 3:19 PM GAJett <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> I have ridden with a half-step+granny almost exclusively since about >>>> 1976 (thanks Frank Berto). I absolutely love these setups. My two >>>> current >>>> rides have only a 3-tooth difference up front (49-46-26 and 44-41-24). >>>> These are a converted 1974 Raleigh Competition and a 2010 A. Homer Hilson. >>>> >>>> Successful and reliable shifting has been done with a Suntour Superbe, a >>>> Suntour Cyclone, and a Huret Jubilee All worked without any problems, >>>> even >>>> the delicate Jubilee. I suspect that most older racing derailleurs would >>>> also work (e.g., Campagnolo, Shimano, Zeus, etc). >>>> >>>> Is anyone aware of any modern derailleurs that can shift over such >>>> narrow 3 to 5-tooth difference ranges? Mountain bike derailleurs have the >>>> necessary throw but the deep inner cages interfere with the middle ring >>>> while trying to shift to the outer -- so those are out. Descriptions of >>>> almost all the "racing" derailleurs are described as having a throw that >>>> is >>>> limited only to double cranksets -- so those seem to be out as well. >>>> >>>> So what are my options? >>>> a. Advice about specific "racing" styles that are known to work over a >>>> triple; >>>> b. Many current "racing" styles really CAN shift over a triple -- go >>>> for it; >>>> c. Many current "racing" styles really can be easily modified to do so >>>> (like filing down stops); >>>> d. Stay old school and order vintage parts. >>>> >>>> I've searched a dozen or more conversations here and have not found any >>>> clear answers. I'm sure many of you can steer me right (and that any >>>> decisions based on your inputs are on my own head and everyone else is >>>> blameless for their guidance). >>>> >>>> Thanks all for your wisdom, >>>> GAJett >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>> To view this discussion visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/5c5f7595-13e5-4668-8053-d7756a6b37dcn%40googlegroups.com >>>> >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/5c5f7595-13e5-4668-8053-d7756a6b37dcn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> Patrick Moore >>> Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum >>> >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> >>> Executive resumes, LinkedIn profiles, bios, letters, and other writing >>> services >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> >>> *When thou didst not, savage, k**now thine own meaning,* >>> >>> *But wouldst gabble like a** thing most brutish,* >>> >>> *I endowed thy purposes w**ith words that made them known.* >>> >> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/86b761e6-d0a3-4c35-ad5a-23e33b6aac20n%40googlegroups.com.
