tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424430427338131710.post346605228689819418..comments2024-03-29T03:10:28.983-04:00Comments on Bicycle Specialties: Racing gears, then and now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424430427338131710.post-27879034915280714022011-12-04T16:38:20.683-05:002011-12-04T16:38:20.683-05:00Clarification on prior post:
[On the open flat, *o...Clarification on prior post:<br />[On the open flat, *once up to speed* the tractive gearing loses its *apparent* advantage, but even in the city, with stop and go traffic, the low gearing can be an incredible advantage, and a lot easier on knees and drive train too.]<br /><br />Which amplifies Mike's discussion a year or so back on the (insert a politically incorrect term of your choice) idiocy of the fixed wheel, even freewheel single-gear, fashion rage. I even see it in very hilly cities like here in Guelph. For couriers even!<br /><br />But then again, one with adept gearing should be gracious enough not to pass them from stop-lights without pulling a wheelie past them. It gets them very upset....lol.fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10979238814498305124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424430427338131710.post-6715053791897643232011-12-04T16:18:28.039-05:002011-12-04T16:18:28.039-05:00[For the steep ascent he was fitting ten speed cas...[For the steep ascent he was fitting ten speed cassettes with sprockets from 11-32 teeth and chainrings with 36T and 52T. ]<br /><br />What comes around, goes around!<br /><br />Mike: Great to see you back blogging again. I kind of lost track as things went quiet for a while there.<br /><br />I'm quite taken aback at those ratios, albeit I've gone as wide as chain length and dérailleur length will permit for years. Why waste all of those ratios for the sake of a convention that the machine will never be used for?<br /><br />My immediate question would be that, btw: cage length.<br /><br />I had always assumed the reason for an overall narrow ratio was to reduce weight and slop in the drive train.<br /><br />Unless I've read this wrong, this is virtually off-road gearing, is it not?<br /><br />Again, like yourself, I wonder why it took so long to realize that once you get off a machine on a hill, you've immediately lost your huge mechanical advantage and efficiency.<br /><br />On the open flat, the tractive gearing loses its advantage, but even in the city, with stop and go traffic, the low gearing can be an incredible advantage, and a lot easier on knees and drive train too.<br /><br />But my question endures, chain and cage length?<br /><br />Also (and I do this, and my early Mavic dérailleur remains in fantastic shape) I short the chain, I forget your term for that, such that there's insufficient length if the largest sprocket and chainwheel are selected together. That shouldn't happen anyway, but that have been a few times....and no lasting harm other than user panic.<br /><br />Needless to say, my Simplex levers are as shiny and utilitarian as new. I've never had a better shifting machine in my life, "clickless" of course.<br /><br />I'm truly impressed with an cycling group that pre-dates the clicking.<br /><br />Just remember this: They don't put frets on violins either...for damn good reason!<br /><br />Anyone who can play goes by feel.<br /><br />Hope to do a few miles with you folks soon.<br /><br />Greatfredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10979238814498305124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424430427338131710.post-60568366364721583802011-11-09T11:55:28.004-05:002011-11-09T11:55:28.004-05:00Mike, I agree with you on the Campag performance o...Mike, I agree with you on the Campag performance of that era. The Simplex downtube levers helped a bit, but the Simplex rear derailleur was superior to even Super Record.<br /><br />The current Campag groups are a pleasure to use, however.<br /><br />Regards, Marco SobrevinasAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424430427338131710.post-25575461146690366352011-11-01T21:46:41.863-04:002011-11-01T21:46:41.863-04:00Yes I am comparing them to modern day indexed shif...Yes I am comparing them to modern day indexed shifting but even compared with some of the later non-indexed derailleurs they are bad. The shifting in slow and imprecise. The later chains and profiled sprockets made a big difference. The Record, Nuovo Record and Super Record were a bit better but not much.Mike Barrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424430427338131710.post-11705550887304239222011-11-01T17:14:06.202-04:002011-11-01T17:14:06.202-04:00Michael,
Very interesting. It's amazing to t...Michael,<br /><br />Very interesting. It's amazing to think that the sprinters were using a 52/14 combination as the high gear! <br /><br />I am curious as to what in particular is terrible about your Gran Sport derailleurs/shifter. Are they bad in relation to later campy friction shifting? Or or you comparing them to modern indexed shifting?<br /><br />Ron ClarkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com