tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424430427338131710.post4669287550928982502..comments2024-03-29T03:10:28.983-04:00Comments on Bicycle Specialties: Watching the TourUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424430427338131710.post-57208662001313142362010-10-07T16:33:18.371-04:002010-10-07T16:33:18.371-04:00Many thanks Mike. "Adapteur" is somethin...Many thanks Mike. "Adapteur" is something that would not have crossed my mind. Also that TA made only rings back then.<br /><br />[TA did not make their own cranks in those days, just chainwheels.] And it would seem Mavic's early cranksets came with Campy rings! As to the history there, I'm just guessing, but the Mavic cranks were an obvious Campy copy.<br /><br />I still have the barely used examples withdrawn from my 'Argos Renovated', and I at first thought that Argos just used the Campies on hand, but the more I thought about it (they were bog standard 42-52 alpine), I wondered if it wasn't a regular practice to use the best rings available when producing clone cranks. Your info adds credence to that. The machining to produce rings must be expensive and demanding.<br /><br />The reason I accessed your site today was this:<br />[Run on gravel roads with 80s bikes, woollen jerseys and fuelled by rich Italian food and wine, the gloroius L'Eroica race captures the golden era of cycling]<br />(Italy's retro bike race is a cycling classic)<br />http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2010/oct/07/leroica-cycle-race-italy-retro<br /><br />Sincerely hope you keep well Mike, as do I.fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10979238814498305124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424430427338131710.post-45819214207959443972010-10-03T20:08:29.272-04:002010-10-03T20:08:29.272-04:00The chainwheels are TA double "Adapteur"...The chainwheels are TA double "Adapteur" model fitted to Stronglight 49d cranks. TA did not make their own cranks in those days, just chainwheels. Triples have rarely been used for racing, although I understand that Anquetil used a triple in the mountain stages one year. The Stronglight/TA set-up was the most popular before Campag introduced their crankset.<br />Walkoviak's derailleurs are Campag Gran Sport.Mike Barryhttp://mike@bikespecialties.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424430427338131710.post-89703296530585448392010-10-02T12:02:44.436-04:002010-10-02T12:02:44.436-04:00Always fascinating reading.
I'm curious, intr...Always fascinating reading.<br /><br />I'm curious, intrigued even. Walkoviak's cranks: Appear as best I can tell to be Stronglight 49, ostensibly D.<br /><br />But are they doubles or triples?<br /><br />Which leads me to ask, when did triples first appear in production cranks?<br /><br />That's a pretty svelte looking machine, and looks more modern than it does antique by today's date. Oddly, to my eye, cable dress besides, it's the bar-mounted flasks more than any other item that dates the picture.<br /><br />Some would say also the traps, but I digress on that one. There seems to be a movement back to traps in some circles, some of us never left them.<br /><br />The dérailleurs are difficult to determine. Anyone suss them?<br /><br />Great picture Mike. Always an excellent read and retrospect. <br /><br />Steve Sainesfredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10979238814498305124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6424430427338131710.post-49747268246172252032010-09-29T19:37:22.823-04:002010-09-29T19:37:22.823-04:00Hi Mike...It's been a while since I met you on...Hi Mike...It's been a while since I met you on a very rainy day for coffee at your workshop. It was heartwarming to see you follow your son on his first "Tour" and to recount your memories of the your first attended tour. I'm sure that the genetic predisposition in "Michael" to a pro career in cycling occured on the first bright morning when you poked your head out on the Col du Tourmalet.<br /><br />cheers,<br />RayRay C.noreply@blogger.com