don andersen wrote:
>
> Dale, the first bit of ti used on a classic lightweight (according to "Cycle
> Sport Magazine") was on Luis Ocano's Motobecane in 1972. Also, Chuck
> Schmidt's '77 Peugeot, that appeared in "Bicycling Magazine", has a
> ti-railed 2001.
>
> Don Andersen
>
> >No Ti rails back then, I am pretty sure....
> >I think twas the thickness of padding and or type of cover that made for
> >differences amongst Ideale "plastic" saddles.
> >Dale Brown
Yup... titanium rails on the Idealé saddles was an option. They (ti frame) were available on the 2001 (plastic shell, no padding, leather cover), 2002 (plastic shell, foam rubber padding, leather cover), #88 (traditional leather, low profile frame), #90 (traditional leather, traditional high profile frame), etc.
The other option that was available was the "Daniel Rebour" treatment... custom large rivets and softening, but only on the traditional leather saddles of course ;)
Early 1970s French stuff was pretty high zoot for the times: Idealé with the ti saddles, Stonglight with the drilled out chainrings and ti cassett bottom bracket (sealed bearings, aluminum alloy cups, lock rings and bolt, and ti axle), the Maillard all aluminum alloy freewheel, and Christophe alloy toe clips and alloy buckle on the toe straps. Oh yes, and by this time Simplex had replaced the plastic derailleurs with aluminum alloy and had the retro-friction shifters and the double pivot rear derailleur (horrors... actually worked better than Campy SR/NR). Then there was Peugeot and others using the Reynolds 531 SL and the 753 tubesets. tres bon
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, California just another 70° sunny day :)
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