Brandon wrote:
> [...] also ridden a few derailleurs from the time too. The actual
> derailleurs of the time seem to shift quicker and smoother than the CC
> setup. I'm not even going to bring in elliptical [epicyclical?]
> geared hubs which were much better than either, IMHO.
>
> The Cambio Corsa is pretty low tech so would be easier for the racer
> to fix during the race. The same low tech aspect also made it quite
> tough, but these are the only things that I see the CC setup has over
> derailleurs. So my question is why did racers use the Cambio Corsa?
I wasn't there, but I've heard the racers were very sensitive to the extra friction (and maybe noise?) caused by derailleur pulleys, especially two-pulley designs. (Before you laugh, I've seen some numbers that indicate the friction in the pulleys *is* significant, not compared to wind drag, but compared to all the other bearing drag and rolling resistance.) That may have been a bigger reason, in the minds of the racers, than the weight and toughness advantages, though they all add up.
Sturmey hubs are heavier than most any derailleur setup and have noticeably more friction (except in Normal) than a derailleur system of that era, let alone a Cambio Corsa. The friction in old Sturmey hubs might compare more favorably today: Modern systems have more chain friction in the misaligned gears, and modern plain-bearing pulleys have more friction than the ball-bearing pulleys back then. But with the long chainstays and 3- or 4-speed blocks of the day, chain alignment was good enough that overall friction was lower for a derailleur than for a Sturmey hub.
A strong rider can bend or break parts in a Sturmey hub with a violent effort too. I like Sturmey hubs, own lots and ride 'em frequently, but having twisted the axles three times myself and seen it done by others (usually resulting in small cracks forming at the corners of the clutch key slot), I know not to sprint with all my might. It's telling that most racers who used 'em were timetrialists.
Mark Bulgier
Seattle, Wa
USA