More than likely the date of the bike's purchase explains the
drilling--very, very 1970's!
David Feldman
Vancouver, WA
> Singer did have their own seatposts, with external expanders. These
> usually were chopped and modified seatpins, later Simplex posts, to
> create the wedge that expands the seatpost. The post on the e-bay
> bike looks distinctively homemade.
>
> I wonder whether the bike is one of 3 (or 4, 5, or 6, don't know
> exactly) that Rodriquez imported in 1976... I have one, and it is a
> lovely machine. Not quite the French randonneuring bike, but a great
> ride unequalled by most others. Furthermore, the workmanship on mine
> is wonderful. I equipped it with fenders (enough clearance there is)
> and a TA front rack, which makes for a useful long-distance machine -
> the racing geometry of the time was very much more stable and
> pleasant than the later Italian and American "criterium" bikes. Of
> course, I'd prefer the fully equipped bike with lights, racks, etc.,
> but those are hard to find. Anybody have one for sale in 59 or 60?
>
> I talked about this at length with M. Csuka, the "constructeur," and
> he agrees that for a useful bike, the 1970s ones are hard to beat.
> The geometry was totally dialed-in by then, the classic parts all
> existed (Mafac brakes, Jubilee derailleurs or what have you), while
> some parts that later were no longer around still existed, notably
> the super-skinny and thus comfortable fork blades. Earlier bikes are
> terrific and cool, but difficult to keep up without the right parts,
> while later ones lack some of the great ingredients. All of them are
> great, though.
>
> Jan
> _______________________________________________
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