> Chuck Schmidt wrote My question: If the Campagnolo crank intro'd in 1958 is such a poor design, then why is a French company copying it in the the late 1970s or early 1980s when they come out with a new crank? Conspiracy theorists want to reply? Anyone?
That's a good question. America bought into the Italian / Campagnolo mystique. America was a big, no huge, rich market and one that Campagnolo profitted from greatly. When I bought my Serotta in 1977 all of my fellow bike freaks thought I was making a huge mistake. When I didn't equip it with Campagnolo they were aghast. I bought Suntour and Shimano, in my mind they provided a look alike of the bicycle standard, that functioned well at a much lower price.
I don't know if they copied because the campagnolo crank and other R, NR, SR parts were industry standards, the best engineered and so on . . . or because customer perception of Campagnolo as the industry standard provided big sales and profits for Campagnolo and the French and Japanese wanted some of that pie.
I don't think for one minute that I wasn't affected by the mystique. I bought the Shimano because I was putting myself through Engineering School and I ate two years of Mac and Cheese or at least a semester of books on the price difference between them. If I could have, I would have bought Campagnolo in a heartbeat.
Several years ago I was given a NOS Campagnolo groupo. I had arrived.!!!! I took off the DA stuff and put it on. Better????? Now I'm looking for an interesting frame to put the DA stuff on and I have to explain to the family why I need more bike hooks.
BY THE BY . . . IMHO I am still convinced that American frame builders demonstrated and still do execute workmanship and style that sets all standards. Looked at some pictures of a fancy stainless frame today by a fellow listmember and WOW!!!! Can't wait to see the tour model.
Howard Darr Clymer PA where there hasn't been a conspiracy in a long time.