Hi gang:
Well, I like both Dura Ace EX & AX components. For a long time I wanted to buy one of those Tange/Shimano aero tube and component sets that came all together in one box. Everything you needed to build a complete "aero slug" (to quote another frame building friend - Dan Anderson, Mtn. View, CA). In fact, if one of those sets were available at the right price I would buy it. There's something about different and unique bike parts that really sparks my interest. I would also like to find one of Miyata's Team or Pro model bikes, especially the Team model with the Dura Ace AX components. Love those hubs with the flanges machined so all of the spokes exit the flange on the same side.
And while I'm on the subject of Japanese bikes, how about the beautiful green, black & chrome Nishiki Professional bikes from '73, and a year or so earlier they put out an orange, black & chrome road bike called the "Road Compe" I believe. And before Miyata released the '80's Team bikes, in the late '70's they had an orange and black pro model, with Dura Ace black components that were drilled for lightness. I'm talking bikes that even the shops only saw a very small quantity of.
My favorite though was the Miyata Team Pro of the early '80's. Blue and Gold with Shimano Dura Ace AX throughout.
Anyone have one of those for sale or trade?
"Bicycle Mark" Perkins Fresno Cycling Club - Historian Fresno, California, U.S.A.
On Fri, 14 Mar 2003 10:16:28 -0500 Grant McLean
<Grant.McLean@SportingLife.ca> writes:
> List,
>
> As a shop rat in 1981 when the aero-bike thing
> started around here, I remember a fancy Aero-Miyata
> with fillet aero tubes and the AX group, and araya
> V-section rims. Once I got a chance to ride the
> AX stuff, I didn't think it was too cool. The brakes
> didn't stop, (tiny pads) and the shifting was not
> great. The pedals were just wacky. Most people
> didn't see the benefits of lowering their saddle
> to compensate. The rear derailleur required a top
> routed gear cable, just at the time of under bb
> cable guides. The only dt shifters I saw required
> Japanese dimension braze ons.
>
> >From Frank Berto's article "sunset for suntour":
> "Shimano introduced aerodynamic AX components in 1981 to
> deafening silence. Coming after Positron, it really
> seemed that Shimano had lost their way."
> http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/
>
> I agree with Frank's assessment, but when 7400 sis
> came out, all was forgiven! That group was either
> a sign that the aero thing didn't get rider acceptance,
> or the cause, you choose.
>
> Grant McLean
> Toronto.Ca
>
> O \O/
> _< \_ _< _
> (_)>(_) (_)>(_)
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
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