In a message dated 5/20/2003 12:25:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time, gillies@cs.ubc.ca writes:
<< Some on this list seem overly influenced by the "spell" of campagnolo marketing nimrods. Does it really affect the performance or race-worthiness of a bicycle to have inferior hoods that crack quickly, cost a fortune, and say "Campagnolo" with the world logo on them ?? Would asian or period swiss or generic no-name or newer-campy hoods really harm the mojo all that much ?? this is the sort of thing that gives campy a reputation for snob appeal ...
as my dad used to say, "a man on a galloping horse wouldn't know the difference!"
why is it that when simplex puts out a piece of junk (prestige derailleurs) people scream and rip them off the bike and throw them in the trash bin. when campy puts out a piece of junk (world logo hoods) there is a severe shortage and the items sell for $72 on ebay (most recent price paid) ??? >>
Hmmm. Slow down there a bit.. I have to add my two cents here.
Many folks are perfectly content to have other suitable (fit wise) hoods to replace their Campag hoods. That's the first I have heard of the period Swiss hoods! Send me a set!! Newer Campy hoods do not fit SR/NR/GS.
These items wear out and are expected to be replaced like brake pads, tires, bearings. Campy hoods were not inferior. They held up just as well as any rubber hoods of the time. (OK, maybe Modolos do a little better) But there also is nothing wrong with a good chunk of folks wanting to maintain their bikes as original as possible. To each his own.. This has nothing to do with performance.. Is this forum about performance?
It is a shame that Campagnolo does not see the benefits of supplying hoods & brake pads to support the old stuff. Maybe the Vintage push of the Tour de France will start a new awareness of the value of tradition and the enhancement of a Trademark...
FWIW, Campy's reputation was not based upon snobbery but general superiority. They were far from perfect but vastly better in many/most components than their competitors. Their early marketing was by getting racers to test their products in hard use. There was no more hype or hyperbole than competitors.
As far a Simplex being thrown in the trash, we had better go dive in there fast as we saw recently that the most expensive rear derailleur of all time was a... Simplex!!
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