In a message dated 6/14/03 5:53:22 AM Pacific Daylight Time, dnovo@ix.netcom.com writes:
> I was discussing a bike with a friend the other day, and found myself
> stumped by the tubeset. The bike was built for the Swiss 1982 Suisse
> Eorotex-Campagnolo-Puch team to be ridden by Stefan Mutter in the TDF. The tube sticker
> simply says "Columbus" without stating which tubeset was used. The rest of
> the bike, which is unused, is fairly 'standard' SR, although in a superb state
> of preservation.
>
> Any ideas as to what would have been the tubeset of choice for this type of
> bike in 1982?
>
Bianchi was a fan of mixing gauges in their sets. The "Bianchi Special" set
has SP gauge downtube and chainstays with SL gauge tubes in the seat stays,
seat tube and top tube. If that frame was specially built for a certain rider,
they could have further matched the gauges to his size, weight, strength and
pedaling style. My guess is it's the top drawer tubing in mixed gauges, but
there's no way to tell easily. I knew one guy who said he could tell a gauge by how
fast it warmed up in his hand. Most people saying that would get a "yeah,
right..." from me but in his case it's believable. I suppose you could take some
kind of drum stick and tap on it and maybe get something from the tone.
Perhaps that's something Brian can work into his research. Anyone have an O scope to
lend him for measuring the pitch of the taps?
Stevan Thomas
Alameda, CA