[CR]Sears bikes

(Example: Production Builders:Cinelli)

Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 15:19:02 -0400
From: "HM & SS Sachs" <sachs@erols.com>
To: Cushdelmar@aol.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Sears bikes

Jim Cushing-murray wrote, and I'm responding:

JCm: I bought my first ten speed bike at Sears on Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood in 1964. It was their most expensive model and was full Campy (I'm not sure about the crankset).

HS: I know of no Sears model with Campy parts other than the two derailleurs, certainly never saw any or saw any listed in the WishBook, but I could be wrong.

JCmI used it to ride to UCLA in my student days. The back wheel started to come apart after a couple of rides so I stopped in at C. Hardings in Westwood. I'm sure he was happy to see me with a Sears bike. They finally rebuilt the wheel and Sears paid.

HS: Some of the early Normandy 5-speed high flange hubs had the left flange quite far left, leading to almost vertical right side spoks and near-zero wheel life. I still have one of these as a naked shell, which I use to hold fw while working on them.

JCm: I felt like I was getting pretty good so they kept giving me routes up above UCLA in Bel Air. Some of the hills I couldn't make and marked with chaulk and kept trying. Finally the mechanic from Hardings rode with me in Bel Air. I didn't know anyone could go that fast on a bike. Soon they talked me into a Doneselli and I began my racing career.

Now I'm heading out the door to ride a shakedown cruise on my Morati titanium cyclocross bike fully equipped with titanium front cross forks.

Harvey Sachs
McLean VA