[CR]sedis sport chain a significant development

(Example: Framebuilders:Richard Moon)

From: "heddarr" <heddarr@indianaconnect.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <228F554F.1247B68D.00211578@netscape.net> <009c01c371b0$2c94fc10$efddfea9@mooshome>
Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2003 14:04:57 -0400
Subject: [CR]sedis sport chain a significant development

Jerry Moos wrote < I think it was really the Sedis Sport that changed the rules about gear combinations, as it was much more flexible and smoother than earlier chains. On classic bikes, I usually use Sedis Sport, its Sachs descendants, or a modern 7/8 speed chain. A Regina Oro may be authentic, but does not shift as well.>

I would like to add that the development of the Sedis Sport made a vastly underrated contribution to modern lightweight bicycles.

The Regina Oro chain worked on the racers corncobs but the narrower Sedis chain enabled freewheel folks to think of more cogs. With the lock nut dimension increasing only 10 mm more, one could have double the cogs on a modern cog set. I am not saying that the reasonably priced Sedis sport was the "without which there is none." However, thinking of dominoes we might notice how the narrower crisp shifting Sedis chain had a contributing role in how the entire drive train has changed, as more cogs became the norm.

1 Rear derailleur changed to enable the inner pulley plates to get closer to the spokes. The rear derailleur stopped looking like traditional Simplex and Campagnolo and now like Shimano with Sutour's contribution of the slant parallelogram. 2 Front derailleur cages are contoured to aid in shifting instead of flat plates 3 Indexing came and eventually integrated shifting and braking levers. 4 Front chain wheels have become thinner, shaped, and pinned to assist in shifting.

Some of those things may not be looked on as improvements but the difference made for"In Time line" touring was significant and positive. I remember the day I unboxed a Suntour 13 x 32 freewheel that had 6 cogs all in the space of a 5 speed freewheel. I built a boom proof low dish rear wheel using a 126 OLD hub. It was mated to a TA cyclotourist triple 52 x42 x32, a Shimano DeOre road rear derailleur and a modified Shimano DeOre road front derailleur that gave me an ultra wide range ratio that was from 27 to 108. Not to mention I never missed a shift for 20 years in the combined years that I and then my brother in law used it.

Incredible.

Howard Darr
Clymer PA