Re: [CR] Stronglight 99

(Example: Production Builders:Tonard)

Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2003 10:53:33 -0500
From: "Ken Wehrenberg" <wnwires@htc.net>
Organization: wnwires@htc.net
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR] Stronglight 99
x-mac-creator="4D4F5353"

The 99 was produced concurrently with the 93 and used as OEM on touring bikes such as my old Follis 172. It was originally non-anodised and there were no lightening holes in the rings. Later there was a continuation of the 86mm BCD by Stronglight with a different model number, anodising and holes. There may still be some out there, suggest xxcycle site. The early 99s polish up wonderfully! I have just done that and added NEW, drilled rings from Highpath Engineering, in exactly my specifications, for a wonderfully shifting, pretty, micro-drive double, with low gears aplenty.

The bike is a 1972 LeJeune which had not been built up until now, but I built it as a rider. I did what some here would say unthinkable-- spread it to 130mm. Built it with safe, modern double-pivot long reach Tektros (silver) with KoolStop Salmon pads, Shimano Ultegra 9 speed brifters, MA2 silver rims, and the Stronglight 99 cranks with a 28-46. Works like a dream with 13-26 and 13-30 freehub-geared wheelsets. To me, I want to enjoy this bike, I have several others which are 100% period correct, but for it's intended purposes, I have everything I need without any of the complexity of that horrendous half-step or any other triple system.

Ken Wehrenberg, very hilly Hermann, MO-- riding doubles all the time, even MTBs, and the 86mm bolt circle is even better than the 94mm from the MTB world for this purpose! Nice low Q factor, too.