In a message dated 1/19/2003 12:52:23 AM Eastern Standard Time,
CaptBike@sheldonbrown.com writes:
>
> The Lark was rather heavy, due to its all-steel construction, but its
> shifting performance was years ahead of everybody else. The Eagle
> was the same derailer with an extra heavy-duty hanger and a built in
> bash guard. The Hurét Alvit was wimpy by comparison!
>
>
That bash guard!!
It was also a 'keep-'em-in-low' device when it got bashed hard and kept the
'gorilla' from going back out again.
The analogy that comes to mind is my fear of steel-toed shoes EEkks! Drop something that causes it to crunch in and ''Osha dat smarts and is a toughy to escape"
The 'Lark W' was another funky one. Two cable and springless, Can anyone say 'White Industries or Rohloff'
All the Japanese derailleurs around bikeboom one era were so far ahead of the others- the Svelto and Allvit had tricky pivot screws to adjust and un-jam, and the 'Striplex' Prestige developed 'Simplex Droop' that few of us experts knew how to re-tension with an allen key and a 14mm cone wrench.
Larky Black
Woodbine, Md.