In Praise Of The Simplex Prestige Front Derailleur - A Modest Proposal
( this letter should be read with strong musical accompaniment , perhaps excerpts from an opera , preferably something by Wagner , and of course , with tongue firmly in cheek )
I have grown quite tired of those who would malign and verbally misuse the Simplex front derailleurs which were so commonly seen and experienced on various bicycles of the early to middle 1970's , including the Raleigh Grand Prix .
Of course I am speaking of the Simplex Prestige front derailleur , with it's simple and secure "push-rod" operation , and it's largest body part carefully cast of the black , DuPont space-age plastic resin material , Delrin .
This black-plastic , DuPont Delrin , push-rod , Simplex front derailleur , was the culminating effort of a long process of design and development .
In this letter you will find the address of a recent eBay auction , for a derailleur which is an earlier effort in the same "family" of Simplex front derailleur designs .
Now this front derailleur from the eBay auction is somewhat more rare than the Simplex devices used on so many bicycles , including the Raleigh Grand Prix .
Also this front derailleur is made of shiny-bright metal , and like the common crow , or the pack rat , or the jabbering monkey , we humans do like any small bits of shiny metal we can pick up in our little prehensile paws .
( I myself do indeed suffer from this same syndrome . And I would very much like to pick up that derailleur from the eBay auction . As a matter of fact , I would enjoy picking it up so much , that I found it difficult not to arrange for a bid to be placed upon it , in the hope of someday being able to hold it in my own little paws ! )
But still !
The later , and more common , front derailleur found sitting proudly on so many bicycles , including my own Raleigh Grand Prix , with it's festive harlequin appearance , of shining metal contrasting against the elegant black of the Delrin resin . . .
The Simplex Prestige front derailleurs are the CULMINATING design !!
The units featuring some parts made of black Delrin plastic were the fully developed product .
Whereas the one in the eBay auction is merely an early effort , made before so much had been learned .
Therefore , look upon the one in the eBay auction . Note well the number of bids . Note also the price .
Now , remember all of this , when next you look upon the fully evolved product , with its synergistic mix of metal and resin ; the Simplex Prestige front derailleur , the sophisticated result of decades of development , and untold hours of research .
The Simplex Prestige , resplendent with its black plastic parts .
Lift your head .
Pedal with pride .
Use it wisely .
Shift it well .
Your Fellow Brother , In The , Secret Simplex Shifter Society
( Ssss . . . . )
Raoul Delmare Marysville Kansas U.S.A.