Re: [CR]Old vs New

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Chater-Lea)

Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 10:35:21 -0800
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "Jan Heine" <heine93@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Old vs New


>
>The "debate" between which is the better racing set up, SA or
>derailleur, was settled approximately fifty years ago Peter. No need to
>repeat the mistakes.
>
>Chuck Schmidt
>South Pasadena, Southern Calfornia
>
>.

Indeed, the French had an annual race, called the Poly de Chanteloup, to figure these things out. It was a circuit - two steep hills on it, multiple laps. The formula changed over the years (the race was held from the 1910s until the late 1960s or early 1970s), but a few things were found quickly:

1. On a hilly course, variable gears provide an immense advantage. (Henri Desgranges, "father" of the Tour de France, must have hated it!) 2. Being able to shift while pedaling forward is good, too. Flip-flop rear wheels won a few times in the early days, but not after 1925, when "real" derailleurs became popular. Cambio Corsa et al. probably never bothered to start. 3. Derailleurs outperform hub gears under racing conditions. SA et al. actually started quite a few times through the 1920s, but never made it to the podium.

It was a fascinating event. In later years, it had a pro race, a randonneur event (with fully equipped bikes) and a mixed tandem event. The mixed tandem event was won by Lyli Herse, with varying captains, many times in a row (I believe every one of them between 1949 and 1956, inclusive, but I'll have to check my records).

Beyond derailleurs, I disagree with Bob that modern systems provide an advantage over old ones. Sure, a shift may take a split-second longer with a non-ramped freewheel, but in practice, that isn't a concern. Maybe in a time trial, where you could shave 2 seconds over 100 km - even that not enough to determine the outcome. I really don't want to bring up our PBP experience again, but we shifted many times on the 300 hills that dot the course - and the Cyclo derailleur is a design dating from the early 1920s! Shifts almost as well and as smoothly as most moderns. Now imagine a Nivex-equipped tandem! (We couldn't find a Singer in our size, so we used the Herse.) The moderns may be easier to use (marginally), they may be easier to procure, some may be lighter, but they aren't faster.

Back to the Poly de Chanteloup - I love the 1957 tandem race: Three Rene Herse tandems filled the podium, but Lyli only was second (that captain never was used again!). I know of the whereabouts of two of the tandems, and hope to find the third, for a grand reunion some day! I also have spoken to two of the teams, and hope to get to the third soon. It'll all be in VBQ, of course.

--
Jan Heine, Seattle
Editor/Publisher
Vintage Bicycle Quarterly
http://www.mindspring.com/~heine/bikesite/bikesite/