[CR]Schwinn vs. Raleigh

(Example: Component Manufacturers)

From: Donald Gillies <gillies@cs.ubc.ca>
Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2004 22:53:57 -0800 (PST)
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Schwinn vs. Raleigh

I hold in my hand a genuine 1974 schwinn catalog and a genuine 1975 raleigh catalog. Let me see ... Campagnolo ... Campagnolo ... Where can i find the words Campagnolo ??

Schwinn Catalogue Mentions Campagnolo 4 times the P-14 has "Campagnolo Hubs" the P-15 has "Campagnolo Front" the P-10 has "Campagnolo Nuovo Record 10 speed derailleur" the P-13 has "Campagnolo derailleur gears"

Raleigh Catalogue Mentions Campagnolo 33 times

Where I grew up, there was a Schwinn dealer (2 shops), and a Raleigh dealer (2 shops). At the Schwinn shop the Paramount was an exotic, rare bike and the dealer didn't understand it because he sold stingrays all day long. he had one hanging in the window. If you asked about Paramount, he tried to convince you to buy a Varsity or Contental off the floor.

In my town, the Raleigh dealer had the competant mechanics, and he had at least 3 or 4 pro-level bikes on the floor, and the dealer understood lightweight bikes and could talk about french or british or italian components and explain why it was the Campagnolo components were the best ones available in the early 1970's. You went into the shop and even if you bought a Raleigh Record, the Bottom of the line, it was lighter than all Schwinn models except the Paramount.

- Don Gillies
San diego, CA