[CR]Re: Classicrendezvous Digest, Oh my DeRosa

(Example: Production Builders:Frejus)

From: <CYCLESTORE@aol.com>
Date: Sun, 7 Nov 2004 12:12:15 EST
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Re: Classicrendezvous Digest, Oh my DeRosa

In a message dated 11/6/04 10:38:53 PM, classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org writes:

<< "Do you wonder if perhaps the reason why the early 1970's SLX DeRosas are so rare, is because these framesets have all broken ?? Quite possibly - after all, the DeRosa in this fatigue-limit test performed the worst out of 20 bikes !! And will we be stuck with TREK OCLV frames for a long, long, long time because apparently they are balanced in a way that allows them to survive many fatigue cycles ??" >>

Hello,

One reason these SLX tubing DeRosa's might be rare from the early 1970s might be the tubing was not yet in use? I seem to remember SLX more of an early 1980's standard maybe late 1970's.

Also comparing a used 30 year old DeRosa (I must see the test to see if he has a source for NOS of the era) and a more recent vintage Trek in a destruction test is a bit unfair in the sporting world.

On the other hand I see Damon Rennard's studies and conclusions in many places. He is a serious gather of weights and measures of components; has a fairly good spoke calculation system and is very convinced that the reason we ride upright bikes instead of vastly superior and faster recumbent cycles (of any material) is because we voted for them on rigged polling machines in OHIO. (OK, just kidding on the last one but he loves those bents and there is nothing wrong with that).

His stuff is always interesting but when science, testing and fact collide the truth is usually somewhere else and future testing reveals why. The problem with any scientific testing on something as complicated as bikes is the variables and human element that must be replicated and or eliminated. There are so many variables not considered. Many of the most highly regarded bicycle engineers in and outside our small industry simply ignore inconvenient testing and often the conclutions of their own work. I do like Berto; usually just the facts like Joe Friday, with any speculative commentary noted as such not presented as conclusions. This type of reasoning encourages people like Renard to take up the analysis torch and carry on more work. I regret his method is not more Frank Berto like.

I mean how do you replicate salt corrosion on an OCLV delamination, over time, with load, it's possible but hard to control and measure. Also, human body chemistry varies a lot. We have people that ride every day together; similar miles, same bike and some have had parts corrode into their frame in 30 days with diligent daily cleaning while the other fellow never do any thing special and have no worries of this. (the first guy can't borrow a bike for a round the block ride; he is like poison). The human is the ultimate variable in he man/machine equation.

Yours in Cycling,

Gilbert Anderson

North Road Bicycle Company

519 W. North St.

Raleigh, NC 27603

USA

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