Actually, If you just changed out the Nuovo Grand Sport RD for an NR, it would be a very nice bike. The RD with a cheap stamped steel jockey cage was the Achilles heel of the otherwise pretty nice Nuovo Grand Sport gruppo. Of course, as a Francophile, I prefer the previous version of the Competition, with Huret Jubilee derailleurs, Normandy Luxe Competition hubs and TA cranks. Of course, as a Zeus fan, I also like the yet earlier Competition with Zeus equipment.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
> Peter,
> I have a Competition GS and I think I prefer it to the Pro.
> I think The Comp GS is a little under appreciated, probably because of the
Gran Sport parts.
> The only Camp. GS part on mine is the headset.
> Built with all Record parts one wonders why you need anything "better".
>
>
>
> > From: "P.C. Kohler" <kohl57@starpower.net>
> > The Comp GS was the last new and really successful lightweight built in
> > Nottingham; it seems like yesterday when I saw my first one in autumn
'78 at
> > Cycles & Sports here in Washington.
> >
> > This is just a wonderful machine.. now I know it elicits chuckles if not
> > sneers from the cognoscenti with their handbuilt trophy bikes, but the
Comp
> > GS is just a little pocket rocket. A thoroughly gratifying combination
of
> > Italianite frame geometry, choice components and British road handling
and
> > finish... yes the Brits could make a nice bike in the late '70s. Honest.
> >
> > And whilst I am not selling my Sturmey Archer shares, I.. well... ok,
these
> > derailleur things work jolly well. They still look like the inside of a
> > pinball machine but ok, so they're light and versitile. So far, I'll
side
> > with Chuck Schmidt in worshipping at the Campy altar. The Gran Sport
shifted
> > beautifully even with an amateur like me. Smooth, swift and sure. Of
course
> > as a hub gear guy used to 3 or at most 4 speeds, I never tried the full
> > range of gears... I think I shifted gears three times on varied 20-mile
run
> > and used maybe three different gears. I mean seriously... how can any of
you
> > guys ever use all these gears??
> >
> > And a full credit to my local bike shop (The Bike Shop at District
Hardware)
> > on this one... she got a thorough overhaul and adjustment yesterday and
I
> > know I should do everything myself, but when you have the best friends a
> > British bike can have a few blocks away, why fool around? This came back
as
> > perfectly as adjusted and sweet running as any bike on the planet.
> >
> > So a nice addition to my stable in the end. Best to burn all of the
bills
> > though and concentrate on the roadracing to come. When the wind dies
down.
> >
> > Peter Kohler
> > Washington DC USA
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
>
> Pete Geurds
> Douglassville, PA