----- Original Message ----- From: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2004 9:29 PM Subject: Re: [CR]Competition GS Path Proving
>
> So, yes, maybe I'm a little sensitive to being named in your
> tongue-in-cheek comment, but over the years this has been a very touchy
> topic and the basis for some flame wars too.
>
> Chuck Schmidt
> South Pasadena, Southern California
Gosh, the CR List has "Flame Wars"? I thought those were reserved for really intense pursuits like pillow sham collector chat rooms.
I had better rein my enthusiam for Raleigh, Sturmey Archer et. al. lest I get "flamed" too. That would be enough to get me off on my bike no matter windy or cold it is.
Getting back on topic... do you or others know how these components were chosen by the big manufacturers? I mean did Campagnolo come to Raleigh in the 1960s and peddle their wares or did Raleigh come to them? Ditto Huret etc? Or did cycle manufacturers pick based on what discounts/delivery time etc. they were offered? Surely it was not "We only want the absolute best, no matter what." I mean that would mean bikes made in some Elysian Field of Perfection.
Some manufacturers (or shall we say assemblers) seemed to offer a veritable smorgasbord of components from every maker and country whilst other tended to concentrate on a few. The French and Italians seem to be most rigourously nationalistic in their choices (and who can blame them for that) but what of the others?
Peter Kohler
Washington DC USA