Anecdote: In 1976 while on Bikecentennial, my comrade Eric Spiess rode a custom Lippy across the US. He was pulling a homemade trailer which didn't weigh much but got heavier and heavier as time went on. Every morning when we packed up our group gear and there was something that no one had room for, it was always him that said "Oh, I'll take it" and into the trailer it went. He had built up his bike right before the tour, and had used some kind of Normandy or other French threaded hub, and a Suntour freewheel. It made it nearly all the way across the US, finally stripping when riding over the monstrously steep roads in Eastern Kentucky. Eric was the wheelbuilder of the bunch so just bought a new hub and laced 'er up. In retrospect I am surprised the hub lasted that long.
Curious to know how many list members rode Bikecentennial and what they rode. I rode a 1974 Raleigh International, modified with Phil Wood hubs and Super Champ Mod 58 rims, with the Campy crank but 42-45 chainrings and 14-32 freewheel. Sure coulda used a triple. Our group was TAWK605 (Transamerica West-East Camping, left June 5) and we made it nearly intact, only losing one guy to sore knees after a few days. Everyone else in our group had basic Schwinns, Fujis, Motobecanes and the like with stock wheels etc. Most had wheel troubles but I never trued my Phil wheels, built by Custom Cycle in Missoula. Eric's sister Gretchen was on the trip too, and they had to rebuild her wheel in Missoula. Eric laced it up for her, and then told her to go around and tighten each spoke evenly till they got snug, then he would finish it up. She got about halfway around tightening up each spoke ALL THE WAY until she couldn't tighten any more, and by then of course the wheel was irrevocably egg-shaped and she had to start over with a new rim.
Bob Freeman
Seattle