I guess I must have put the original DA sidepulls on my 1973 LeJeune very soon after buying it new in about the first year they came out then (I've since restored the original Mafac brakes). If the original gruppo with the original CP brakes came out only in 1973, then the CP brakes either had a very short product life or overlapped the original SP's. I remember the World Voyageur also, with the CP Dura Ace brakes. I think I've told the story a couple of years ago, but in the early 70's I was a member of the Outspokin Wheelmen in Youngstwown,OH, a club cofounded shortly before by Arnie Nashbar. Arnie was still selling bike parts out of his garage then , but got a bunch of club members a deal on World Voyageurs. They were full Dura Ace, with the Dura Ace centerpull brakes which if I recall correctly actually had "safety levers" as the devilish devices were then known. I think all the ones Arnie got were sort of International Orange.
I think there was a 25th anniversary DA gruppo. Did that come out in 1998? Or maybe it was a 20th anniversary gruppo in 1993?
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
> Lou Deeter pointed out this Flandria on Ebay...
>
>
>http://ebay.com/<blah>
2761&rd=1
> >
> >Hard to believe this one hasn't attracted more interest, particularly
given
> >it is NOS, 30 years old and has original DuraAce parts. I didn't even
know
> >DuraAce was made in 1970!! I would have pegged this bike for mid-70s
> >given the
> >parts. Is the seller a listmember? Lou Deeter, Orlando FL
>
> I don't think Shimano knew Dura Ace was made in 1970 either
>
>
http://dura-ace.shimano.com/
>
> According to Shimano's web page:
>
> 1972
> Known as a maker of serviceable light alloy components for sport and
> recreation bicycles, Shimano sets up a product development program aimed
at
> producing a world-class road racing component group.
>
> 1973
> The first generation Dura-Ace components are introduced. They use the
Crane
> Derailleur, a precursor to the Dura-Ace model, which features Shimano's
> double-pantagraph (dual-spring) design. "Dura" from the duralumin alloy
> used in production, and "Ace" simply meaning The Best.
>
> The components are first raced in Europe by the Belgium Flandria team
whose
> members include well known cyclists Walter Godefroot, Freddy Martens and
> Michael Pollentier. Out of the 12 teams in the Tour de France, 9 ride
> Campagnolo, 2 ride French Components and one team rides Shimano. The team
> captured stage victories in the Tour de France, the first for any Japanese
> component manufacturer. Later in the year Freddy Martens rides a Dura-Ace
> equipped bicycle to a second place finish in the World Road Championships.
>
> 1974
> Shimano becomes a major sponsor of the Shimano Flandria and Shimano US-Pro
> teams.
> ***********
>
> Pretty nifty bike, no? Even if it is a later-than-1970 bike.
>
> Couple of points... First gen DA came out with centerpulls and side pulls
> followed. Also rare and interesting... Black Dura Ace. I know of a NOS
> black crank with really clean packaging in de box...
>
> My 1973 Schwinn World Voyageur is outfitted with 1973 Dura Ace, high
flange
> hubs and all. Still looking for the right levers though.