Peter Kohler wrote:
>
(cut)
> Chuck: I'd happy to defend the peerless Sturmey-Archer hub gear against all
> comers. I'll show up with my 1948 RRA with a four-speed FM (1950) alloy hub
> with Conloy Asp rims and Harden front hub. You can have your pick of any
> four/five-speed 1948-50 derailleur on the mount of your choosing.
> Preferably an Italian one with lots of vowels. I'll keep the quick release
> celluloid mudguards on even for racing so you won't get spattered on from
> behind.
As event organizer I wasn't planning on entering, but since you're making this personal...
I'll be riding with the dominate racing derailleur in '49 and '50, the Simplex Tour de France 4 and 5 speed; the pick of Fausto Coppi, Kubler, Schotte, Bevilacqua, and Magni ('49 Giro, '49 Tour, '50 Tour, and '50 Worlds all won using Simplex TdF derailleurs).
My mount: Bianchi mod. Tour de France of course!
Forget your mudguards... of no value in SoCal except in the month of January. Steep climbs, so it would be a good idea to keep in mind Sheldon Brown's admonishment to never stand and ride out of the saddle with a Sturmey-Archer in the interests of keeping your "plumbing" in tact and operational. Oh, and that there is a distinct possibility that you're going to lose to someone older than yourself.
See you in July then Peter (remember your sun-block).
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California
.