Correction, that was the Schwinn World Voyageur.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
<classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2004 8:15 AM Subject: Re: [CR]Re: ...Shimano Myth or Truth??? (a view from 30 yrs ago)
> Actually, we've just been discussing two examples of original Dura Ace
> speced as OEM. The Schwinn Voyageur and the Flandria I just bought on
> eBay. I can add a third - the Fuji Ace introduced circa 1974. Frame very
> similar to the Newest, but all Dura Ace rather than SunTour/Sugino. I'm
> sure there were others.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "john jorgensen" <designzero@earthlink.net>
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 11:32 PM
> Subject: [CR]Re: ...Shimano Myth or Truth??? (a view from 30 yrs ago)
>
>
> Of Shimano & resistance: View from a bike shop 30 years ago.
>
> Shimano was interesting to watch, working their way up the quality & price
> point ladder. The bike shops first saw Larks & such from dept. store
bikes.
> By the time Dura-Ace was not just vaporware, it was rarely (can¹t recall
> ever) specified by the OEM¹s. Teledyne was the first to endorse it with
the
> equipment featured in display ads on a built ³pro² bike. Shimano for its
> part did make special bits for Teledyne, such as the oversize top tube
cable
> clips and seatpost binder bolt.
>
> The problem with Shimano was lack of spare parts availability & support.
A
> shop could not depend on getting small replacement bits, this was later
> addressed by an order direct scheme, a shop could order from Shimano to be
> billed through a distributor of one¹s choice. Also, threading was easily
> available in British, sometimes Italian, if one wanted other than 36 hole
> hubs...well, Chain rings were a problem as well, Shimano had an idea for
> 52/39 rings, as their spider allowed but it was an idea whose time was not
> yet. Alternate ring sizes were not easily avail. as they were with the
> others.
>
> The basic verdict for 1st generation Dura-Ace, good brake calipers once
toed
> in. Brake levers on a par with Weinmann. Nice hubs, (had chromed oil clips
> and outer nuts) smooth but durability then suspect. Crank arms nice, BB
> variable, Headset, good but heavy & only British treading. Rear
derailleur,
> nice but Suntour shifted better, Front was harder to keep in adjustment
than
> Campagnolo. Everything worked better with Campagnolo cables & housing.
> Dura-Ace ten for the track was neat but expensive and very unobtainable.
> Recall that Shimano¹s first attempt at index shifting was Positron, with
the
> front freewheel system!
>
> As Shimano progressed, the shop¹s saw a pattern of reinvention and
> abandonment, a shop would be reluctant to inventory after quickly learning
> that they could be quickly orphaned stock.
>
> John Jorgensen
> Palos Verdes, Ca.