Well, the old 40's/50's/60's Cyclo (Benelux) RD's and I think maybe all the pre-parallelogram, cable operated RD's of that era including Simplex and Huret operated that way, but I've never heard them called "rapid rise". I was surprised by the action the first time I rode a 50's bike with this type of RD, but if you study the design a bit it is obvious that this basic design is easiest to execute if you pull back on DT shifters to move the chain outward.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Houston, TX
Doug Stephens <dougstephens@dougstephens.net> wrote: Folks,
I'm wondering, does anyone know of a long cage "rapid rise" rear derailleur that existed in the late 70's, early 80's?
That is to say, a rear derailleur where pulling cable shifts you to a smaller cog on the freewheel?
With my bar end shifters I've come to like the concept of pressing down to shift down to a lower gear. "Downshift" I say as my wobbly legs struggle up the ubiquitous hills here. A rapid rise rear derailleur lets me accomplish this.
Thanks,
Doug Stephens
western Mass.
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