Jerry wrote:
Yes, Chairman Bill does sell almost entirely Italian stuff. And his comments about Thevenet's bikes are absolute BS. If you read the wording carefully, it is fairly obvious that Chairman Bill had not himself ridden the French components he so blithely badmouths. I have riddem each and every component he mentions, but French and Campy, and I can assure you he doesn't know what the hell he is talking about.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Houston, TX
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Gee Jerry. Did you ride the stuff mentioned by Chairman Bill in a sprint against Merckx in the Paris-Roubaix? If not, then you may be the one who doesn't know what he's talking about.
Pushing stuff to the limit as a strong, experienced pro-level rider is a little different than the kind of riding most of us do.
Sounds to me, overall, like Chairman Bill may have a little more experience in these matters than most of us, if not directly, then from riders who did/do. Pro riders.
And, after all, Chairman Bill hardly has an axe to grind at this point. All the stuff in question is no longer made.
Finally, everything he said makes sense in my experience, especially the comments about the poor workmanship on the pro-level Peugeots of the period. I've seen plenty, and owned a few, and they're slap-dash production bikes at best. Sure you can race 'em, and people did. They had good legs, too, as Chairman Bill points out.
Charles Andrews
soCal