The only signicant amount of French stuff that I ever saw on Italian bikes in that period was on the circa 1973 Frejus bikes that someonewas bringing into the New York City and DC areas (and perhaps elsewhere).
These bikes used the aluminum versions of he Simplex derailleurs. Sadly, I don't remember anything about the other components...
Actually, I do remember some mid-range Frejus and Legnano bikes
with the Delrin Simplex derailleurs. That would be a bit
earlier - circa 1967 or so...
Cheers,
Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia (USA)
> This is indeed a revelation that all those top-notch Italian
> racing bikes c.
> 1960 (I didn't say 1940 but who cares) to 1980 were loaded
> with French or
> other non Italian bits. If folks here have Italian machines
> from this period
> with stock French made derailleurs, rims, hubs, seat posts,
> stems,
> handlebars and other essential bits (if you want to include
> disposables like
> bar tape, bar plugs and saddles, I think you're fishing a bit
> but fine...),
> do let us know. As Chuck Schmidt told us even the 1950s
> Italian racing
> machines with Simplex gears, these were of Italian
> manufacture.
>
> Of course some Italian machines did have Reynolds tubing. But
> how many??
> Cinellis with Reynolds are considered unusual if not
> exceptional are they
> not?
>
> And if Jack or others doubt there were indeed ALL Italian
> bicycles, they
> might well look at what's in my bedroom right now. An all
> Italian Cinelli
> complete with broken Cinelli stem. And it's stock
> componentry, too. Columbus
> tubing, Fiamme rims, Campagnolo components, Cinelli stem and
> bars etc.
> Surely I am not the only one with an all Italian bike?? Oh
> the new tyres are
> Vittorias but Thai made. That's because they are new. I could
> have spent
> more and put on Veloflex Criteriums of course.
>
> So it may be "jingoistic crap" but I wasn't the one who
> spec'd this and the
> vast majority of Italian racing bikes of the period. I am not
> sure I'd call
> it crap (I thought we all liked Italian bikes here?!) but
> clearly
> jingoistically and definably Italian.
>
> Peter Kohler
> Washington DC USA
> _______________________________________________
>
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