Peter Kohler wrote:
OK, here's a dumb question... if the Sedisport bushless chain was considered the best back in 1980 for the new alloy freewheels, can it be presumed that all decent quality chains on the market today (Shimano, Sedis etc.) are suitable for alloy freewheels which are now far more common in use?
A few points...
First an answer to your question. To the extent that bushingless chains tend to elongate less as the miles add up, they are better suited to alloy FWs than chains with bushings. And yes, "all" modern chains derailleur bikes are bushingless.... as far as I'm aware.
Additional points: I don't think alloy FWs were new in 1980. Like everything else that has been made in aluminum alloy when it really shouldn't be, I suspect alloy FWs were originally a product of the French technical trails world, and I'm sure they predate 1980.
Aluminum alloy freewheels are not "far more common in use" today. They were never common, really, but I'd say their use peaked out in the 6-speed or 7-speed era of the 1980s. Modern lightweight offerings from Campy and Shimano have titanium cogs, or a mix of steel and ti, mounted to an aluminum core. This is far more rational materials use. Aluminum alloys, while not well suited for the cogs of older drivetrains are especially ill suited to new, ultra-narrow configurations with ramps and bevels and precisely profiled teeth. I think there are a couple of aftermarket offereings of alloy-cogged casettes for modern drivetrains, but nothing that can be taken seriously. Performance Bike Shop offers one, and I suspect that they are counting on the "cheaper and lighter than titanium" factor, combined with their published warning that it is an "events only" part, to sell these to typical (hope to one day finish a century) PBS customers.
Back in the day (in the 80's) alloy freewheels were considered to be special use equipment. Along with your sub-300 gram rims and hand-made silks, you might stick one on your bike for certain races, or perhaps for all races if you were rolling in the green. In fact, I'd classify the addition of an alloy freewheel as a step further into the realm of high tech exotica than superlight wheels and handmade tires and more akin to the use of titanium-spindled bottom brackets. Like ti BBs, alloy freewheels were seen by some as fine-for-the-weak, but not suitable for stronger riders.
Personally, I'd be reluctant to trust any alloy freewheel, particularly the Maillard (all alloy!), to keep me from plunging suddenly to the pavement on a hard climb. If you can afford the extra weight of the Brooks, I'd recommend paying the weight penalty for an old steel freewheel. The steel version of the Maillard is still pretty unusual, and a whole lot more practical.
This being said, I have alloy FWs from Maillard, Zeus, Everest, and Suntour in my collection. And I'm on the lookout for deals on Campy, Gippemme, Regina, but they are curiosities that sit on my shelves.
Tom Dalton
Bethlehem, PA
Washington DC USA
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