I haven't ridden many of the Lawee bikes you mention,
but I do have a mid-range Intalvega that rides
wonderfully for what it was designed to do and so
supports your thesis. Skilled frame-smiths seem to be
able to make something wonderful out of almost
anything. I suspect they work with the sexy tubing
largely to save a few ounces and get the cache of the
tubing sticker, so they can charge top dollar, all the
while muttering to themselves that its the fit of the
geometry and stem plus the wheels that make the ride,
stupid. I'm not sure tubing snobs get this.
Don Wilson
Los Olivos, CA
> I'm gonna weigh in with some Ben Lawee-designed
> Motobecanes:
> 1973 Grand Jubile - Nervex lugs and the full Jubile
> derailleur set, and it
> was a cushy ride
> Orange "Luis Ocana" Team Champion -- perfect race
> bike, topped only by 1981
> Team Champion, in baby blue Columbus tubing and full
> Super Record/ Cinelli
> equipment.
>
> I've ridden those, and a bunch of other sought-after
> CR bikes -- Italvega,
> Raleigh Pro Mk. III and IV, rapid-taper stay Raleigh
> International, a lot of
> Motobecanes like Grand Record, Le Champion and Grand
> Jubile, and some of the
> high-end Univegas at the end of the CR timeline.
>
> BUT, what I haven't seen here is any recognition
> that Ben Lawee was a
> freekin genius of frame design and bike spec' ing.
> Even the cheap bikes he
> designed rode well. My current commuter/"fixie"
> (yes, that dreaded term) is
> a Motobecane Super Mirage within CR timeline.
>
> Earle Young,
> Madison, Wisc.
>
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>
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>
D.C. Wilson 805.688.8696 dcwilson3@yahoo.com ----------------------------------------------------------- Note: This message may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the addressee or authorized to receive this for the addressee, you must not use, copy, disclose or take any action based on this message or any information herein. If you have received this message in error, please advise the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete this message. Thank you for your cooperation. -------------------------------------------------------------
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