Re: [CR] S&S couplers

(Example: Framebuilders:Bernard Carré)

Date: Sat, 27 May 2006 23:30:09 -0400
Subject: Re: [CR] S&S couplers
From: "Doug Fattic" <fatticbicycles@qtm.net>
To: "classicrendezvous@bikelist.org" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>


Hi Duncan,

Well I'm certainly in support of the idea of having a bike that can travel without the need to pay the extra bucks for oversized baggage. Ever since I lived in Japan in 1970 and saw their bikes-that-could-be-put-in-a-bag in their cycling magazines, I've wanted a bike that was travel friendly. Their are several issues you might want to consider in a frame before installing S&S couplers on it. Perhaps you were saying you wanted to do this with a vintage bike to get by the tough and vigilant CR censor :). I would guess that modern Ergo shifting would make the bike more pleasant and safe riding on unfamiliar roads.

First off, you may want to explore someplace with less than perfect roads (like when you come on our annual bike ride in Ukraine - we are going to the Crimea this year. There is still room for you to come) and chose a frame with bigger tire clearance that uses 47 to 57 mm brakes. Your 72 Raleigh probably uses these "regular" reach brakes. As a framebuilder, I've always been a bit uneasy about cutting apart a frame in the thinner center sections (where the butts aren't) to put in the couplers. I know this is done regularly anyway so it probably isn't a problem but tubing wall thickness concerns me some. I don't know if your Raleigh was made out of the heavier 19/22 gauge or thinner 20/23 gauge. Schwinn Paramounts are made from the heavier gauge tubing and part of the reason they could give their lifetime guarantee.

I made a frame for myself that uses S&S couplers. Wheels take up the greatest amount of space so I used 24" wheels. I like the speed of small wheels anyway so their is no disadvantage to me using the little wheels. Of course you can't buy a tire and tube just anywhere but I've never found bike stores all that convenient when I've been abroad anyway. I just take spares. I also used that Reynolds tubing that was available for a while that wasn't butted but had a kind of rifling like the end of steerers sometimes have. That said, I leave it's small box behind and put it in a regular bike box when I go to Ukraine because I've got framebuilding supplies packed around it.

We all vary in the value we put on various older frames. A Raleigh doesn't get my vote as a saver but I'm sympathetic to those that love them because of some connection from their youth. Other good candidates are the older steel lugged Treks - some of which are even on topic. Most of the older ones used 47 to 57mm brakes and don't have racing length chain stays. Probably nobody on this list gives a crap about them but they do have a following and will be collected. Another option is Tom Richey's breakaway road and cyclocross frames and complete bicycles sold through Quality Bicycle Products to your LBS.

Doug Fattic Niles, Michigan

Archive-URL: http://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.asp?Filename=classicrendezvous.10605.1340. eml From: dgranger(AT)comcast.net Date: Sat, 27 May 2006 03:16:27 +0000 Subject: [CR]S&S couplers - heresy? (Duncan Granger)

Hi all,

I have recently become the owner of a 1972 Raleigh Professional (G2564).

I am wondering if it would be heresy to have a good framebuilder install S&S couplers on it. I am looking to have a vintage lightweight with which I can travel - without paying to ship it in advance.

It's wearing non-original paint, so I was planning on having it repainted anyway (which would be necessitated by installation of the couplers).

So, have I gone off the deep end? Would I be doing a "bad thing" to the frame, from a collectors point of view?

Have any of you installed S&S couplers on a vintage frame (esp. full 531db)?

If so, how does it ride?

TIA for your opinions...

Duncan Granger
Mountville, PA