My friends Scott and Nan Steketee routinely used quad set-ups in the 1980s on their tandems. It cut down the shifting on the then-standard 1/2-step + granny. On one, I believe they used a Bill Boston-modified Campy front, but I don't remember for sure. Scott and Nan are very level-headed folk, and NEVER did things for show. Their bikes were very carefully set up for intended service, including riding with their two boys.
Most of us didn't find it necessary, but I trust their judgment, and believe that the quad front served a legitimate purpose for them.
harvey sachs mcLean va
Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2006 14:45:31 -0500 From: Gilbert Anderson <cyclestore@aol.com> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Re: CR TA Quad Crank Message-ID: <9a60c7d32b4dbd64c8b5fc747231f19d@aol.com> In-Reply-To: <MONKEYFOODJXrRjbDt300003256@monkeyfood.nt.phred.org> References: <MONKEYFOODJXrRjbDt300003256@monkeyfood.nt.phred.org> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; delsp=yes; format=flowed MIME-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v624) Precedence: list Message: 4
Mike, Four chainwheels might have been the standard instead of 10 rear sprockets if someone had made a derailleur to handle the spread. I don't necessarily think this would have taken off when introduced as triple chainwheel bikes were not very common at the time. No front derailleur I know of would shift the width well and never carry the range that is listed. Also the rear changer would be working overtime
wrapping chain if the cluster was not small.
Still very very cool.