Mick; I caught your remarks on the Novus Ductor, and the comfortability of the ride. The article I mentioned from Bicycling in 1986 of my Novus Ductor was very complimentary torward the Ductor, and in comparison to a Somec, 3Rensho and one other racing bikes being tested in the same article, the riders found the Ductor comfortable, with good handling and cornering. They mention Jack Denny and his Vibrant or Curly stays, and wish they had a straight stayed model to compare it to, conjecturing whether there is actually something to the theory of comfort generated by the vibrant stays.
Best regards, Peter Naiman Glendale, WI
Michael Francis Butler <michaelbutler@fastmail.fm> wrote: Steve,
You are correct in saying the term "Over the top" is British in origin.
This phrase was coined when our brave Tommie's and our Colonial and
Empire soldiers were taking on alone the might of the Austro Hungarian
Empire
in 1914. The saying originates from trench warfare. The modern version
OTT "over the top" is decidedly American in origin, think you might be
confused on this.
The Hetchins Vibrant triangle to use its correct name and along with
other notable frame designs and innovations were bold attempts to
improve
bicycle design. These might have not worked but that was the reasoning
behind them.
I have to disagree about the Italian bike statement and possibly the
French one as well.
Italian and French bicycles were instantly recognizable from British
frames when I first stated riding in the late 50's. A Legano or a
Heylett stuck out like a sore thumb when outside our cycling cafes and
stops.
Regarding the Hetchins Novus Doctor and time frame, I know this is
possibly not a real Hetchins probably made at Jackson's by then but
surely this qualifies for KOF under list rules or are British frames
excluded from this category?
One word of praise on Hetchins and the curly stays if you ever
rode over the stones (cobbles)in the City of London by the old
Biilingsgate Fish Market you would really appreciate them. They did make
for a very stiff responsive frame (in the smaller sizes) and helped me
speed over these with ease.
On the open road I could see no discernible difference but they were
originally made when most of our London roads were stone cobble sets!
Finally you also said "This says quite a bit about how the country's
industry
couldn't get its act together back in the 1960s. This might be so but
Hetchin's successfully gave and supplied what the customer wanted for
over 50 years most of its competitors had long vanished. This sustained
the busineess. Shame that your once great General Motors doesn't do the
same and take a leaf out of the Hetchins book and make and sell the
product the American public wants.
Best wishes Mick Butler Hunts. UK
PS. Carlton put top line Capella lugs on many cheapo frames, they were
not alone in the British sector in using what ever they had to hand to
solve cash flow problems and use up old stock.
--
Michael Francis Butler
michaelbutler@fastmail.fm