Bob Hanson wrote:
Can someone please explain this piece to me?
This was the relay attachment hinged to the rear derailleur cable guide which would be clamped above your bottom bracket (on the down tube).
Was this intended to simply reduce the distance of travel on your rear barcon shift lever? And, was this useful?... Necessary?... Just a weird French 'truc'?
Nobody else used anything like this, only Simplex, so I assume there was something uniquely quirky about their "cross-commandes" [barcon levers] alone.
Curious if these shifters actually functioned well,... especially with this additional bit of French technology designed into that system. I've never known anyone who has actually used a set.
[Whaddya think, Jerry?]
I am not Jerry, but I formerly owned a Singer with this device. I must say that it worked great with the combination of Simplex bar-end shifters and SLJ derailleurs. Shifting was quick and light, far closer to a downtube shift. Not necessary, but definitely worth having.
Cheers, Mark Ritz Arcata, CA, USA Roasting coffee for the CR Koffee Klatch at Interbike today.