[CR]Why were there Pista headsets?

(Example: Framebuilding:Technology)

From: Tom Sanders <tsan7759142@sbcglobal.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2007 17:05:06 -0500
Thread-Index: AcdCXzO5HogiBMonRyionTqeQOKW3Q==
Subject: [CR]Why were there Pista headsets?

Strada headsets were obviously up to the task of track racing, as witnessed by the fact that they came as original equipment on Paramount track bikes and I have never heard of one failing. I believe I know why Schwinn used Strada headsets, they were able to standardize their steerers more using only one headset and the "Campagnolo" was plainly visible on the Strada headsets but not the Pista ones. I think Schwinn wanted all the Mojo they could muster.
   Were the Strada headsets less expensive to put on the Paramounts? The question in my mind is why two headsets at all? Was it the weight savings on a shorter steerer with the shorter stack height of the Pista headset that racers were after? This seems fairly minimal, but it's about all I have come up with. I have heard that Pista sets were "stronger", but I have to wonder about this...perhaps it's a myth. Tom Sanders Lansing, Mi USA