[CR]Re: Huret Jubilee weight

(Example: Framebuilders:Tony Beek)

In-Reply-To: <597652.41420.qm@web55913.mail.re3.yahoo.com>
References: <597652.41420.qm@web55913.mail.re3.yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:23:14 -0800
To: Tom Dalton <tom_s_dalton@yahoo.com>, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "Jan Heine" <heine94@earthlink.net>
Subject: [CR]Re: Huret Jubilee weight

>I think we should bear in mind that the task laid before a vintage
>derailleur such as a Jubilee, or even a Super Record, is quite
>different from that presented to a modern derailleur.

Your point is a very good one, and one that is easily overlooked. The Jubilee would not work with index shifting, and neither would the Campy Super Record.

Some of the old touring derailleurs, like the Cyclo or Nivex, probably could be designed to work with modern index shifting, as they are slightly early-shifting derailleurs. Some of these could be made from lighter materials (the Nivex is made from stamped low-grade steel!). The result might be lighter derailleurs than those currently available.

One interesting factor among modern derailleurs is the weight difference among top-of-the-line derailleurs. Campagnolo's Record uses many carbon parts, yet it is heavier than the all-metal Dura-Ace and Sachs models.

Does the Campagnolo derailleur offer something the competition does not in terms of durability, better shifting or rebuildability? Or is it just a case of Campagnolo not pushing the envelope as far as the other companies?

By the way, I do not believe that the difference between a Huret Jubilee and a Campagnolo Super Record (just 60 grams) will make a noticeable difference in the performance of the bike.

A full water bottle weighs 800 grams, and few riders notice their bike being faster when the water bottle is empty. (Of course, if they drank the water, they just have transferred the weight from the bike to the rider, at least until they sweat it out and it evaporates.)

That said, when given a choice, I'll take a lighter component over a heavier one any day, if the performance is similar.

Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
140 Lakeside Ave #C
Seattle WA 98122
http://www.bikequarterly.com