Re: [CR]70's vintage triple crankset??

(Example: Racing:Jacques Boyer)

Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 10:45:53 -0800 (PST)
From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]70's vintage triple crankset??
To: Daniel Artley <dartley@baltimorecountymd.gov>, Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <47739A69.CB1D.00FE.0@baltimorecountymd.gov>


Actually, we're both right.

The Avocet triples were drilled with two different inner circles. The one I referred to was 102 mm, just 2 mm larger than Campy NR triple at 100 mm (now why couldn't they standardize that?). The smaller one was 74 mm as you say and would take a 24T ring. The 102 circle would take a 32T. Sutherland's shows 36T as the smallest for Campy NR triple, but they show a Merz ring at 100 BCD as low as 31T. So Sutherlands seems to agree with my recollection that 36T was the smallest ring Campy made, but it seems aftermarket rings for this crank went as low as 31T. Which sort of raises the question of why Campy would produce a triple, then offer no smaller than a 36T ring, when they could have made a 31T, which would actually have been useful on a triple. Perhaps just another example of Campy's poor understanding of the market for anything other than pure racing gear, although the Rally RD is a glaring exception to this. I'd still like to know who at Campy had the insight to produce as good a piece of touring gear as the Rally when they otherwise didn't have a clue.

BTW, I just bought a Stronglight 107 triple right arm. Haven't received it yet, but Sutherlands says that it uses, thankfully, an 86 mm inner circle, the same as the widely available Stronglight 99. Does anyone know what sort of mounting hardware one needs for the mod 107 triple? Will Avocet hardware work?

And, so as to pack as much as possible into one message, anyone know of a REALLY long reach On-Topic brakeset? I'm converting a bike from 27" to 650B wheels, which requires a brake reach 23 mm longer (630-584)/2 = 23. On this frame, the front reach will have to be at least 80 mm. Anyone know of a classic brake set that long? Will drop bolts work on classic CP brakes? Anyone know a source?

Regards,

Jerry Moos Big Spring, TX

Daniel Artley <dartley@baltimorecountymd.gov> wrote: I have to correct Jerry Moos in that Avocet cranks had drillings for a 74 mm. bolt circle, which went to a really low possible gear. I have a 28 toothed Avocet gear on my modified Campy NR crankset. And my answer to the original question regarding 70's triples would be go to a Stronglight 49D or TA w/ TA rings for a true touring set up. The 36 x 32 low gear on the standard Campy triple would be fine for unloaded touring, but wouldn't cut it as well in the mountains with a loaded bike. It's nice to climb a 20% grade relaxed and sitting down, maybe leaning forward to keep the front wheel on the ground. Then again, how many people crossed the country back in 1976 on gas pipe touring bikes with a low gear of 39,40 x 28?

Happy trails,

Dan Artley in Parkton, MD

Archive-URL: http://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.asp?Filename=classicrendez vous.10712.1392.eml Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 08:01:05 -0800 (PST) From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos Subject: Re: [CR]70's vintage triple crankset?? ( http://search.bikelist.or g/query.asp?SearchString=%2270%27s+vintage+triple+crankset%3F%3F%22&S earchPrefix=%40msgsubject&SortBy=MsgDate%5Ba%5D )

The choice may depend on how low a gear you want. The TA Cyclotourist and Stronglight 99 will take about as small an inner ring as anyone is likely to want. Campy made two on-topic triples I'm aware of, the Campy NR triple with inner BCD about 100 BCD and Campy GS triple with 116 BCD. Theoretically, I think the GS should go down at least to 34T and the NR triple to maybe 30T, but I don't think I've ever seen a ring smaller than 36T for either one. Stronglight 93 can be configured as a triple, but the smallest ring I've seen is 38T although I would think a 36T should be possible. Another common On-Topic triple was Avocet/Ofmega. The inner circle is only a few mm different from Campy NR triple, but smaller Avocet/Ofmega rings were made, I think at least as small as 32T.

REgards,

Jerry Moos
Big Spring, TX