Bob: Thanks again for some interesting examples of brake usage on vintage bikes. I wanted to know how to tell the difference, upon observation, of the Weinmann Carrera 400 and the 600 model. There is significant difference in the drop of the arms. The 400 is like a compact with a 'reach' of 52.5mm and the 600 with a 'reach' of 60mm. BT
Bob Hanson <theonetrueBob@webtv.net> wrote: Doug, I have a Mafac catalog, a copy dated 1978 [reprinted by Chuck Schmidt - Bravo Chuck!] and it does indeed show the Mafac LS side-pull which Jerry had mentioned, as well as the Mafac "2000" center-pulls which was basically "updated" Competition model with finger guides. But, you might also have found the Weinmann model 605, or the Carrera side-pulls on decent quality French bikes by that time too.
While many of the earlier Weinmann sidepulls were "reversed" (meaning their cables entered on the opposite sides of the calipers) these were in line with the predominant convention of cable set-up long adopted by Campy, Shimano, and most everyone else by this time.
CLB had a great many side-pulls and center-pulls available by that time too. Just from my own observation though, the quality seemed spotty by this time... perhaps simply a sign of the already financially declining French component business in general. I've seen very few CLB calipers in superior condition still in circulation, so good luck finding them, anyway.
Shimano and Suntour were already very present on many French bikes as standard OEM components, but I'd tend to agree with your choice of going as French as possible on the build-up.
Here is a public photo gallery page I just posted showing some of what I just mentioned above (Their "slideshow" seems to work nicely with an Internet Explorer browser).
http://www2.snapfish.com/
The Weinmann 605 model is shown mounted on one of my own mid/late 1970s bikes, and the odd looking Q/R is what they had adapted from earlier the "D" shaped slider often seen on their earlier center-pull Q/R hanger mechanism. The Carrera uses a more "modern" Q/R design.
The two CLB pages are from my catalog dated 1975 on the cover, and they had even more individual side-pull models listed for 650B bikes and even for childrens bikes in their "Sulky" branded line.
Good Luck
Bob Hanson Albuquerque, NM, USA
------------------------------- From: "Doug Van Cleve"
It is a Cycles Gitane Vuelta. I have never seen nor heard of another. It is full double butted Vitus tubing, don't recall exactly what though. As I said, it was full Shimano 600EX but we thought it would be more fun if it was all/nearly all French. Now it has Simplex Super LJ derailleurs and TA cranks with (I think) the Criterium chainrings. I see that there was a US model in '78 that was mostly Campy with Weinmann 605 sidepulls. I am not really looking for what a Gitane might have had, rather what French brakes would be period correct for a nice but not top of the line French bike. Could be that Racers would be a reasonable choice but I would prefer sidepulls. Thanks! Doug Van Cleve Chandler, AZ USA
On 12/27/06, Jerome & Elizabeth Moos wrote:
> You don't say what model Gitane. Pretty sure MAFAC Racers were still
around in 1978, but had been pushed down to mid-to-low end bikes.
Better models would have had MAFAC Competition, the successor to the
Racer and only a moderately different design. Not sure if MAFAC LS
sidepulls had come out yet in 1978. Other possibilities would be CLB
CP's or SP, although the better SP's are very rare now. Some French
builders also used Weinmann CP or SP although these brakes were Swiss,
not French.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
> Big Spring, TX
>
>
>
> Doug Van Cleve wrote:
> Howdy folks,
>
> My brother has a Gitane that was purchased new in Paris in 1978 by my
uncle for my dad (who never really rode it). It was originally all
Shimano 600EX 12 speed except for the seatpost. Over the years we have
switched it to all period correct (I think) French stuff except for the
Sugino seatpost (put back on when the Simplex alloy kept slipping) and
600EX headset (kinda cool, don't have proper headset tools). It has
Campy Gran Sport brakes, but I am wondering what it would likely have
had if it were sold all French? I would think that it is new enough that
it wouldn't have had Mafac Racers. Any ideas?
>
> Thanks and happy New Year :^)
>
> Doug Van Cleve
> Chandler, AZ USA
_______________________________________________
Bruce Thomson Spokane WA 99204 (509) 747 4314 Masi3v4me@yahoo.com
---------------------------------
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