In the 70's I was a poor jr. high and then high school student. I just could not afford campy. The best LBS in town didn't even display campy stuff - what's the point ?? Probably 4/5ths of the people in the midwest could not afford any campy at all - certainly not at LBS prices! The display case had mainly french parts and suntour/sugino.
My first purchase was a Suntour VGT (to replace a simplex prestige rear mech, which had snapped) My second purchase was to replace the simplex shift levers when they snapped !!! Used shifters, CAMPAGNOLO, from a swap night at the UIUC cycling club meeting, they cost $12 ~ the brand new price was $18 !!! yikes !!! Even $12 me was a horrific amount of money (1/8th the value of the entire bicycle the shifters were being installed on ...)
My campy collection did not grow for another 4 years, until I lucked out and got a used schwinn paramount for 25% of brand-new price due to a bit of incredible luck assisted by 70's hyperinflation (brand new price in 1980 : $1075, owner paid: $675 in 1976, I paid: $300) And who did the paramount belong to? One of our town's most successful lawyers, that's who.
- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA