Re: [CR] FUJI "Retro" road bike for 2009

(Example: Humor:John Pergolizzi)

Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:35:19 -0400
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "John Betmanis" <johnb@oxford.net>
Subject: Re: [CR] FUJI "Retro" road bike for 2009


At 08:18 PM 26/08/2008 -0600, Mitch Harris wrote:
>What a great bike. Thanks for posting it.
>
>The quill stem is a good surprise. I didn't expect to see that from a
>major builder.
>
>Even the crank resembles the vintage ones from SR, Sugino, etc., that
>were N.Record lookalikes. At first from the photo I thought it might
>be a revival of the ones that had an arm swaged to a spider, but the
>specifictions list says it's a forged crank. Looks like it's a 130
>bcd, and I hope it's available separately on the market.
>
>Too bad the fork has straight blades. Otherwise nice crown and
>forkend details though.
>
>Noticing they put the sifter braze-ons pretty far up the downtube,
>about and inch or two further up than downtube shifters usually go. I
>wonder if this is part of making dt shifters more accessible for
>cyclists used to brake/shift levers who think they won't be able to
>reach.

Looking at the picture, that crank does look like a swaged assembly with a stamped sheet aluminum spider, but the description says otherwise.

I didn't notice the straight fork. That's too bad, those look so "cheap". Somewhere (BQ?) I read that the straight blades are actually better for shock absorption. If so, why weren't they used decades ago? To me, it would seem that straight blades would concentrate the load at the crown joint, but I can't really prove it.

I'm not familiar with "brifters" but those brake levers sure look like them. I wonder if they actually have the shifting function disabled to use the downtube shifters.

(sorry about the premature send before I was done)
>> http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb300/ypvs/Connoisseur.jpg
>> Sizes:49cm, 52cm, 54cm, 56cm, 58cm, 61cm
>> Colors:Blue/Chrome
>>
>> Mainframe:Fuji Double Butted Cro-Mo, Lugged
>> Rear Triangle:Fuji Cro-Mo Custom tapered, Lugged
>> Fork:Fuji Cro-Mo, 1" Threaded Lugged
>>
>> Crankset:Fuji Alloy Forged 42/52T Chainrings
>> Bottom bracket:Sealed Cartridge Bearing ST
>> Pedals:Fuji Alloy Platform w/ toeclip
>> Front derailleur:MicroShift FD-R52
>> Rear derailleur:MicroShift RD-R44S
>> Shifters:Sun-Race SLR63 for downtube
>> Cassette:Sunrace, 12-25t, 8-speed
>> Chain:KMC HG-73
>> Front hub:Formula Alloy,Sealed Bearing, 32H, QR
>> Rear hub:Formula Alloy Sealed Bearing, 8-speed, 32H, QR
>> Spokes:14G Stainless Steel
>> Rims:Alex RDP15, Double Wall, 32H
>> Tires:Continental Ultra Sport, 700 X 23c
>> Tubes:Fuji Presta
>> Brake set: Dia-Comp BRS -101, Dual Pivot
>> Brake levers:Tektro R200A
>> Headset:Tange Sealed, 1" Threaded
>> Handlebars:Fuji Alloy
>> Stem:Fuji Classic Alloy Quill
>> Tape/grip:Fuji Custom Classic Eva Foam
>> Saddle:Fuji Classic Comfort w/ Rivet
>> Seat post:Fuji Micro-Adjust Alloy, 27.2,300mm

John Betmanis
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada