[CR] Bad design collections, was Re: FREE: Lethal Phil Hub Brakes & Parts

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:11:09 -0500
From: "Harvey Sachs" <hmsachs@verizon.net>
To: <info@m-gineering.nl>, Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR] Bad design collections, was Re: FREE: Lethal Phil Hub Brakes & Parts


Wow! I've already had 6 requests for my 3 Phil brakes, and promised to hold off until 24 hr. after digest publication. For example, Martin Gerritson noted that he needs one for his collection of broken bicycle dreams.

Martin's right, of course, and we each should have a small collection of perverse designs, of which the Phil brake is a fine example. Notably, my own box includes several of Campagnolo's not-the-brightest designs:

--> NOS 1-pulley, top-sprung "Sport" derailleur, with a range that spanned from 16 -22 teeth. Beautiful, elegant, stupid design, but maybe the best 1-pulley ever.

--> The Gran sport front deraileur, designed to capture grit from everywhere and pull it into its body to jam the piston.

--> The Gran Trashmo touring derailleur, hammer, and boat anchor, destroyer of fun.

But, I'll allow putting the Huret Allvit in that collection, too. Elegant concept if awkward way to get the jockey to track the freewheel. But, its triumph was to maximize the sliding friction between parts at the outer part of the range, when the spring action was weakest.

I'm sure that others have even better examples. And that my attacks on icons will generate some strong dissent. :-)

harvey sachs mcLean va ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Marten Gerritson wrote:

Oh please, please, pretty please could I have one*)?

First of all I'll cart it around the globe for you firmly out of reach of all the US liability courts. No more sleepless nights on account of this one!

It then will be reverently placed in the M-gineering collection of broken bicycle dreams, where it will gather dust (yes this /is/ a bachelor household ;) ) along with such milestones as a Strida (slower than a pair of Nikes, bigger when folded, and free of course), Formula diskbrakes (red anodized, fit no frame known to man), hubs designed to leave the freewheel in place introduced well after the advent of the cassettehub and several disasters of my own which need no further explanation. It will feel right at home!

Then, with no hills within a 100 mile radius to remind it of it's failed mission in life, the brake will be able to slide gracefully in retirement