[CR] The mid-70's front-wheel QR bike?

(Example: Production Builders:LeJeune)

Date: Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:01:52 -0600
From: "earle.young tds.net" <earle.young@tds.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR] The mid-70's front-wheel QR bike?


Don Gillies asked: If you worked in a shop back then, what would you say to the customer to justify the bike ??

When I sold bikes with QR front, it was an upgrade over nutted front. It made it easier to put the bike in the trunk of a big American car. A casual rider was more likely to tackle a front flat than a rear flat with "all those gears and things." This was especially true when dropouts did not have derailleur hangers. On an inexpensive bike, the first bolt to rattle loose and get lost was the derailleur hanger bolt, which made taking off the rear wheel a daunting chore for sure. One of the common early Saturday chores was replacing the hanger bolt, then reinstalling the wheel, airing the tires and oiling the chain for some middle age guy going out for his annual ride.

Earle Young
Madison, Wisc.