> So are you claiming the following?
>
> That after riding 9 road bikes - three from Japan, three from Italy, and
> three from France...all from the 70's...
>
> ...with their paint and distinguishing marks removed...all with the same
> gruppo...let's say Campy NR...
Don't know a thing about Japanese bikes, but if you don't think French and Italian bicycles ride differently and distinctively, I could only suggest you might not own a few of each! My '69 PX-10 is as different from say my '73 Cinelli in handling, weight, ride as chalk and cheese. It's not a question of better, just different. PX-10s ride "lighter" and "faster" (entirely subjective "feel"), climb better (long toptubes) and Cinellis are more "nimble", better on descents and corner much more confidently. The angles are tighter, the fork rake less, the chainstays shorter. So I guess I'd want to climb Mt. Ventoux on my PX-10 and descend on my Cinelli SC.
It's why you don't choose one or another and get both. And why we all have dozens of different bikes, right? I thought that's why we liked CR List machines because they were indeed distinctively nationalistic unlike today when a "Bianchi" and a "Motobecane" probably come from the same factory in Malaysia. No one cares. Nor should they.
More problematic are British lightweights of the same era which emulated Italian designs. Painted the same and with no distinguishing marks, I'd be hardpressed to discern their nationality. And yes there were French machines like the Motobecane Team Champion that blurred the difference to gratifying degree and, if you're fortunate enough to own one, combine the best of both into one sweet ride indeed.
Vive La Difference!
Peter Kohler
Washington DC USA