Hi John, Yes, I remember bending a right hand open C lever.......though in themdays we were not aware [well,I wasn't] that there was a difference in the levers in respect to the letterings....but I do recall having to hold down the lever whilst in bottom gear on one of the many steep Yorkshire climbs....resulting in the lever bending!
As much as I [we] love old Campag gear levers.... the levers slipping was all part of everyday riding.......sometimes with potentially disastrous consequenes........like the day I was riding my 'on topic' Rotrax with Super Record gears on arguably Englands hardest climb..Hardknott Pass in the lake district [Norris will know this climb I'm sure?].....just before the climb kicks up to 30% I was on 42x21 when the inevitable happened.......had I been strapped in with clips and straps I would have either fallen into the path of a following car, or down a steep ravine! fortunatley I was on Look clipless pedals and was able to get my foot down before remounting, select the 25 cog and 'heave' my way up the climb.......this was in 93..........now I'd probably need at least 38x27 !!
cheers
Kevin Sayles
Breidgwater Somerset UK
>
>
> My experience is that the "Open C" variety had a thinner area at the base
> of each lever, but I never felt as though they bent easily- certainly not
> bendable unintentionally while shifting gears... !
>
> I've owned dozens of bent levers, but has anyone ever unintentionally bent
> a Campy shift lever while simply changing gears?
>
> John Barron
> Minneapolis MN USA
> http://www.velostuf.com
>
>
> Harvey Sachs said:
>
> May I draw your attention to the DT shifters (4th picture down)? The
> rear lever has a very common shape for the era (bent), but not as the
> factory shipped them. Anyone remember when the Genii at Campagnolo
> thickened up the neck so they no longer bent as easily?
> thanks
> harvey sachs
> mcLean va
> (I might still have a couple of those "modified" versions).