Many thanks to all who responded to my query both on and off-list. (I'm afraid this is likely *not* the last question I'll have regarding my on-going efforts to restore my '71 Colnago Super...making an accurate replica fork in the process. Thank you all for the continued help.) To provide a bit of the backstory: After a long search, I obtained all of the necessary bits to build a fork that will look *really* close to what originally came on my early Colnago frame. Not the Cinelli MC style, which showed up in '72 (first blank, then with clover), but a semi-sloping, 'scalloped' shape crown with four points and two holes drilled on the sides/shoulders. I took measurements from 2 different Colnago Super forks from '70-'72 and made a fork with identical specs (rake, brake drop, etc.) After finishing final alignment yesterday, I threw a brake and a wheel on...Just out of curiosity. "Uh-oh." I think I might have mistakenly assumed that all Campy brakes of the era were standard/long reach and was surprised when a long reach did not fit the fork I made. My conclusion was that perhaps the bike was built for two different brakes. Is it possible that in fact BOTH brakes really ought to be short reach? Were short reach Campy brakes even available in 1971? I'll need to take a close look at the frame tomorrow and see what makes sense for the rear caliper. If a short reach fits the back, then I suppose I've answered my own question... If not, then I am glad that others have suggested that it was not completely uncommon for bikes to be built with differing drops in the front and rear. Coulda sworn I had heard that somewhere...and am relieved that I might not be losing my mind after all. Maybe.
Matthew Bowne Brooklyn, New York
> From: devotion_finesse@hotmail.com
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 08:05:42 -0500
> Subject: [CR] Short Reach Front, Long Reach Rear?
>
> Do my eyes deceive? Or is it really possible that this early 70's
> Colnago Super is built to accept a short reach front brake
> caliper...and a standard reach in the rear? Am I missin' something
> here? Or was this a common practice for builders of the era? If so, why?
>
> Matthew Bowne
> scratchin' my head in
> Breukelen, New Amsterdam
> (BKNYC)