GSAstuto
Maximum Pace
- Oct 11, 2009
- 974
- 253
Well, I managed to open Dillinger's Tomb and drag out some of my old gear, including my 1985 SL team bike. After some dinking around, I got it back enough into rideable shape to to do some riding.
Briefly:
Frameset is Columbus SLX with some hand formed tubes that were typical of team bikes back in the day. These bikes were made under direction of the team's DS and actually made by several small jobber factories. This is how it was done for more than 3 generations, and only a few frames were actually made by an individual, including many of the 'famous' Italian brands you know. The result was the frameset was agnostic and built to spec based on highest overall craftsmenship in the section. So - frame is from one company, tubes from another, fork another, plating, another, dropouts another, etc.
Groupset is pretty standard fare of the day. Campagnolo Super Record Ti. The Ti meant some parts were using Titanium like seatpost, derailler mount, pedal axle, BB axle. This lowered the weight a little more than steel and offered more durability that alloy.
Wheels - Being Italian, we were fond of NISI Countach and Sludi rims. The spokes were handformed, cut and threaded from Italian stock maker. Brass nipples and of course Campy hubs. Even 32h was considered pretty radical and I had most my wheels built 2X which was considered only for lighter riders. Needless to say, they were very rugged - and the weight is not so bad. Maybe 1700gr for full set - with steel axle Campys !
Gearing - not many options existed. Everyone rode 42 /52 or 53. I had a 41T chainring cause I did lots of hills. On the cluster side, we rode 6sp Regina or Campy freewheels. Any variation of 12 - 24 . More than 24T would generally require a different derailer cage to handle the teeth. Chain was almost always Regina or Sedisport . Lustfactor was a Regina Titanium !
Ride - only 1 word can describe these older bikes - SMOOTH. Compared to alloy and carbon bikes now, these bikes are maglevs on the road. A little heavier, a little slower in the sprints, but over the long haul, they are so smooth. Of course there is little attention to aerodynamics - but that was addressed with some newer versions and especially wheel designs with deeper dish. The obvious evolution of the steel roadbike must be the titanium roadbike. They are very similar in ride quality with the Ti bikes having an edge on weight.
The groupset shifts with authority and is very positive. By comparison, the 'brifter' feels mushy and only benefit I can see is the indexing, which is not really required anymore than a pianist needs to see the notes labelled on the keys.
Brakes are very positive and linear action. Clamping power is as high or low as you want.
to be cont..
Briefly:
Frameset is Columbus SLX with some hand formed tubes that were typical of team bikes back in the day. These bikes were made under direction of the team's DS and actually made by several small jobber factories. This is how it was done for more than 3 generations, and only a few frames were actually made by an individual, including many of the 'famous' Italian brands you know. The result was the frameset was agnostic and built to spec based on highest overall craftsmenship in the section. So - frame is from one company, tubes from another, fork another, plating, another, dropouts another, etc.
Groupset is pretty standard fare of the day. Campagnolo Super Record Ti. The Ti meant some parts were using Titanium like seatpost, derailler mount, pedal axle, BB axle. This lowered the weight a little more than steel and offered more durability that alloy.
Wheels - Being Italian, we were fond of NISI Countach and Sludi rims. The spokes were handformed, cut and threaded from Italian stock maker. Brass nipples and of course Campy hubs. Even 32h was considered pretty radical and I had most my wheels built 2X which was considered only for lighter riders. Needless to say, they were very rugged - and the weight is not so bad. Maybe 1700gr for full set - with steel axle Campys !
Gearing - not many options existed. Everyone rode 42 /52 or 53. I had a 41T chainring cause I did lots of hills. On the cluster side, we rode 6sp Regina or Campy freewheels. Any variation of 12 - 24 . More than 24T would generally require a different derailer cage to handle the teeth. Chain was almost always Regina or Sedisport . Lustfactor was a Regina Titanium !
Ride - only 1 word can describe these older bikes - SMOOTH. Compared to alloy and carbon bikes now, these bikes are maglevs on the road. A little heavier, a little slower in the sprints, but over the long haul, they are so smooth. Of course there is little attention to aerodynamics - but that was addressed with some newer versions and especially wheel designs with deeper dish. The obvious evolution of the steel roadbike must be the titanium roadbike. They are very similar in ride quality with the Ti bikes having an edge on weight.
The groupset shifts with authority and is very positive. By comparison, the 'brifter' feels mushy and only benefit I can see is the indexing, which is not really required anymore than a pianist needs to see the notes labelled on the keys.
Brakes are very positive and linear action. Clamping power is as high or low as you want.
to be cont..