Seven most elegant bicycle components
02-10-20, 01:09 PM
#101
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Here are a few of mine.
[QUOTE=jdawginsc;21315628]Your seven favorite components in pictures and captions
The standard by which all other derailleurs are judged. The dotted background to the embossed words, then the arrows softly bending around the rectangle.
I do not own one. Have always wanted one. They got it right.
Other than the Nuovo Record, these were heads and shoulders in scupted form above the more staid competition.
Campy Nuovo Record RD = classic look. Shifting not so good with larger gears, but so many high level classic bikes had them. Has my vote.
The Stronglight 93bis. This is my vision of crank perfection, super functional, but looks like high art, 1st runner-up Regular Stronglight 93, second runner-up Stronglight 49. OK, I think this is the SINGLE most beautiful component, period! These cranks and Mafac brakes say C&V to me more than any other components. I miss French bikes (not the threading). I even used Mafac Racers on my old Fuji for a while.
Shimano 600 Arabesque. Agreed!! I should have removed them from my bike before I sold it. They were cheap, beautiful and durable. Had them for 30 years of shifting wonderful with the matching front and dear derailleurs. My first runnerup the Suntour ratchet DT shifters, second runnerup the Simplex ratchets.
And, just look, all of these were (gasp!) silver...
[QUOTE=jdawginsc;21315628]Your seven favorite components in pictures and captions
The standard by which all other derailleurs are judged. The dotted background to the embossed words, then the arrows softly bending around the rectangle.
I do not own one. Have always wanted one. They got it right.
Other than the Nuovo Record, these were heads and shoulders in scupted form above the more staid competition.
Campy Nuovo Record RD = classic look. Shifting not so good with larger gears, but so many high level classic bikes had them. Has my vote.
The Stronglight 93bis. This is my vision of crank perfection, super functional, but looks like high art, 1st runner-up Regular Stronglight 93, second runner-up Stronglight 49. OK, I think this is the SINGLE most beautiful component, period! These cranks and Mafac brakes say C&V to me more than any other components. I miss French bikes (not the threading). I even used Mafac Racers on my old Fuji for a while.
Shimano 600 Arabesque. Agreed!! I should have removed them from my bike before I sold it. They were cheap, beautiful and durable. Had them for 30 years of shifting wonderful with the matching front and dear derailleurs. My first runnerup the Suntour ratchet DT shifters, second runnerup the Simplex ratchets.
And, just look, all of these were (gasp!) silver...
Last edited by Bill in VA; 02-10-20 at 01:14 PM.
02-10-20, 04:56 PM
#102
Hump, what hump?
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No pics, but my nominees are (in no particular order):
Campy monoplanar brakes
Simplex Retrofriction shift levers
Huret Jubilee rear derailleur
Campy Nuovo Record rear derailleur
Campy Super Record cranks
Campy aero seat post
DuraAce 7400 series rear derailleur
Shimano 600 (pre-BioPace) cranks are basically tied with SR cranks for aesthetics.
Campy monoplanar brakes
Simplex Retrofriction shift levers
Huret Jubilee rear derailleur
Campy Nuovo Record rear derailleur
Campy Super Record cranks
Campy aero seat post
DuraAce 7400 series rear derailleur
Shimano 600 (pre-BioPace) cranks are basically tied with SR cranks for aesthetics.
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2010 AB T1X ** 2010 Cannondale SIX-5 ** 1993 Cannondale RS900 ** 1988 Bottecchia Team Record ** 1989 Bianchi Brava ** 1988 Nishiki Olympic ** 1987 Centurion Ironman Expert(2) ** 1985 DeRosa Professional SLX ** 1982 Colnago Super ** 1982 Basso Gap ** 198? Ciocc Competition SL ** 19?? Roberts Audax ** 198? Brian Rourke ** 1982 Mercian Olympic ** 1970 Raleigh Professional MK I ** 1952 Raleigh Sports
Last edited by horatio; 02-10-20 at 05:01 PM.
02-10-20, 06:58 PM
#103
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I've used up my seven, but interesting pieces remain.
600 AX
Is there any metal left?
Speechless at the art...
600 AX
Is there any metal left?
Speechless at the art...
