Barcons for the win.
#26
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1977 was a watershed year for the Super Course. They dropped chrome, went with Sun Tour and Bar Cons. I know they also transitioned to integrated top-of-toptube cable guides in the 1980s in general, but they also discontinued using the name too. I hadn't known of the model with these details before this thread.
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I raced with a VX short cage. The Campy boys in the pack in the pack laughed (sometimes literally), and my Superbe-equipped teammates took gentle pity on my "plight". But that thing shifted reliably every time it needed to, and was only a trivial weight difference from the far more unaffordable componentry. Great derailleur - which is what you can say about nearly every rear one made by Maeda (although the plastic cage on the Alpha 2000 on my commuting bike is fixin' to fail soon.)
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https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
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#28
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I raced with a VX short cage. The Campy boys in the pack in the pack laughed (sometimes literally), and my Superbe-equipped teammates took gentle pity on my "plight". But that thing shifted reliably every time it needed to, and was only a trivial weight difference from the far more unaffordable componentry. Great derailleur - which is what you can say about nearly every rear one made by Maeda (although the plastic cage on the Alpha 2000 on my commuting bike is fixin' to fail soon.)
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52telecaster You must have won all of the good deal bikes this summer in your area!
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52telecaster You must have won all of the good deal bikes this summer in your area!
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I raced with a VX short cage. The Campy boys in the pack in the pack laughed (sometimes literally), and my Superbe-equipped teammates took gentle pity on my "plight". But that thing shifted reliably every time it needed to, and was only a trivial weight difference from the far more unaffordable componentry. Great derailleur - which is what you can say about nearly every rear one made by Maeda (although the plastic cage on the Alpha 2000 on my commuting bike is fixin' to fail soon.)
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I raced with a VX short cage. The Campy boys in the pack in the pack laughed (sometimes literally), and my Superbe-equipped teammates took gentle pity on my "plight". But that thing shifted reliably every time it needed to, and was only a trivial weight difference from the far more unaffordable componentry. Great derailleur - which is what you can say about nearly every rear one made by Maeda (although the plastic cage on the Alpha 2000 on my commuting bike is fixin' to fail soon.)
#37
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#38
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I've thought about that (I had an 84 Trek 420 made of Tange Mangaloy)
None of the makers of manganese alloy tubing really tried to position themselves in the same ball park as 531. As I understand Mangaloy and Ishiwata Mangy and Miyata's Mangalight were all classified as carbon/manganese alloys rather than manganese/molybdenum alloys. As such- they're "better" than hi-ten, but "beneath" CrMo.
In Trek terms (*VERY* generally from 70s/early 80s)
200/300- Hi-Ten
400- CMn w/ Hi-Ten stays and fork
500-CrMo
600- 531 frame with CrMo or CMn stays and fork
700- 531 frame with 531 stays and fork
900- Columbus SL/SP
(yes, the 200/300/400 designation kind of went through changes- and the 600 series was CMn early, then CrMo later until 400 series bikes were built like that in 86... but we're talking generalizations here and the rough idea of the weight/prestige of the tubing) (and yes, "better" is in quotes for a reason)
None of the makers of manganese alloy tubing really tried to position themselves in the same ball park as 531. As I understand Mangaloy and Ishiwata Mangy and Miyata's Mangalight were all classified as carbon/manganese alloys rather than manganese/molybdenum alloys. As such- they're "better" than hi-ten, but "beneath" CrMo.
In Trek terms (*VERY* generally from 70s/early 80s)
200/300- Hi-Ten
400- CMn w/ Hi-Ten stays and fork
500-CrMo
600- 531 frame with CrMo or CMn stays and fork
700- 531 frame with 531 stays and fork
900- Columbus SL/SP
(yes, the 200/300/400 designation kind of went through changes- and the 600 series was CMn early, then CrMo later until 400 series bikes were built like that in 86... but we're talking generalizations here and the rough idea of the weight/prestige of the tubing) (and yes, "better" is in quotes for a reason)
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#39
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I've thought about that (I had an 84 Trek 420 made of Tange Mangaloy)
None of the makers of manganese alloy tubing really tried to position themselves in the same ball park as 531. As I understand Mangaloy and Ishiwata Mangy and Miyata's Mangalight were all classified as carbon/manganese alloys rather than manganese/molybdenum alloys. As such- they're "better" than hi-ten, but "beneath" CrMo.
In Trek terms (*VERY* generally from 70s/early 80s)
200/300- Hi-Ten
400- CMn w/ Hi-Ten stays and fork
500-CrMo
600- 531 frame with CrMo or CMn stays and fork
700- 531 frame with 531 stays and fork
900- Columbus SL/SP
(yes, the 200/300/400 designation kind of went through changes- and the 600 series was CMn early, then CrMo later until 400 series bikes were built like that in 86... but we're talking generalizations here and the rough idea of the weight/prestige of the tubing) (and yes, "better" is in quotes for a reason)
None of the makers of manganese alloy tubing really tried to position themselves in the same ball park as 531. As I understand Mangaloy and Ishiwata Mangy and Miyata's Mangalight were all classified as carbon/manganese alloys rather than manganese/molybdenum alloys. As such- they're "better" than hi-ten, but "beneath" CrMo.
In Trek terms (*VERY* generally from 70s/early 80s)
200/300- Hi-Ten
400- CMn w/ Hi-Ten stays and fork
500-CrMo
600- 531 frame with CrMo or CMn stays and fork
700- 531 frame with 531 stays and fork
900- Columbus SL/SP
(yes, the 200/300/400 designation kind of went through changes- and the 600 series was CMn early, then CrMo later until 400 series bikes were built like that in 86... but we're talking generalizations here and the rough idea of the weight/prestige of the tubing) (and yes, "better" is in quotes for a reason)
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#40
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Just the other day I went to buy a 20 dollar tange champion Japanese schwinn super sport for the suntour barcons.. going to use most of the components for a touring bike I'm building for my girlfriend. The guy was so happy I knew a few things about his old bike that he ended up giving me a trek (my gfs size!) 520 frame and a NOS suntour cyclone derailer. Great day. So yes barcons for the win.
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Just the other day I went to buy a 20 dollar tange champion Japanese schwinn super sport for the suntour barcons.. going to use most of the components for a touring bike I'm building for my girlfriend. The guy was so happy I knew a few things about his old bike that he ended up giving me a trek (my gfs size!) 520 frame and a NOS suntour cyclone derailer. Great day. So yes barcons for the win.
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The higher end 700 helicomatics were found on some Treks and have some differences as pointed out by JohnDThompson in this post,
https://www.bikeforums.net/21916563-post41.html
The labyrinth seals, bigger ball bearings, and better cones make them much better.
The 6 speed helicomatic freewheels I have work pretty well with Shimano indexed shifters as well.
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Long have I been a fan of Barcon shifters. The Suntour Barcon...
in my mind is much superior to the Campagnolo version...
But the absolute best Barcon that I have ever used are fitted to my Jamaican Bianchi. Indexed and offers a perfect shift, without hunting for that sweet spot, every time...
in my mind is much superior to the Campagnolo version...
But the absolute best Barcon that I have ever used are fitted to my Jamaican Bianchi. Indexed and offers a perfect shift, without hunting for that sweet spot, every time...
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