Road Test/Bike Review (Oct 1972/Feb 1973) Buyers' Guide
02-07-23, 05:19 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central Florida, USA
Posts: 1,991
Bikes: Litespeed (9); Slingshot (9); Specialized (3); Kestrel (2); Cervelo (1); FELT (1); Trek (2)
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 436 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
999 Posts
Road Test/Bike Review (Oct 1972/Feb 1973) Buyers' Guide
The Oct 1972 and Feb 1973 issues of Bicycling! contained articles titled "Bicycles '72" and "Bicycle Showcase" respectively.
They were also identified as Parts 1 and 2.
Because the format is somewhat foreshadowing larger, more informative articles in Bicycling titled as Buyers' Guide, I'm just going to be a lumper
and combine both here and call it a Buyers' Guide to provide for easier searching later. Inserted below is the first page of the Oct 1972 and Feb 1973 articles.
The introduction on these pages provides a glimpse of the production and delivery uncertainties during the early 1970s bike boom.
The combined articles are available for downloading as a pdf here for the next couple of weeks or so: https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...gS?usp=sharing
They were also identified as Parts 1 and 2.
Because the format is somewhat foreshadowing larger, more informative articles in Bicycling titled as Buyers' Guide, I'm just going to be a lumper
and combine both here and call it a Buyers' Guide to provide for easier searching later. Inserted below is the first page of the Oct 1972 and Feb 1973 articles.
The introduction on these pages provides a glimpse of the production and delivery uncertainties during the early 1970s bike boom.
The combined articles are available for downloading as a pdf here for the next couple of weeks or so: https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...gS?usp=sharing
__________________
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
Last edited by SpeedofLite; 02-07-23 at 08:19 PM.
Likes For SpeedofLite:
02-07-23, 08:51 PM
#3
Le Crocodile
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Santa Barbara Calif.
Posts: 1,873
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 370 Post(s)
Liked 787 Times
in
311 Posts
I absolutely love the Benotto Half Racer. Not only did it come in assorted colors, but the "sport brakes" sealed the deal!
I just noticed the abbreviated fenders. What a cool bike.
I just noticed the abbreviated fenders. What a cool bike.
02-08-23, 12:08 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,378
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2485 Post(s)
Liked 2,956 Times
in
1,679 Posts
02-08-23, 12:34 AM
#5
Crawlin' up, flyin' down
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Democratic Peoples' Republic of Berkeley
Posts: 5,658
Bikes: 1967 Paramount; 1982-ish Ron Cooper; 1978 Eisentraut "A"; two mid-1960s Cinelli Speciale Corsas; and others in various stages of non-rideability.
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1027 Post(s)
Liked 2,531 Times
in
1,059 Posts
My first ten-speed was a Benotto, and from the snippet, I'm reasonably sure it was s Half-Racer. Mine was green, not white, with blue decals - it looked great to my teenaged eyes. It has a Suntour Honor RD, like the text says (although that does not look like a Suntour mech in the photo), a cottered crank (as in the photo) and alloy side pull brakes (Weinmanns, as i recall). It was my gateway drug, and it led to a barn-find ~1961 Bianchi Competizione and then a Bob Jackson. The bar, stem and a few other parts from the Benotto went to those two in turn. A great bike? Maybe not. But I was excited to get it and I can draw a straight line from it to the bikes I have today.
__________________
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
Likes For bikingshearer:
02-08-23, 09:35 AM
#6
Cat 6
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Mountain Brook, AL
Posts: 7,482
Mentioned: 27 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 500 Post(s)
Liked 183 Times
in
118 Posts
It covers my Gitane Interclub, right at the price I paid. Included a pump and some other goodies at that price. And also the TdF I wanted, but didn't have enough extra lawnmowing earnings.
Also helps explain the Atala Competizione I picked up recently. Article shows "heavy" Columbus tubing versus "light" on the one level up Record model. I'm assuming the Record was SL, the Comp was SP (it came with a 26.8 post from the factory)
.
Also helps explain the Atala Competizione I picked up recently. Article shows "heavy" Columbus tubing versus "light" on the one level up Record model. I'm assuming the Record was SL, the Comp was SP (it came with a 26.8 post from the factory)
.
__________________
72 Frejus (for sale), Holdsworth Record (for sale), special CNC & Gitane Interclub / 74 Italvega NR (for sale) / c80 French / 82 Raleigh Intl MkII f&f (for sale)/ 83 Trek 620 (for sale)/ 84 Bruce Gordon Chinook (for sale)/ 85 Ron Cooper / 87 Centurion IM MV (for sale) / 03 Casati Dardo / 08 BF IRO / 09 Dogma FPX / 09 Giant TCX0 / 10 Vassago Fisticuff
72 Frejus (for sale), Holdsworth Record (for sale), special CNC & Gitane Interclub / 74 Italvega NR (for sale) / c80 French / 82 Raleigh Intl MkII f&f (for sale)/ 83 Trek 620 (for sale)/ 84 Bruce Gordon Chinook (for sale)/ 85 Ron Cooper / 87 Centurion IM MV (for sale) / 03 Casati Dardo / 08 BF IRO / 09 Dogma FPX / 09 Giant TCX0 / 10 Vassago Fisticuff
Likes For Ex Pres:
02-08-23, 03:42 PM
#7
Senior Member
Man, the bike industry has changed!
I actually paid less than listed for my Gitane Gran Sport - $125 instead of $130 in 1972. I coveted an Atala Competizione, but the label said 531 frame tubes and it was a beautiful royal blue and white. I eventually bought one, but it was stolen. I still mourn the loss.
As always, thanks for bringing back these documents.
I actually paid less than listed for my Gitane Gran Sport - $125 instead of $130 in 1972. I coveted an Atala Competizione, but the label said 531 frame tubes and it was a beautiful royal blue and white. I eventually bought one, but it was stolen. I still mourn the loss.
As always, thanks for bringing back these documents.
