Originally Posted by
sced
That's interesting about the ride quality on the Claud. I've read many times over on BF that geometry plays as big of a role as material type on handling and ride, and it would seem that a life time ago frame makers had a really good handle on this. With all of the computer-based engineering tools available these days + other materials there is a better handle on getting the desired frame characteristics while getting the weight down.
I also have a tight geometry tigged Columbus steel Viner (93) racing bike/frame with a steel fork that rides amazingly (hard) like the upright Fastback even though it is 20 years newer and supposedly quite different. For me putting longer rake CF forks on them so that they would give a smoother ride would change their appeal. I think about them like old sports cars where looks and character are almost everything. I'm guessing that's accounts for some of the motive behind the "upgrades" to your Mistral. BTW, what's the life expectancy on that aluminum freewheel?
Years ago I rode thousands of miles on those little black Detto Pietro slippers with the steel Anquitiel slotted cleats mounted by a cobbler. I don't remember any comfort problems with them at all like my recent experience with slotted plastic cleats on a newer shoe. Maybe it's just that I'm now more brittle, but I'm wondering if the slots in the Anquitiel cleats were wider to provide some float.
No argument over the effect of modern design technology, there are some brilliant frames out there! I find it fascinating that with only one basic material (steel tubing of one kind or another), years ago frame builders were able to build in ride characteristics to order, first drawing a blue-print and sending this to the customer for approval before cutting a single tube or filing a lug - at least that's how Claud Butler and Holdsworth both operated up to about 1957, when Claud went bust. My Massi has it's original carbon fork, which absorbs a lot of the harshness of rough surfaces but nowhere near as much as the Mistral or Claud's steel forks. The Viner came without a fork so I fitted what I had to hand. This was a Belgian Jazz Cycletech carbon fork that's a lot more "aero" and flatter than the Massi's and gives quicker handling but a harsher ride, but is quite a good match for the frame's tight characteristics.
You're right about the 'retro-upgrades' to the Mistral: the more it approaches original spec, the better it gets! Just shows that Holdsworth got it right back in 1970. No idea how long the alloy freewheel will last; hopefully a while, because I screwed it onto the hub before discovering that a standard two-prong remover won't get it off! I do have another set of sprint wheels with tubs and a steel block so the bike will be OK but it'd be a shame if I have to scrap a Record high flange hub because I can't get a worn-out freewheel off - still, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.......
It's a long time ago now, but I'm sure I fitted my TA shoe-plates myself, which might account for some of the problems I had back then. I seem to recall trying to align the slot with the mark made by the back of the pedal and then using Araldite and tiny nails I was given by a shoe repairer to fix them to the leather soles. You're propbably right about the Anquetil cleats having a wider slot - mine used to feel like the pedal was welded to the shoe! (Got pretty good at track-standing in traffic though).