THanks for the info on the RD. I'll probably do the suntour option from my parts bin. I love that Simplex RD....the other one I have has migrated through two bikes now. It's just smoooooth....very French feeling, I guess.

On this bike, the stem & bars (and brake levers/housings and brakes) are aluminum. I also have a '73 Conti & the bars & stem on that bike are also aluminum...but by then it was all 'Schwinn Approved' stuff and had stem shifters, safety levers and a seriously (IMHO) ugly huge front crankset w/ a guard.

Oh....should the '60 have a form of quick release hubs?