Originally Posted by
The Golden Boy
When did cantis become popular? (when were they introduced and deemed "better" for these purposes)
My bike history isn't that deep, but my assumption was always that "tourers" always had sidepulls until 1982/83 or so. While the "tourer" concept wasn't really realized until then- I thought you basically had "racing" bikes and "road" bikes. Around the 1980 time came the "sport-touring" that split the difference." I base this off the Trek catalogs.
Close to right?
Depends. Lots of good framebuilders who knew what they were doing used mafac tandem cantilevers on their touring bikes. They became mainstream when the mass-market suppliers (shimano, dia-compe in large numbers, even star and such) started making cheap cantilevers, to emulate what they saw on the top level custom tourers.
The centurion pro-tour had really nice brazed on centerpulls.
That richard sachs doesnt look like a strict touring bike as much as a really nice sport-tourer. Clearance, versatility...but not strictly loaded touring.
If I was speccing a late 70's-early80's tourer: Mafac Cantilevers/Weinmann/DC Centerpulls, TA Cyclotourist/ProVis5, Whatever classy high flange hubs you prefer (preference), Rigida/Weinmann/Wolber 27" hoops, 40 rear, 32 front, Suntour Cyclone/V-GT Luxe rear, Cyclone Front, Suntour BarCons, Tange Seki/Shimano600/Campy headset, Jim Blackburn Racks, Pasela Tires, Suntour Freewheel, Brooks Saddle