Originally Posted by
KonAaron Snake
I hope CDM will not mind me quoting him regarding the Fignon mythology:
"This is absolutely not true and is revisionist at best. The Fignon incident took place in 1982, the Super Record BB and pedals (i.e. those with titanium axles) continued to be sold for many years beyond this (the BB at least until the introduction of C-Record and the pedals even alongside the C-Record components for at least 2 years). So, Campagnolo did NOT make ANY changes whatsoever relating to the incident. Indeed, Campagnolo even used the titanium axled pedals in their iconic 50th anniversary gruppo in 1983 (hence not that long after the Fignon incident). The Super Record BB and pedals (as opposed to the Nuovo Record BB and Superleggeri pedals) continued to be the highest cost option for these respective parts (when the C-Record pedals came out, the Super Record continued to be offered at a supplement of close to 40%). Campagnolo did not decide it was too fragile for competition, nor that it was too fragile period. To say so is simply wrong and misleading. The truth of the matter is that the Super Record pedals cost an approximate 85 % supplement over the cost of the Nuovo Record superleggeri pedals (according to the 1986 Italian price list that I have) and the Super Record BB cost more than double the price of the Nuovo Record BB (according to the 1984 German price list). These price differences were the factor that limited their availability. Add to this that it was known since day one in the 70's (hence way before the Fignon incident) and readily discussed by Campagnolo itself that the titanium BB's were more flexible and perhaps less durable, and you have a severely limited market for these parts. Your contention that Campagnolo came out with a "Steel Super Record gruppo" in response to the Fignon incident is therefore totally baseless and wrong. In their price lists, Campagnolo offered all components individually as well as in "gruppi" [groups in English] and "sottogruppi" [sub-groups in English]. The price list clearly detailed what was included in each gruppo. In the 1986 price list, there are in fact 5 different C-Record gruppi, 2 different Super Record gruppi, 2 Nuovo Record gruppi, 2 Victory gruppi, 2 Gran Sport gruppi, and 2 Triomphe gruppi. After the listing of all of the various gruppi there is a note to the effect: Please note: when not ordering the complete gruppo, the prices of each single component will be applied. This section is then followed by numerous sottogruppi that packaged various selections of components under the headings "dearilleurs", "hubs", "chainsets", "BB's", "headsets", "pedals", "toe clips", "seatposts", "brakes", freewheels" and "rims". This section is then followed by single components or parts. The oldest price list that I have seen that included Super Record components (from 1977 or 1978) shows two distinct Super Record road gruppi and two distinct Super Record track gruppi. Component-wise, the two Super Record road gruppi differ in the BB and the pedals. Price-wise, there is a 20% discount if you were to forego the 75 gram savings given by the Super Record BB and Super Record pedals over the steel BB and Nuovo Record superleggeri pedals. Furthermore, the Fignon incident did not get overly much media coverage at the time of the incident. Most news outlets simply stated that he had broken his BB axle, with absolutely no mention of either the brand or the model. I would love to find out what the first mention in the press of it having been a titanium Campagnolo BB."
I was away from bikes a bit from late 1979 to 1984. Somewhere in there Campagnolo did redesign the Super Record Bottom bracket spindle, going from a hollow unit that used the longstanding bolts to a solid unit that used steel nuts. I don't know when that change happened. the redesigned spindle was stiffer, but the cost as noted above in the quote above was the big factor in keeping the steel parts in demand. A few clients bought the super Record pedals and came back to exchange them when they got knee pain, retuning to the steel spindle pedals solved their problem. Why Campagnolo kept the same profile for both parts alludes me, just retaining that little bit more diameter at the root of the pedal would have stiffened them up considerably.
For a brief period (1979 patent date is seen most often) there was a lighter Super Record rear derailleur, Campagnolo went to aluminum alloy pivot bolts due to price and or delivery problems with ti.
The C-Record parts we first received used a steel spindle too, just the Super Record aluminum cups and required the smaller diameter bearings for reference.