Originally Posted by
crank_addict
Did Gipiemme make the Exploit derailleur? I realize of the re-badged Simplex and I suppose as they faded, GPM either produced or had to source a replacement. But here the Exploit shifter is Campagnolo made, and yet the derailleur looks stepped up over the Triomphe and Victory.
Anyways, I think its a neat departure (in some sorts) from the usual all Campy. The hubs are virtually identical to Campagnolo Record with exception to the bearing cones. The cones have a black coating unlike Campy's polished.
Mild similarity~ Victory S3 graphite finish
and image of the rear side cage plate
The similarity to the Campy S3 is compelling. However, I found catalogues on the Gipiemme website and the 1982 catalogue shows the Chrono Special group that I have on my Raleigh. So, maybe the pedals are also Chrono Special, although not the unique ones that were apparently a later year. The derailleurs shown in the 82 catalogue include the Exploit units with the Chrono Special group and the Gipiemme branded Simplex units for other groups. That would make sense since this was the time that Simplex was starting to go down and Gippiemme needed an alternative. The 82 catalogue also shows the indexing shifters that are on my bike. Very, very interesting. I thought that maybe the date of the catalogue was listed wrong, but the Simplex rear derailleurs shown are not the slant pantograph like the Exploit. I would think that the Simplex derailleurs would also be the slant pantograph like they were in the next coup,e years. So, it appears that the Exploit in 82 was correct.