Originally Posted by
Andrew R Stewart
Back in the 1970s when I was starting out in the LBS world we used the word "resiliency" to describe the advantage of high strength steel with thin walls compared to the more common gas pipe bikes. I would explain that many department store bikes actually had stiffer frames, although less strong and seriously hampered by weight and geometry. But that these more rigid bikes weren't what one wanted to ride for hours at a time.
Then Cannondale came onto the market and that with the 1984 Olympics road race, won by Alexi G and in Colorado yet, shifted the consumer's view of what was the cool ride. The whole touring portion of the market went away and all kinds of boy racers wannabees appeared and thus we have the crazy market we have now. Andy (repeating a rant that he has grumbled about ever since 1985)
‘that above is a bit confusing to me, the ‘84 Olympic road race was won on what appeared as a multicolored Pinarello, with Dura-Ace AX cranks and pedals. I attended that race, near the top of one of the rises.
‘it was too bad that the Soviets did not attend and a few other Eastern Bloc countries, payback for 1980.
the course was based on some of the 1974 Southern California District road championships loop.