I am looking at using a different crank for Eroica california next april due to the difficulty of the long route and being in gravel, I want any advantage I can get by with. I would like to use a crank set close or that could of been realistically used on my 81 campy equipped bike. The strongllight 80 fits the bill in that it can be equipped with a 28-54t chainrings and they aren't difficult to find or expensive. Would the 80 be a sufficient replacement for the early 80's? I've seen strongllight timelines, but can't see or find a production date for the model 80. Thanks.

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With respect to dating -

Verot's model nr. 80 does not appear in their catalogue of 1982 yet the model 99 is still there. So it seems reasonable to figure its launch was after that year. If you wished to employ a Verot product with the 86mm BCD it would seem more correct to go with one ot the 99 iterations.

Also a note of background information - for readers who like the 86mm BCD but also like the "olde tyme" look of the 50.4mm five-pin sets Verot began offering an adaptor chainwheel in 1977 which permits one to fit 86mm BCD chainwheels to five-pin sets.
It is part of a set called model "49Tn" and is part nr. 490T:



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The BIS version of the Stronglight 99 is still catalogued as late as 1984, with no Stronglight 80 in the catalogue, so that would appear to push the date out even further.

As long as it is before 1987 I am ok.

There's a lot to be said for the stronglight 99 for an eroica build. Chainrings are available from spa cycles in the UK at reasonable prices.