Feb 1982 Bicycling Magazine: Merckx and Gimondi interviews, 10 bike reviews
05-18-21, 09:03 AM
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Feb 1982 Bicycling Magazine: Merckx and Gimondi interviews, 10 bike reviews
1982 seems to have been the year that Bicycling decided that they needed to up their game! This issue has 120 pages! Among those many pages are 10 bike reviews and interviews with Eddy Merckx and Felice Gimondi.
There is an article "Know Your Brakes, part 2", written by Sheldon Brown and John Allen too!
And of course, there is a bit of advertising. Lots of advertising. After so many years, these ads have become an interesting look into the development of technology and trends.
first, the table of contents
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Next, the interview with Merckx and Felice Gimondi
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next post (or two): the bike reviews!
Steve in Peoria
There is an article "Know Your Brakes, part 2", written by Sheldon Brown and John Allen too!
And of course, there is a bit of advertising. Lots of advertising. After so many years, these ads have become an interesting look into the development of technology and trends.
first, the table of contents
high res version: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...30fb97_k_d.jpg
Next, the interview with Merckx and Felice Gimondi
high res version: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...665afa_k_d.jpg
high res version: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...cdd413_k_d.jpg
high res version: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5a9edf_k_d.jpg
high res version: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...12e2f5_k_d.jpg
high res version: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6004b3_k_d.jpg
high res version: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...32908d_k_d.jpg
next post (or two): the bike reviews!
Steve in Peoria
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05-18-21, 09:05 AM
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Road Tests!
Bicycling decided to go all out on road tests in this issue. The bikes tested include:
two from Bianchi; a Japanese "The Limited" and an Italian built "Nuovo Racing" model,
the Lotus Super Pro,
the Panasonic DX-2000,
the Redcay Tandem,
the Ross Signature Touring,
the Saintropez 710,
the Schwinn Super Sport,
the Trek 728,
the Univega Specialissima
That's a lot of road tests, and the text of the reviews is presented in this order. The reviews are somewhat brief, no doubt due to cramming them all into one issue. The photos are confusingly scattered in a somewhat random order. Don't expect them to make much sense.
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and a break to fit within the rules on how many images can be inserted into a post.... to be continued.
Steve in Peoria
Bicycling decided to go all out on road tests in this issue. The bikes tested include:
two from Bianchi; a Japanese "The Limited" and an Italian built "Nuovo Racing" model,
the Lotus Super Pro,
the Panasonic DX-2000,
the Redcay Tandem,
the Ross Signature Touring,
the Saintropez 710,
the Schwinn Super Sport,
the Trek 728,
the Univega Specialissima
That's a lot of road tests, and the text of the reviews is presented in this order. The reviews are somewhat brief, no doubt due to cramming them all into one issue. The photos are confusingly scattered in a somewhat random order. Don't expect them to make much sense.
p66
high res version: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...009625_k_d.jpg
p67
high res version: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...791959_k_d.jpg
p68
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p69
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p74
high res version: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e47946_k_d.jpg
p75
high res version: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...fb78c8_k_d.jpg
and a break to fit within the rules on how many images can be inserted into a post.... to be continued.
Steve in Peoria
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05-18-21, 09:07 AM
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more of the road tests/reviews....
p76
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and just one more post to finish up the road tests/reviews......
Steve in Peoria
p76
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and just one more post to finish up the road tests/reviews......
Steve in Peoria
05-18-21, 09:09 AM
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and the conclusion of the road tests!
p90
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Anything else you'd like to see?
The whole magazine is already scanned, so posting it is no trouble.
Steve in Peoria
p90
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p95
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Anything else you'd like to see?
The whole magazine is already scanned, so posting it is no trouble.
Steve in Peoria
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05-18-21, 09:37 AM
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It's interesting to me how a Campy Super Record group set was $600 which with inflation would be $1660.00 now. Where as a modern Campy Super Record group set is $4500. Ouch!! But the "Bike storage locker!!!" I don't know about you but I could totally go for one of those. it's the perfect gift for the bicycle hoarder near you!
05-18-21, 09:48 AM
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however, it's still interesting to check the prices.
$71 for a Campy SR rear derailleur! That's why I was using SunTour Cyclone back then... and SunTour Superbe.
The Mavic SSC rims at $165!! I can only hope that was the price for a pair.
Steve in Peoria
05-18-21, 10:56 AM
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I'll take a case of those $6.95 Sedisport chains.
Sign of the time -- both the Super Sport and Trek reviews lament the "limited" availability of 700C tires, relative to 27".
Pretty sure you can dial that number for Yellow Jersey and it'll still ring there. Wonder if Ritchey's number still rings.
Sign of the time -- both the Super Sport and Trek reviews lament the "limited" availability of 700C tires, relative to 27".
Pretty sure you can dial that number for Yellow Jersey and it'll still ring there. Wonder if Ritchey's number still rings.
05-18-21, 11:02 AM
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Hey Steve just wanted to give you a big thanks for taking the time to scan these and post them they are sure are a joy to read and I wanted to let you know your efforts are appreciated.
Hope to meet you out pedaling someday.
Hope to meet you out pedaling someday.
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05-18-21, 02:42 PM
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I enjoyed the read especially of the 1982 720. I rode a 1983 720 across the US in 1998. I did the ride with 2 bags in the rear on a Blackburn rack and 2 upfront with Blackburn lowriders. The bike had rock steady handling. The lowriders helped the bike handle great going downhill. The long chainstays helped you center the weight over the rear axle without running into problems with heel strike.
I currently have and own a 1982 720. The Dia Compe 450s that came stock on the bike are distinctive but it is a PITA sourcing replacement brake pads. I ended up replacing mine with gran compe center pulls that work just fine. My one knock on the bike is that it could use a bit more clearance for a 32c tire and fenders. I haven't done it yet but I think this will make a fine 650b conversion.
I currently have and own a 1982 720. The Dia Compe 450s that came stock on the bike are distinctive but it is a PITA sourcing replacement brake pads. I ended up replacing mine with gran compe center pulls that work just fine. My one knock on the bike is that it could use a bit more clearance for a 32c tire and fenders. I haven't done it yet but I think this will make a fine 650b conversion.
Last edited by bikemig; 05-18-21 at 02:45 PM.
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05-18-21, 06:04 PM
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For some reason, I managed to save a handful of Bicycling issues from the old days, and I thought I'd like to scan them before getting rid of them.
(anyone interested in owning these old issues? I already sent my old Bicycle Guide mags to Mr. Speedoflite.)
I've got a bunch of articles from Bicycle Guide and Asphalt magazine that I plan to eventually post too. Maybe some stuff from Cycling Plus too?
Steve in Peoria
(working on scanning my old Rivendell Readers, even though a lot is on the web. There are some great articles!)
05-18-21, 06:28 PM
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The comment about 27" and 700C tires made me wonder when I switched over. In 1982, I was still running some 27" Super Champion model 58 rims.
Among the stuff I've saved is the Bike Warehouse catalog #16, from March 1980. As with a lot of stuff, it's interesting to see just what was for sale then. I'm a bit surprised to see that 700C is pretty common.
Also, there are tires from this new company called "Specialized Bicycle Imports". I wonder what ever happened to them?
Steve in Peoria
