45 Years Ago: March 1979 in Bicycling magazine
03-10-24, 01:54 PM
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45 Years Ago: March 1979 in Bicycling magazine
Articles/columns included in this post are:
LETTERS
TECHNICAL Q and A
"Needed: A Sense of Humor and a High Bottom Bracket" is presented in Post #2.
The following articles from this issue were included in past posts:
BICYCLE WORKSHOP What's New at Campagnolo? (Equipment/Product Review (1979) CAMPAGNOLO Grand Sport group)
"Fifty Hours with a Master Builder" (Frames and Framebuilding (1970-1979) Bruce Gordon)
"Road Test and Evaluation: The $200 Range" (Road Test/Bike Review (1979) Guide to $150 - $250 Bikes)
Otherwise, let me know if you'd like to see something else listed in the ToC and I'll add it in a reply to this post or as a link to a pdf.
LETTERS
TECHNICAL Q and A
"Needed: A Sense of Humor and a High Bottom Bracket" is presented in Post #2.
The following articles from this issue were included in past posts:
BICYCLE WORKSHOP What's New at Campagnolo? (Equipment/Product Review (1979) CAMPAGNOLO Grand Sport group)
"Fifty Hours with a Master Builder" (Frames and Framebuilding (1970-1979) Bruce Gordon)
"Road Test and Evaluation: The $200 Range" (Road Test/Bike Review (1979) Guide to $150 - $250 Bikes)
Otherwise, let me know if you'd like to see something else listed in the ToC and I'll add it in a reply to this post or as a link to a pdf.
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WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
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WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
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03-10-24, 01:58 PM
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03-11-24, 07:22 AM
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I'd be interested in reading Bicycling's take on "Choosing Bicycle Tires," and "Made it Myself." As always, thanks for posting these issues. Always fun and interesting to read.
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Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!
Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com
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03-11-24, 07:52 AM
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Wow, Bicycling was a really good magazine once upon a time. Thanks again for posting all the scans.
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03-11-24, 07:54 AM
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Isn't that Wanda Omelian on the cover? Was the Master Builder article about her?
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1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
03-11-24, 10:49 AM
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That Bridgestone ad, featuring "Synchro Memory Shift" with click shifting and both levers on the right side of the down tube... what the heck was up with that?
... and why don't I remember hearing about this?
My recollection of indexed shifting was that the Shimano Positron was the first commercially successful indexed derailleur, and that was a few years earlier. It placed the indexing mechanism in the derailleur itself. Was this Bridgestone device a variation on that, or were they indexing at the lever?
Digging through my stuff, I see that a 1980 Bike Warehouse catalog had Shimano Uniglide hubs and cassettes, so the foundation for indexed shifting was there.
My copy of The Dancing Chain says that Shimano didn't introduce indexed shifting until 1985 (see page 260).
So what the heck was Bridgestone doing with "click shifting" back in '79?
Maybe it was just a noisy version of friction shifting?
.. and do I need to ask Grant P. to see if he remembers?
Steve in Peoria
(happy to have an excuse to dig out The Dancing Chain and browse through it)
... and why don't I remember hearing about this?
My recollection of indexed shifting was that the Shimano Positron was the first commercially successful indexed derailleur, and that was a few years earlier. It placed the indexing mechanism in the derailleur itself. Was this Bridgestone device a variation on that, or were they indexing at the lever?
Digging through my stuff, I see that a 1980 Bike Warehouse catalog had Shimano Uniglide hubs and cassettes, so the foundation for indexed shifting was there.
My copy of The Dancing Chain says that Shimano didn't introduce indexed shifting until 1985 (see page 260).
So what the heck was Bridgestone doing with "click shifting" back in '79?
Maybe it was just a noisy version of friction shifting?
.. and do I need to ask Grant P. to see if he remembers?
Steve in Peoria
(happy to have an excuse to dig out The Dancing Chain and browse through it)
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03-11-24, 12:34 PM
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WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
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03-11-24, 12:55 PM
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__________________
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WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
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WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
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03-11-24, 03:28 PM
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Very cool, thanks. I think I've seen that photo before and now I know who it really is.
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1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
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03-11-24, 05:04 PM
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I remember that issue and a few years after this article, I worked at a Schwinn dealer and then learned that the Paramounts frames were made by women. I also learned that most of the wheelbuilders were women as well. And that they were fast at getting the spokes into the alternate holes of the hub. When you do that all day everyday you get pretty good at it. They would laugh at me building a wheel.
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03-11-24, 07:56 PM
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The Frostline kits!
Here's one of the pannier. Think to yet have my framed backpack.
Also have stashed somewhere the similar student hosteling program full biking kit + day backpack.
Shortly later really stepped up to some new company and splurged for them fancy baggy Cannondale kit for trip along the eastern US. Ooooooh... haha.
Here's one of the pannier. Think to yet have my framed backpack.
Also have stashed somewhere the similar student hosteling program full biking kit + day backpack.
Shortly later really stepped up to some new company and splurged for them fancy baggy Cannondale kit for trip along the eastern US. Ooooooh... haha.
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03-11-24, 11:41 PM
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Interested in the Touring in Hawaii article if you don't mind.
03-12-24, 05:07 AM
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That Bridgestone ad, featuring "Synchro Memory Shift" with click shifting and both levers on the right side of the down tube... what the heck was up with that?
... and why don't I remember hearing about this?
My recollection of indexed shifting was that the Shimano Positron was the first commercially successful indexed derailleur, and that was a few years earlier. It placed the indexing mechanism in the derailleur itself. Was this Bridgestone device a variation on that, or were they indexing at the lever?
Digging through my stuff, I see that a 1980 Bike Warehouse catalog had Shimano Uniglide hubs and cassettes, so the foundation for indexed shifting was there.
My copy of The Dancing Chain says that Shimano didn't introduce indexed shifting until 1985 (see page 260).
So what the heck was Bridgestone doing with "click shifting" back in '79?
Maybe it was just a noisy version of friction shifting?
.. and do I need to ask Grant P. to see if he remembers?
Steve in Peoria
(happy to have an excuse to dig out The Dancing Chain and browse through it)
... and why don't I remember hearing about this?
My recollection of indexed shifting was that the Shimano Positron was the first commercially successful indexed derailleur, and that was a few years earlier. It placed the indexing mechanism in the derailleur itself. Was this Bridgestone device a variation on that, or were they indexing at the lever?
Digging through my stuff, I see that a 1980 Bike Warehouse catalog had Shimano Uniglide hubs and cassettes, so the foundation for indexed shifting was there.
My copy of The Dancing Chain says that Shimano didn't introduce indexed shifting until 1985 (see page 260).
So what the heck was Bridgestone doing with "click shifting" back in '79?
Maybe it was just a noisy version of friction shifting?
.. and do I need to ask Grant P. to see if he remembers?
Steve in Peoria
(happy to have an excuse to dig out The Dancing Chain and browse through it)
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03-12-24, 09:35 AM
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So what the heck was Bridgestone doing with "click shifting" back in '79?
Maybe it was just a noisy version of friction shifting?
.. and do I need to ask Grant P. to see if he remembers?
Steve in Peoria
(happy to have an excuse to dig out The Dancing Chain and browse through it)
Maybe it was just a noisy version of friction shifting?
.. and do I need to ask Grant P. to see if he remembers?
Steve in Peoria
(happy to have an excuse to dig out The Dancing Chain and browse through it)
- The Uniglide sprockets and chain that sped up shifts and helped prevent hanging on tops of cogs.
- The “Centeron” upper derailleur pulley that allowed slight misalignment between derailleur and sprocket.
- Special cables and cable housing that for more consistent coordination between the shift lever and derailleur.
- Shimano’s tighter specs for dropout and derailleur hanger alignment.
It wasn’t one big thing… just a bunch of little things that Shimano insisted on that created their steamroller in the ‘80’s.
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Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
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03-12-24, 10:37 AM
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thanks Trakhak for that BS article. That one got by me. I'd never heard of it before now.
03-12-24, 10:47 AM
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I don't mind. Here you go.
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03-12-24, 01:43 PM
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Here's an article about Bridgestone Synchro Memory Shift from the Disraeli Gears website.
That's a much better design than I expected... although it seems to be a less elegant than the earlier Positron.
I wonder why Bridgestone thought they could solve this technical problem themselves (with the help of SunTour)? Either they had too much cash laying around or someone really sold the idea to management.
Steve in Peoria
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03-12-24, 01:52 PM
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As above, there were lots of attempts at index shifting, some dating back to the turn of the century. Shimano’s SIS combined several enhancements that made it successful:
It wasn’t one big thing… just a bunch of little things that Shimano insisted on that created their steamroller in the ‘80’s.
- The Uniglide sprockets and chain that sped up shifts and helped prevent hanging on tops of cogs.
- The “Centeron” upper derailleur pulley that allowed slight misalignment between derailleur and sprocket.
- Special cables and cable housing that for more consistent coordination between the shift lever and derailleur.
- Shimano’s tighter specs for dropout and derailleur hanger alignment.
It wasn’t one big thing… just a bunch of little things that Shimano insisted on that created their steamroller in the ‘80’s.
It's the latest thing!
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