What the...?
 

Looking through the Elliot Bay Bicycle gallery, ran across a photo of a pretty nice Merckx De Rosa. But... What the heck is that gizmo on the (beautiful) right-hand shifter? I don't get what this could possibly be for. Any ideas?

http://elliottbaybicycles.com/wp-con.../2011/11/2.jpg

It is apparently called 'Portacattaneo' and I remember it and it's use being shown here: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...mpagnolo/page2

Man, you got to be some special kind of effete to need one a them to keep your fingers clean. Looks like it doesn't do anything the top of my left sock can't do lighter and cheaper.



I suspect that's not the point, however.

That is part of a portacatena system. It was for quick removal of the rear wheel. The system would shift the chain onto a chain keeper ring mounted onto the inside of the rear dropout. It took the place of a freewheel cog and apparently never really caught on. Every once in a while you'll see Campy drop-outs with two little tapped holes in the drive side, that is for the portacatena.

Here is an image from flickr:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7170/6...70337e39_z.jpg
Campagnolo Portacatena installed on the Campy 1010/A long dropout by bishopbikes, on Flickr

Here is a picture from Drillium dude, showing the system in action:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/...cd77ca1f_b.jpg

^ This pic is of the second version, with the Campy dropout drilled specially for the ring's installation.

As an aside, blow up the full-bike pic of the Merckx and take a peek at the rear derailleur ;)

I'm currently doing another SR rear derailleur for the gentleman who owns the subject bike. Great guy and he really knows his stuff!

DD

Did you do that derailleur? That's hot.


hey, do you sell as Drillium Revival on ebay? because whoever does that is doing some pretty nice work.

^ Yes, I did the derailleur - thanks! I never thought to do that until the client specifically asked.

"Drillium Revival" is our own Otis here on BF (gotta give him a shout out since he's too modest to do it himself). And you're right: pretty nice work, all right :)

DD

I wanna see the derailler.

Last I looked, there was one on Ebay. $65ish. (Not affiliated with the seller.)

of course he drilled out that peice :)

You're all wrong. It's a built in coke spoon. Ensured accurate doses for the racers.

The intended function of the portacatena was to expedite wheel changes in races: the rider would press the relase button on the shift lever and shift the chain all the way off the freewheel and onto the portacatena device mounted on the dropout. Your team support would them quickly remove the wheel, replace it with a good one and give you a push to start you rolling. The rider would then shift the chain off the portacatena and back onto the freewheel and resume the race.

The idea was good in principle, but it meant sacrificing a cog on the freewheel to make room for the portacatena. Most racers preferred to have the additional cog over the time saving during wheel changes that the portacatena offered, so it never really caught on.

No, that was the "Victory" shift lever that included the built-in coke spoon:

http://www.os2.dhs.ortg/~john/victory-lever-2.jpg

Here you go:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5172/5...ebc9e247_b.jpg

DD

Mmmm. Thanks. That reminds me of this dress that this girl was wearing on this other website...
Actually, I have an NR group that some hamfist tried to drill. This might be the cure.

that thing looks really cool! i'm surprised it didn't catch on more.