Most over-rated C&V component
10-02-13 | 02:55 PM
#1
Most over-rated C&V component
it's all about slingin' pies at each other here. Everyone has their favorites and everyone has there favorites to hate which other's love. What is the most over rated C&V component? Group?
Let's hear it.
Let's hear it.
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1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
10-02-13 | 03:02 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 7,724
Likes: 4,183
From: Berkeley, CA
Bikes: 72 Cilo Pacer, 72 Gitane GT, 72 Peugeot PX10, 73 Speedwell Ti,l, 75 Peugeot PR-10L, 80 Colnago Super, 81 Zinn, 85 ALAN Cross, 85 De Rosa Pro, 86 Look 753, 86 Look KG86, 89 Parkpre Team, 90 Parkpre Team MTB, 90 Merlin
Campagnolo C-Record in general. I still love it, though I'm not ignorant to its shortcomings. The Delta brakes were heavy, went through several iterations, and were finicky to set up. The smooth slope of the spider on the crankset can get marred by an over-shift. The clipless pedals from this period were never on par with competitors pedal options. Beautiful finish, excellent quality bearings/races, but over-priced then and now.
Edit: Oh, and I forgot to mention the Synchros shifters. I don't have any experience with them, but Sheldon had the following to say: "Synchro derailers and shift levers are incompatible with anything else, and the Synchro system worked so poorly that it is not a good idea to try to set the system up on a bike you intend to actually ride."
Edit: Oh, and I forgot to mention the Synchros shifters. I don't have any experience with them, but Sheldon had the following to say: "Synchro derailers and shift levers are incompatible with anything else, and the Synchro system worked so poorly that it is not a good idea to try to set the system up on a bike you intend to actually ride."
Last edited by gaucho777; 10-02-13 at 03:16 PM.
10-02-13 | 03:06 PM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 598
From: Baltimore MD
Bikes: '72 Motobecane Grand Record, '72 Gitane tandem, '72 Raleigh Super Course, '73 Raleigh Gran Sport, '73 Colnago Super, '76 Fiorelli Coppi, '78 Raleigh SBDU Team Pro, '78 Trek 930, '81 Holdsworth Special 650B, '86 Masi GC, ’94 Bridgestone RB-T
NR shifters/RD's. Can't believe they were the industry standard for so long.
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The man who dies with the most toys…is dead. - Rootboy
The man who dies with the most toys…is dead. - Rootboy
10-02-13 | 03:09 PM
#5
Campagnolo Record brakes. Just because you said in another thread that you like them and I'm feeling contentious.
It's nothing personal. I'm a Federal employee.
It's nothing personal. I'm a Federal employee.
10-02-13 | 03:30 PM
#6
My vote is for shimano 600 arabesque, the whole group. The rear derailleur had lots of stamped steel and was a terrible imitation at the aesthetic of nuovo record. The brake arms and lever were flimsy and cheaply made. The only decent part of the whole group was the crank and the front derailleur. People seem to live it however, which boggles my mind.
__________________
1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
10-02-13 | 03:42 PM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 11,128
Likes: 39
Bikes: 1986 Alan Record Carbonio, 1985 Vitus Plus Carbone 7, 1984 Peugeot PSV, 1972 Line Seeker, 1986(est.) Medici Aerodynamic (Project), 1985(est.) Peugeot PY10FC
Finding the most overrated is hard, but I think I know of a few that don't deserve their super high reputations......
Campagnolo Delta Brakes....Modolo Kronos Brakes......Cinelli 1R stem......
Campagnolo Delta Brakes....Modolo Kronos Brakes......Cinelli 1R stem......
10-02-13 | 04:06 PM
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 11,128
Likes: 39
Bikes: 1986 Alan Record Carbonio, 1985 Vitus Plus Carbone 7, 1984 Peugeot PSV, 1972 Line Seeker, 1986(est.) Medici Aerodynamic (Project), 1985(est.) Peugeot PY10FC
I think it's more of a individual biological interface question for most... ass hatchet or comfy hammock...
But then there were Sorefeet's test comments on the saddle too....
I love my Brooks Imperial and my Berthoud leather saddles,.........but then I did spend some years sitting on a hard, cold Mayline steel stool when I was taking up Architecture in college....
But then there were Sorefeet's test comments on the saddle too....
I love my Brooks Imperial and my Berthoud leather saddles,.........but then I did spend some years sitting on a hard, cold Mayline steel stool when I was taking up Architecture in college....
10-02-13 | 04:08 PM
#12
RIGHT!!
Those pricey prostate pounding saddles!!
and Anything French-except for that really light(for its day) Huret derailleur (Jubilee maybe???)-
not that the stuff isn't nice-but the quirky sizes threading-annoying
Not as annoying as those Brooks saddles
Those pricey prostate pounding saddles!!
and Anything French-except for that really light(for its day) Huret derailleur (Jubilee maybe???)-
not that the stuff isn't nice-but the quirky sizes threading-annoying
Not as annoying as those Brooks saddles
10-02-13 | 04:35 PM
#15
Thrifty Bill
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,645
Likes: 1,109
From: Mans of NC & SW UT Desert
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
NOS ANYTHING! Unless you are putting it into a display case, I just do not understand why people pay such a stiff premium for something to put on their used bike. Add to that at least half of the NOS stuff on see on ebay is not NOS, or least not what I call NOS. Even if you get it NOS, as soon as you mount it, guess what, its used.
10-02-13 | 04:44 PM
#16
Banned.
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 4,816
Likes: 29
From: on the beach
Bikes: '73 falcon sr, '76 grand record, '84 davidson
i can only go by my own experience, so i love my brooks saddles, campy nr and shimano 600 grouppos.
the one component in which i will try to keep my distance is the headset where the adjustable race hasn't wrench flats. i replaced the stronglight headset on a moto because it was both ugly and missing these wrench flats. i replaced it with a super record headset that is pretty, light, and super easy to adjust.
then there's the cheap japanese headset with the two locknut design (one with three notches no tool fits) that works as poorly as anything out there. they're difficult to adjust and often come loose. you'll find these on many a nishiki from the '80s.
these headsets are not over-rated so much as they're ubiquitous and poorly designed. all good headsets have (in the least) wrench flats on the adjustable race.
i also dislike rear derailleurs that use a hanger spring. it's unnecessary engineering. campy nr and suntour cyclone don't use one. shimano 600 does, but i'll forgive them this one time.
the one component in which i will try to keep my distance is the headset where the adjustable race hasn't wrench flats. i replaced the stronglight headset on a moto because it was both ugly and missing these wrench flats. i replaced it with a super record headset that is pretty, light, and super easy to adjust.
then there's the cheap japanese headset with the two locknut design (one with three notches no tool fits) that works as poorly as anything out there. they're difficult to adjust and often come loose. you'll find these on many a nishiki from the '80s.
these headsets are not over-rated so much as they're ubiquitous and poorly designed. all good headsets have (in the least) wrench flats on the adjustable race.
i also dislike rear derailleurs that use a hanger spring. it's unnecessary engineering. campy nr and suntour cyclone don't use one. shimano 600 does, but i'll forgive them this one time.
10-02-13 | 04:48 PM
#17
Pedo Grande
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 872
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Bikes: Cervelo C3, Serotta Legend Ti, Vitus 979
NOS ANYTHING! Unless you are putting it into a display case, I just do not understand why people pay such a stiff premium for something to put on their used bike. Add to that at least half of the NOS stuff on see on ebay is not NOS, or least not what I call NOS. Even if you get it NOS, as soon as you mount it, guess what, its used.
Yeah NOS adds to the weight of the item's value but as long as it's not a perishable item and if you're looking to build a nice whatever contrivance, it's makes for an enviable finish... if you're looking for that of course.
10-02-13 | 05:06 PM
#18
~>~
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,929
Likes: 188
From: TX Hill Country
The 1970's Peugeot PX-10 frameset.
I had to assemble those things in the boom years.
They were generally beat to death in boxes that wouldn't make it across town much less a continent or two & ocean transport before we attempted to put them on the road.
It seemed that every one we got had been built on a Monday morning or Friday afternoon by disgruntled Communist workers just back from a Vin Ordinare break and determined to stick it to the capitalist pigs. QC/QA was almost as much an afterthought as finish, both crooked and rough.
In our world of weekend criterium racing they handled like Chevy Novas in a Gymkhana.
Rose tinted glasses and YMMV but a 531 Motobecane was a far better machine in every way if one must have French.
-Bandera
I had to assemble those things in the boom years.
They were generally beat to death in boxes that wouldn't make it across town much less a continent or two & ocean transport before we attempted to put them on the road.
It seemed that every one we got had been built on a Monday morning or Friday afternoon by disgruntled Communist workers just back from a Vin Ordinare break and determined to stick it to the capitalist pigs. QC/QA was almost as much an afterthought as finish, both crooked and rough.
In our world of weekend criterium racing they handled like Chevy Novas in a Gymkhana.
Rose tinted glasses and YMMV but a 531 Motobecane was a far better machine in every way if one must have French.
-Bandera
10-02-13 | 05:45 PM
#23
Spin Forest! Spin!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,956
Likes: 19
From: Arrid Zone-a
Bikes: I used to have many. And I Will again.
Aero components offered by any and all manufacturers. ie. Delta brakes, Dura Ace Ax, etc. Aerodynamic advantage my butt.
Chainstay mounted U-brakes.
Aluminum freewheels. As pricey as it is fragile.
Chainstay mounted U-brakes.
Aluminum freewheels. As pricey as it is fragile.
