Conference noted::bicycle

    
    DA BB - keep it, of course. It's the best piece on the frame. Don't
    know how long it will last, and if parts are available easily.
    
    Suntour and Simplex rear derailleurs - how do you use both of them
    on the same bike? The superbe is ok but not real racing level
    componentry, mine wore out after one season (back to Super Record).
    Simplex are great for a beater bike.
    
    Nitto bars - ok, but you have to use Japanese stems, right? The
    nice Italian ones are too large in I.D.
    
    Dia-Compe centerpulls - fine for touring but NFG for racing, like
    you say too squishy and too much travel. Suntour Superbe's are cheap,
    the next stiffest to Campy (by far the stiffest sidepull) and lighter
    than Campy. I use them on my TT bike. Dia-Compe Gran Compe (new
    design) are the next best.
    
    Rigida rims - TOOOOOOOOOOO soft. Won't last long in hard riding
    situations. The best rims are Mavic, bar none.
    
    You asked.
    
    CdH
    

    The components I mentioned aren't on one bike, they're on several.
    For example, my Olmo has Cinelli bars and stem, Mavic GP4 rims,
    and Modolo Speedy brakes.  I just haven't used these long enough
    to evaluate them.  I've also never owned a bike with a Simplex 
    derailleur, but a couple of rides I've taken on friends' bikes
    have convinced me to avoid those things at all costs.
    
    I hope this note can provide a catalog of riders' impressions:
    which components work, and which do not.  Though I doubt that
    we can reach a consensus, we might be able to uncover some 
    unexpected gems and dogs.
    
    So have at it again, experienced riders - how would you rate the
    components you've used?
    
    
    MATT

    
    	I have problems with sweeping generalizations about Brand X,
    particularly when assembled with brands Y and Z.   There was a very
    poor plastic Simplex rear derailleur that was built for the US market's
    department store bikes a few years ago, there were also some very good
    ones before that, during that time and since.  It was probably a mistake
    for them to use the Simplex name, K_Mart_Zip_Shift may have been more
    appropriate.  Similarly, not all Campy stuff is junk, though I have
    seen their cranks break.

    	Reg
    

    Hilarie and I got the cheap plastic Simplex front derailleur on
    what we thought at the time (1970-ish) were pretty decent bicycles,
    Peugeots, and our experience with those was enough to put me off
    Simplex forever.
    			John

    
    Reg, I did not mean to imply blanket negativeism about Simplex
    derailleurs, certainly the Super LJ is a proven, raceworthy system.
    Even the Delrin ones are ok for a while, then relegated to beater
    status. Matt was talking about the delrin ones.
    
    I like Super LJ's, although they require a special braze-on.
    
    CdH
    

    
    My favorite equipment is that which makes no impression on me at
    all; you put it on, it works, and you almost never have to pay
    attention to it.  My experience is that Campy does this best.  
    
    I have a bike with all Nouvo Record and another with Super Record
    Reduced (without titanium).  They have both worked great.
    
    On brakes:  I love my Campy brakes but must say that I have felt
    stiffer ones: the top-of-the-line Modolo for instance.  Pro and
    Master Pro, something like that.
    
    Cables: I have tried the superlight aluminum cables.  They are OK
    but you have to REALLY stretch them to break them in.  I had to
    tighten them about 5 times as they wore in.
    
    Clichers vs. Sewups.  I know all the racy-types out there will scream
    about this, but I have a hard time feeling the difference.  The
    best TT I ever rode was on light clinchers.  (I must say though
    that when I use super wheels with 280 rims and silk tires they do
    feel somewhat nicer.)  I fail to feel this incredible difference
    that some people claim however.
    
    Chuck

    My choices are as follows:
    
    Rear Derailler
        Low Price - Suntour mountech - At $8.90 mail order price now
        you can afford to not even bother cleaning it.
    
        High price - Camp Record C - Less overshifting problems than
        with the record.  Ball bearing pulleys.
    
    Front Derailleur
        Suntour superbe or Shimano Dura Ace - Campy's cages tend to
        be too narrow for 7 speed freewheels.
    
    Hubs
        The important point here is go with all of the same brand for
        all your (and spouse) bikes so no adjustements have to be made
        when switching wheels.  I am still running camy hubs with original
        cones that were bought in 1974.
    
    Rims
        Had best success with Mavic and Ayara.  The aero Ayara rim seems
        to be holding up well.
    
        Can't beat the GM40 for a clincher rim.
    
    Crankset
        Campy never wears out.
    
        Suntour Aerotour excellent triple setup for the price. Could
        use a better bottom bracket however.
    
    Tires
       Tubular:  Vittoria CX/CG have high quality control standards.
      
       Clincher: Specialized Touring - Again high quality control standard.
    
    

I used to run the cheapo Simplex on a bike for a few years, they really
work great if (and only if) you take the time (lots) to set them up
correctly. Even got the front push-rod changer to work real well after
the obligatory bending of the cage. Now I use Shimano Crane r.
derailleurs, and Dura-Ace in front. Made mistake of trying a Suntour
Superbe front after I munged my Dura-Ace. Needless to say, it
disappeared soon. I've never liked the way Campag derailleurs shifted, 
and I've seen a rear der. with such a strong spring that it shifted 
gears for you (once dumping me in front of a car) so I stay away from 
their shifting stuff and use their pedals, hubs, and cable clips. Oh,
yes, and their seatposts.
                                  ken

    Who sells the Suntour mountech rear derailler for 8.90?

    Nashbar has a winter special of 8.90 for the Mountech
    

    My Motobecane Grand Record bought about 10 years ago (Reynolds
    531, some Campy, etc) has held up great and has made a Campagnolo
    believer out of me. The rear Nuovo Record derailleurs still shift
     as well as the day I bought the bike. The TA crank set, although
    soft, has served me well, and the availability of a multitude of
    different size sprockets made it a tourists delight. My only concern
    is if any shops still carry TA parts (they used to, but it seems
    the number is dwindling). My original Weinmann center pulls were
    ok, but I just upgraded to Campy Super record side pulls. Wow, what
    a difference. The Normandy Luxe Comp hubs also held up fine but
    will be swapped out for Campy Nuovo record hubs. The Rigida rims
    has been excellent but again time for an upgrade to Mavic.
    I have a Brooks Professional saddle with a Campy seatpost. The Brooks
    is a classic and although I'm sure other saddles are more comfy,
    I just can't bring myself to swap it out. I used to ride Wolber
    W-20's but they just wore out too quickly. Now I'm on Specialized
    (Japanese parts on a European bike???) but they are without a doubt
    the best clinchers on the market.
    Like Ford vs. Chevy, everyone has their favorite brands, and the
    argument over whether Campy is better than Dura-Ace, etc. etc. will
    never end. Also, lets face it, not everyone races and not everyone
    needs the hardest alloys, stiffest cranksets, and most expensive
    componetry money can buy.

    
    If you have a problem with japanese tires on a French bike,
    try the Michelin Bib 20's, they're just as nice as the Specialized.
    
    CdH
    

I used to use Shimano equipment...an early version of the Dura-Ace line.
After that I bought Suntour Superbe derailleurs, cranks, brakes, etc.  Finally
(and about 12 years later) I have Campy.

I made an abservation regarding the rear derailleurs over time and wonder if
other folks notice any of this.  When I'm spinning/moving at a easy pace (12
to 16 mph on level ground) and I shift, almost all the derailleurs perform
well.  When I kick up the pace (higher spin - 95, and higher speed - 16 to 20
mph), find myself chasing someone or in a tight drafting line, the shifting
peroformance of the derailleurs changes.  Suddenly the smooth and precise
shifts of the Shimano and Suntour deteriorate.  It takes longer to get the
chain to move to a new gear; the likelyhood of overshifting is greater...

...but the Campy equipment characteristics DON'T CHANGE!  It works as good (or
bad, depending on if your a Campy fan) at both the easy pace as it does at the
higher/faster pace.  

It's this consistency in performance that I appreciate.  That's why I'll
continue to use it.  Some people don't like how Campy shifts and claim that
those who do simply got used to it's poor performance.  I guess thism might be
true.  But I've never seen anyone discuss the point of perfomance at different
levels of riding...

Dick

    
    Yes.
    
    Campy will shift lousy under load once it has worn to a significant
    degree. Then it's time to swap the jockey wheels and rebush the
    arms. Try that with Dura-Ace or Superbe.
    
    CdH