Re: [CR] "Path Racer" "Road-Path" NOW Legnano

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

From: "Dr. Paul J. Wilson" <pauliboyw@yahoo.com>
To: <edvintage63@aol.com>
In-Reply-To: <8CC23E7FBDA859D-1330-22DDC@webmail-d068.sysops.aol.com>
References: <8CC23E7FBDA859D-1330-22DDC@webmail-d068.sysops.aol.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:43:44 -0700
Cc: aldoross4@siscom.net, ritzmon@sbcglobal.net, CLASSIC RENDEZVOUS <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Re: [CR] "Path Racer" "Road-Path" NOW Legnano


Hi All, and Ed,

I don't have near enough knowledge to respond to Ed's question.

And so, I have a related question. I live in a very very steep hilly area and want to ride to town (very flat) & back on my Legnano Pista. I have a "flip-flop" Campy rear wheel that I would like to set up with a freewheels 22 or hopefully 24 and on the opposite side of the hub a 15 or hopefully a 14. And the question is, how small of a Campy chainring can I put on the front. It now has a Campy Pista 48. Taking a 41 that I have lying around shows that it is a tiny bit too small. Will a 42 fit? And if it does, I would love to buy one from someone. Also, what differential range of gearing will the dropouts handle? Do I have to go 15/20, or can I get away with 15/22, or 14/20, or 14/22?

Here is the description of what I bought on eBay 8-2008. Some of you may remember.

I am going to call this a 1969 Italian Path Racer

Late 1960's early 1970's original Legnano with track drop-outs and front and rear brake bosses. All seems very professionally done.

Can you say Italian Path Racer? Wierd I know....

The bike has sew-up rims which I replace with Rigida clincher rims laced with DT Swiss spokes to the original Campagnolo Pista hubs.

The bike features front and rear Universal Super 68 brakes with NOS Campy cables which I added the rear as the frame feature a brake boss at the rear and I wanted a 'finished' look.

I would guess this to be a custom Legnano as in my research I could not find a pista with brake bosses front and rear. Servicing the headset there were no numbers on the fork tube and it appears to be original and there is no sign of the fork ever having been painted. Under the bottom bracket is the numbers 6125R

There is no touch-up done anywhere on the paint and other than an area of the head tube decal lifting the paint off (Chrome underneath) the paint is very good with normal chips and decal scrapes for age of bike.

Specs: * Legnano Chrome Fork * Campagnolo Light Blue Frame (56 cm) * Campagnolo Seat Post * Campagnolo Handlebar Post (Fully- Adjustable) * Campagnolo Pedal & Toe Clips with original harness * Cinelli (Milano) Handlebars * Weinman Brakes * Fiame Rims (Double-butted spokes) * Avocet Seat * Brooks (England) Saddle * Reynold 531 Tubing * Silca (Milano) Pump * Campagnolo Wrench (in saddle pouch)

Thanks for any technical help out there.

Dr. Paul J. Wilson paul@wilsondesigns.net Temecula, CA. 92590

On Oct 25, 2009, at 5:11 PM, <edvintage63@aol.com> <edvintage63@aol.com> wrote:
> I would appreciate it if Norris (or someone else knowledgeable on
> the subject) would weigh in on this, as two different terms seem to
> be extant in the thread regarding KOF road-path frames. It's my
> understanding that "path racer," the term that inaugurated the
> discussion, properly refers to a "pure" track design - no braze-ons,
> higher bottom bracket, steeper angles. A "road-path," on the other
> hand, refers to a "hybrid" design that uses track ends (allowing the
> bike to be entered into races on shallower tracks), but with a lower
> bottom bracket, braze-ons, and more relaxed angles, to allow for use
> in time trials, club rides, and training. Some clarification here
> from the British cycling experts would be appreciated (by me, anyway).
>
> Ed Granger
> Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA