John Barron wrote:
Explanation #1 The Russians have a death grip on most of the worlds supply of titanium this year, and it's a strategic metal- tough/expensive to get. As you will recall, precious metals went through the roof in late '79.
Explanation #2 Bianchi spec'd the SR rears this way this year(s) (??)
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I'll chip in the following:
The Zeus 103 catalog (1977) shows many components being constructed of titanium parts, whereas the Zeus 104 catalog (1979) describes the corresponding parts as being made of a material called "titanox". There was no elaboration on the composition of this material in the text, or why the substitution was made.
Solid titanium oxide? I doubt it.
I expect that if this material substitution was intended as an improvement they would have bragged about it (like they did with the hardening process applied to their aluminum freewheel cogs).
At the time, Explanation #1 was advanced by a local bike shop.
Brad Stockwell
Palo Alto