Here's something different to chew on.
I posted this a few days ago but as some were engaged in other aspects of social intercourse I assume the query fell through the cracks. (Or maybe its just not that interesting a subject.)
Patrick Moore on the iBoB list posted the following:
"Does anyone know what gearing Coppi, Bartali et al, used in the late 1940's, early 1950s? The single ring in the retrospective bike looks to be something like a 48 or 50 t, and the description says they used only 4 cogs. Does anyone know the exact set up? I think it was Ashley Korenblatt who said that Coppi climbed the Ventoux on a 48 x 19, which is pretty high 67" or 68" gear for steep mountains, especially if the roads were dirt."
So there's the challenge. Does anybody know the answer or have any relevant information? Does anyone on list own one of the bikes in question? (Yes, I have a suspect.) Does anyone give a Flying Scott? (Sorry.)
By the way, some threads on the iBoB list have been very CR oriented of late.
Regards,
Carlo Carr New Orleans (Who doesn't want to email Patrick Moore to say "the CR list has no opinions..on this matter")