Rik Van Looy (or another Rik who raced as a pro, forget now) used barcons. I've seen many pictures of his bike so equipped. Barcons were more popular with cyclo cross however.
===================================================== Mark Petry 206.618.9642 Beautiful Bainbridge Island, WA mpetry@bainbridgeisland.net ===================================================== "Most of American life consists of driving somewhere and then returning home, wondering why the hell you went."
John Updike, "Rabbit at Rest" =====================================================
From: PBridge130@aol.com Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2002 10:14:58 EDT Subject: Re: [CR]Bar end shifters To: eurocycle@hotmail.com Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
<<I have bar-end shifters on 3 of my bikes & I was wondering if anyone knows this: Were there any racers during the late 70's or early 80's that used
bar-end shifters? Since Shimano, Suntour, Simplex & Campagnolo all had them. I have only seen videos & pictures with downtube shifters. If not, what would the main reason be that they were not used?>>
John,
I knew Colorado racers in the 70's who used them -- Campy, and the excellent ratcheting Suntours. I'm sure you're aware that Euros used them, quite commonly I believe, on cyclocross bikes. Why they weren't more common in the peloton, I have no idea.
I have a pair of Campys that would be appropriate for my Motobecane Grand Record... but I'd have to give up the Simplex retrofrictions, which I can't bring myself to do.
Cheers,
Peter Bridge
Denver CO