Re: [CR]Newbie Mondia Questions

(Example: Framebuilders:Bernard Carré)

From: Jerry & Liz Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
To: "kim hetzel" <trhetzel@earthlink.net>, "Jim Plaugher" <plaugher@avalon.net>
Cc: <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <E17lXv9-0000bB-00@avocet.mail.pas.earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Newbie Mondia Questions
Date: Sun, 1 Sep 2002 15:03:16 -0500


The same won't necessarily be true for the Mondia. As an owner of two Allegros, I've learned that the threading on Swiss bikes, of which Mondia, Allegro, and Cilo were the best known, can be almost any combination of English, French and Swiss. If a bike is late 60's/early 70's, it's likely to have a French fork and Swiss BB like your Cilo, but don't bet too much on that. You also may find French or Swiss threads combined with English stem diameters, and/or English rather than French gauge tubing. All the Swiss bikes I've seen had Campy-type threaded dropouts for a threaded derailleur upper pivot bolt, (except cheap models with a separate derailleur hanger) but it would not surprise me one bit to learn that there were Swiss models with Simplex dropouts with the unthreaded hole. Freewheel and pedal threading may also be different from what other threads might lead you to believe.

By the way, as far as I am aware "Swiss Thread" applys only to the fixed BB cup, which was the same diameter and thread pitch as French, but left-hand thread like English, rather than right-hand like French. The adjustable cup of a Swiss BB is identical to French. I've long thought that if pure logic and engineering had prevailed in setting bicycle standards, all modern bikes would use French threading with a Swiss adjustable cup. French thread, after all, was entirely metric, which since the early 50's standards organizations had been trying to make universal, and the Swiss left-hand fixed cup corrected the tendency of French cups to work loose, while retaining metric dimensions. But the market share of Swiss, and ultimately even French manufacturers, proved to be too small, and the Japanese combination of sound engineering, efficient manufacturing and astute marketing too powerful. As a result we now have ISO standards that basically sanctify the English thread standards that as a small schoolboy in the 50's I was being taught were obsolete and slated for extinction. Go figure.

Regards,

Jerry Moos
Houston, TX


----- Original Message -----
From: kim hetzel
To: Jim Plaugher
Cc: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Sent: Sunday, September 01, 2002 11:47 AM
Subject: Re: [CR]Newbie Mondia Questions



> Hi Jim,
>
> I know from owning a 1972 CILO SPRINTX, also SWISS, that the threads on the
> forktube are French, while the bottom bracket threads are SWISS. Please
> correct me, if I am wrong, anybody from the CR LIST.
>
> What size frame is the SUPER MONDIA ?
>
> I know Joe Bender-Zanoni, who is a member on this CR LIST knows about SWISS
> bikes, such as the MONDIA's. Perhaps, he could step forward and share with
> you MONDIA's history.
>
> Regards,
> Kim Hetzel
> Yelm, WA
>
>
> >Greetings,
> >I decided to subscribe to subscribe to the list to learn more about the
> >bikes I used to have and possibly get help in fixing or restoring an older
> >road bike.
> > The bike I've neen riding for 17 years is a highend commuter bike. It is a
> >lugged frame 84 Mt. Fuji set up with fenders, Carradice bag, Suntour and
> >Phil Wood parts. I originally bought it while living on a gravel road in
> >rural Iowa.
> > The bike I sold to buy the Fuji was a late 60's Mondia (Special?). It had
> >Reynolds 531 DB tubing. Campy NR components with MAFAC brakes and Weinmann
> >brake quick releases. It was a large frame bike with a long top tube. The
> >seat tube had a more relaxed angle than the head tube. It was unusual for
> >a Mondia since it was painted only one color! The metallic tangerine color
> >did fade into to the chrome dropouts, and there was pinstriping.
> > Anyway, I've become interested in getting an older road bike. It doesn't
> >have to be as practical or rugged as my commuter bike. Maybe it will be a
> >lot faster, certainly it will be lighter.
> > My brother has offered me a "Super Mondia" that has been repainted (though
> >there is still rust). It has a Stronglight crank and Universal sidepull
> >brakes. Campy DT shifters and derailleurs. Wheels are not original.
> > My questions: Is anybody here familiar with the different models made by
> >Mondia. Could you place this one in the scheme of things? Any sources on
> >the internet, or books about Mondia's history?
> > Lastly,I understood this Swiss company used a mixture of threads. Are
> >most of the threads French?
> >Thanks for your help!
> >
> >Jim Plaugher
> >Iowa City