Hello All,
I remember Dale's article. He was kind. Almost all but the best made to measure (and I don't mean Colnago) bikes needed chasing and tapping in the BB (and everywhere else).
One way to look at it was is why do we have to have all these expensive tools? The industry attitude was, since the customers don't care and they expect us to do it for free the answer became, we do not! I suspect most or very many vintage and lots of current frames need a lot of work. Overall they are better even in the low end.
Most bikes with the nice stuff I suspect (I don't know) sold here were assembled stateside and the prep depended on the shop, not the factory.
It seems few shops started in the last 10 years have a comprehensive set of frame prep tools anyway, many more sizes these days and better overall prep make it less practical. Also few people know the difference between ruining the tools first time out or randomly ripping through a good frame.
I have heard many quips about alignment of Merckx frames over the years. In NC here we were very close to the distributor and we sold tons of Merckx frames and have a large team sponsored by them. We found them to be great and well above average in our experience in the alignment, prep department. I was not aware that Gita (importer) aligned any frames but there are conscientious. My bikes came to us uninspected in sealed cartons and to my knowledge were never touched stateside. DeRosa ditto and they seemed good. Never a complaint by mechanic (who checked everything) or end user. Your results may vary.
On Pinarello, on some bikes I did not fully appreciate their full potential. Respectfully submitted,
Final note: An alignment table is as necessary to a skilled mechanic as a truing jig is to a wheel builder. To someone with skills neither gauge(tool) is needed or necessary. They both speed up the job however; usually. The old guy always said; that's for amateurs.
Gilbert "caliper ready" Anderson
In a message dated 10/16/02 10:55:57 PM, classicrendezvous-request@ bikelist.org writes:
<< Message: 7 Reply-To: <Patrick@aardvark-pro.com> From: "Dave Patrick" <Patrick@aardvark-pro.com> To: <OROBOYZ@aol.com>, <Bob170871@aol.com> Cc: <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Subject: RE: [CR]Re: bottom bracket shells Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 16:19:25 -0400
I'd be tempted to throw all four of those frames on an alignment table, if you know of someone who has one available. It's not that uncommon for the Italian (and Belgium)makers to turn out a frame that's out of whack. I've seen Merckx frames that Gita (the distributor)supposedly aligned come through pretty bad, as far as alignment. Just the fact the Gita offered this service on Merckx, DeRosa and Pinarello tells you something. I'll be the Colnago and Merckx frame are out of whack. Did you get these bikes from Velocipede Peddlar? If so, I don't believe they have an alignment table, but I do believe that Mark at Velocipede taps and faces frames while assembling bikes, especially road frames. Just my 2cents to stir up the pot.
Dave Patrick Chelsea, Michigan >>
Gilbert Anderson
The North Road Bicycle Company
your bicycle outfitter
519 W. North St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
USA
ph toll free in USA :800/321-5511
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E-Mail: cyclestore@aol.com