[CR]Re: Simplex

(Example: Framebuilders:Richard Moon)

From: <BobHoveyGa@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 01:33:50 EST
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Re: Simplex

>I have never ridden Simplex derailleurs, only have seen the circa '70's Delrin (?) >rears and both the Delrin and metal fronts.
>
>Were they any good? Did Simplex make quality derailleurs? What is the SLP? > SLR? - I'm not sure of designation.
>
>Richard Cielec
>
>Chicago, Illinois

I'm several days behind reading the list so maybe this has already been beat to death...

I can onIy speak for the LJ Super... I replaced the Simplex Criterium (Delrin w/ silver badge) front and rear on my PX-10 with LJ Supers and I was amazed at how silky smooth they were. At the time I felt they shifted better than Campy. Nice looking too... excellent qulaity finish, and had the Simplex logos beautifully cast in several places. Rear derailleur had several other things to recommend it... both top and bottom pivots had springs, which may have been the reason for the snappy shifting (and less chain slap), plus it had one removable pivot so the outside plate could swing up for cleaning... nice idea. Also, limit screws were close to each other and both facing out... much easier to adjust than Campy.

I was sorry that they never became more popular. But most of my friends at the time (early-mid '70's) associated the Simplex with the plastic Prestige... so when they came out with derailleurs that were as expensive as Campy, it was a hard sell regardless of how nice they were. Plus there was the issue of the different attachment to the dropout (if I remember correctly, you could tap a Simplex dropout to accept a Campy derailleur, but it was more difficult to mount a Simplex derailleur on a Campy dropout... is that correct?).

Bob Hovey
Columbus, GA