It is is not just Campag that is addressing this emerging Frondo ride. Shimano has offered a 105 50x39t double crankset, and FSA has offered a carbon 'team' 50x36t double crankset. The thinking behind the double i/o triple is that many club riders just can't bring themselves to ride a triple and prefer the asthetics of 2 rings. Are there any rides like this in the US yet?
Tom Martin Oakland CA BTW, I have no on topic bikes any longer; I did sell off a 1980 Vigorelli with Nuovo Record/ Cinellii/ Ambrosio a few years ago. Would like to find a vintage fixie, in the 50cm range. Oh and I had a thing for Motrobecanes while in high school. All had randomly functional Huret components and Wolber rims. All were stolen. then I bought a cannondale. No one touched that one.
> > Jerry Moos wrote: Thus the popularity of randonneuring in Europe, an
> > activity focued more on participation and comradeship and less on
> > competition.
> >
>
>
> In Italy there is a new form of cycling that has taken off like a rocket,
> the "Gran Fondo". These are century( +) rides, with shorter distance
options
> available, that are very competitive. Every finisher's time is recorded.
> Some are very large in terms of participants (thousands). One is sponsored
> by Campagnolo (I understand it to be very difficult-lots of climbing, and
> long), another by Pinarello, etc. Some of these events make up a "series"
in
> which individuals accumulate time (points?) in each event towards the
total
> for the series. Last year was also big year for the evolution of the Gran
> Fondo in Spain. More info available at this nice website:
> http://www.biciveneto.it/
>
> Interestingly, Campagnolo has come out with a triple targeted for the Gran
> Fondo rider: a Record triple in 30-40-50 (good to know for 20 years from
> now....)
>
> I sure would like to do one of these! I was cycling in Italy for two weeks
> last year (but no Gran Fondo) and I was impressed with the number of
strong
> Italian cyclists. On weekends there are out in force in their club jerseys
> and favorite team jerseys.
>
> Angel Garcia
> Long Valley, NJ