In a message dated 6/2/03 1:04:41 PM Pacific Daylight Time, chuckschmidt@earthlink.net writes:
> Actually this happened quite a few years earlier. Michelin intro'd the
> Elan folding light weight clincher around 1975(?) and Mavic made the
> matching Mod. E ("E" = Elan) rim. There were also narrow clincher rims
> (13mm inner /19mm outer width) by Super Champion /Wolber, Ambrosio, etc.
>
There was a shop in SF on Lombard Street, Marlom Cycles, that had lightweight
clinchers that looked to be essentially sew up tires with a wire installed,
about 1968.
The owner Tom Benson said he had a bunch of guys in Marin who REALLY liked
them. He also had a lot of really nice 531 French bikes, Louison Bobet, Jacque
Anquetil, etc. and a Renee Herse (he said he'd never sell) that the brother of
a friend of mine bought. My size, darn!
Stevan Thomas
Alameda, CA