To the Tune of "Where Have All The Poppies Gone?" Please sing: "Why Did All
High Flanges Come"
I started my shop in1960 in Manhattan Beach, Ca. At that time I was one of
the few shops that sold both family oriented bicycles and also high end
racing and sport machines.
Stockist of: Bianchi, Legnano, Olmo, Paramount, Rickert, and Urago among
others.
Because of my involvement with supporting, promoting, sponsoring cycling
and racing I got to know the importers and distributors quite well.
I asked several of the guys that had a racing background exactly the same
questions, because there was a resurgence in cycling and there were many
importers bringing racing bikes in who had no real "BICYCLE" background.
Answer: COST! The commodity brokers in the bike game wanted Deluxe stuff to
sell to any shop who wanted to buy. Ergo: If it cost more, it had to be
better! SOOO-
What cost more for the sucker Americans who didn't know any better but
wanted the best "PRO" stuff?
High flange hubs, Finger tip controls, Adjustable handlebar stems (TTT), and
Sew-up-racing-tubular tires!
That's what. Which is why so much of this equipment was around in the '60's.
As the U.S. market for racing and good touring became more sophisticate
these things changed. The real good shops did the best possible to educate
the advanced cyclists and between the European
publications and our minestrations, common sense was restored and chaos
reigned as the gas shortage and the bike boom of the '70's prevailed. Ted
Ernst.
> Looking on eBay, I have noticed that the ratio of small flange to high
> flange Campagnolo hubs is very high.
>
> I know that at some point high flange were the standard, then it seemed
> like everyone switched to small flange very quickly. My recollection is
> that wheels built with small flange hubs were supposed to be more
> comfortable because the extra length in the spokes allowed for some flex.
>
> Where are all the high flange hubs? Did they break? Or are you just
> hoarding them along with your stash of world logo brake hoods?
>
> I am looking for a pair of Campagnolo high flange 5 speed hubs. Please
> let
> me know if you have any to sell or trade. Could be wheels or hubs.
>
> Marcus Helman
> Huntington Woods, MI