My examples: was [CR]serious "Weight Weenieism - when did it start?

(Example: History)

Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2005 22:17:13 -0500
From: "Harvey M Sachs" <sachshm@cox.net>
To: martin@camelot.de, Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: My examples: was [CR]serious "Weight Weenieism - when did it start?


Martin Appel asked (but I <snip>):

But when started Weight Weenieism? Can there be a date put to it?

i can see a few milestones, like

- first Titanium production frames (~1974) - occurrence of "Drillium" (seventies????) - ultralight rims by Nisi, Mavic scratch 260g (late 70ies)

what other Milestones can you think of? +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Here are two samples of personal experience: 1) Our first tandem was a 1951 or so Schwinn Town & Country, first owned by Bill & Edith Lovely, who owned a typewriter shop in East Providence, RI. They did a double century in something awesome (under 12 hr, I think) in hilly New England, with a 3-speed derailleur, drum hub, etc. He was 61, she was 59. When we got it, the brake levers had been drilled. So had the reaction arm for the hub brake, which went bent and had to have a backing plate brazed on as a repair. I have a picture of the Lovely's from a Schwinn dealer mag.

2) Sometime between '74 and '76 we picked up a nice little SuperVitus frame from a bankrupt bike shop. Building it up, I had three goals: low investment, light weight, and Campy-free. It got the usual suspects: Jubilee derailleurs, Stronglight 63 cranks, HiE hubs with SuperChamp Medaille d'Or rims, etc. But, I had a criterion for "investment:" it had to yield weight savings at a cost less than $5 per ounce saved. Somehow I rationalized a used Teledyne Ti spindle acquired in trade, and that and the cranks are still on the bike.

harvey sachs
mcLean va