Dear dale, I hope I am not breaking the rules by exceeding the postings limit for today. Dura Ace gets its name from the metal alloy it is made from Duralium and Ace for the best. Experimental production started in 1972 introduced to the market in 1973. First ridden in the Continental pro scene in 1973 by Flandria team. Walter Godefroot, Freddy Martens and Michael Pollentier. Out of the 12 teams in the Tour de France, 9 ride Campagnolo, 2 ride French Components and one team rides Shimano. The team captured stage victories in the Tour de France. Walter Godefort Stage 5 Nancy-Mulhouse the first for any Japanese component manufacturer. Later in the year Freddy Martens rides a Dura-Ace equipped bicycle to a second place finish in the World Road Championships at Montjuich Spain. Gimondi wins. 1974 is when it really kicks off. Shimano becomes main sponsor of the Shimano Flandria team. Dura Ace never got popular here until the early 1980's. Yours fraternally Frank
Frank Cohen Hoxton UK