I have been reading the talk on frame stiffness and tube size with interest, and Jan's article in VBQ as well. My personal experience seems to fit with Jan's "planing" theory. After my 531 Motobecane frame crackedin '99, I bought a "Paramount O/S 2 lugged Tangy frame. It seemed heavy compared to the Le Champ, but I was heavier too (225lb at 6'5) and just spun in the saddle on the climbs. An unfortunate interlude with an OT AL bike that beat me to death even with 28 and 32 Avocet tires lead me to a "78 Raleigh Comp G/S (thanks David B) that seemed to bounce up the hills...perhaps the 531 long skinny tubes were a factor...and I plan to ride it much more. Unfortunately, the Comp G/S derailleur and DT shifters make it shift like a pig. I want to keep it as "period" as possible, and am considering a change to Suntour 1 st generation power shifters and Comp VGT derailleur...or Campy NR '73 model rear and Simplex Retro-friction shifters. I have Huret Jubilee, but it is a short cage and if I want to keep the 3 pin Campy crank, I need a 28 rear cog, and I seem to recall that the short cage won't wrap up enough chain to shift a 52/42 well on wide spaced rear clusters. I could change to a 48 X 36 TA or Stronglight...........lightly greased. Any thoughts or advice would be welcome. Doug Wagner Richmond HOT KY
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