[CR]Using Simplex Retrofriction? Also, Mavic, Spiedel?

(Example: Framebuilders)

Date: Sun, 28 May 2006 09:46:11 -0700 (PDT)
From: "dan kasha" <dankasha@yahoo.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Using Simplex Retrofriction? Also, Mavic, Spiedel?

I just got a beautiful Peugeot PXN10E, and I believe from 1979. Or otherwies known as the Super Competition. It seems like it might be a wonderful bike. But I have questions about the Simplex retrofriction shifters, and also component history.

The bike was set up so the force to pull the levers towards the rear is very light, but pushing towards the front is very hard. Is this like any other vintage shifter where I can loosen the mounting screw to adjust the feel for the push forward? Or is it like a modern downtube shift lever where this is more just the mounting screw?

Also, it seems the diameter of the cable around the shift lever is smaller than for other shifters. So to get to the largest cog, even with the cable properly tightened, the lever pulls back probably 135 degrees, much more than any of my other bikes. Is this to be expected?

Finally, the brakes on this bike are Mafac Levers and Spiedel sidepull brakes. They are beautiful sidepulls of very quality, reminding me of a modolo. But I am just not familiar with the brand Spiedel. Can someone give me the connection, or lack there of between Spiedel, Mafac, Modolo, Mavic, Simplex? Or maybe someone knows of a link that explains this?

Thanks in advance, Dan Kasha Seattle Wa (Rainy today)

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