[CR]ShimanO!!!

(Example: History:Norris Lockley)

Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:16:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: "john strizek" <lyonstrings@yahoo.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]ShimanO!!!

I believe I have solved the 24" search, than k you to those that have helped me out with reponses.

I agree with Nick Bordo; good is good - lousy is lousy.

I have an irrational dislike of Shimano in general, yet I have a small stack of Shimano Crane and Crane GS rear derailleurs as well as a couple of the accompanying dura ace front derailleurs. I even have one Schwinn Latour GS. I have thought of retiring the C. Rally on my all chrome '73 Diamond Jubilee Paramount in favor of the "LaTour/Crane." Otherwise I do not care for Shimano. Oh yes I have even punished my '69 PX-10 with a set of Crane/Dura Ace since the seventies. But all else aside. The rush for constant improvment by Shimano made sense for making inroads to the elite racing riders and overall acceptance. For the more casual and less well heeled it was frustrating; The short life of any model meant you were always behind the curve of cutting edge. To this day the only items of Shimano I seek, even casually, are a vintage crankset and brakeset to complement a set of black trim Crane/Dura Ace for a complete gruppo. Maybe if I come across a headset I will pick that
   up.For shifters; if I find some okay if not I still like suntour ratchet downtubers and barcons.
      I once spurned SR, but I have come to realize that they had some good things also. The finish and action of centerpull Gran Compe brakes that replaced Weinmanns on my International make me loathe to go back to original.
      I am not loyal to a particular brand and do not have pristine classic customs. I have bikes I have had for years and were period modified with the ancient modifications still in place today. I have not even had a new bicycle since I was a boy in the Fifties. All are at least sencond hand or even more remote from original owners. I would like to have a really fancy frame by a noted builder someday. Barring that even a less noted builder like an old friend John Paget who built in the seventies and eighties. He was the first I saw use a widened seat tube base for lateral stiffness.
      Happy Trails,
    J. E. 'Jack' Strizek, Sacrtomato California USA