Re: [CR]Rigida: where on CR?

(Example: Framebuilders:Alex Singer)

Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 06:45:50 -0800 (PST)
From: "Fred Rednor" <fred_rednor@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Rigida: where on CR?
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <65324.86371.qm@web90502.mail.mud.yahoo.com>


> Does the CR website have a section on Rigida? I > looked under French components and did not find it. Don, I think the reason for this is that, for the most part, Rigida supplied their rims directly to manufacturers. I can't recall ever seeing their pieces supplied to shops for use as rebuild/replacement work, not do I recall seeing the sort of advertisements that you would see from Mavic, Wolber or Super Champion. In fact, the first time I noticed a circa 1970s or 1980s Rigida rim being sold separately, was just the other day on eBay. The other issue was model designation. Without doubt, they had them. Other than the 1320 (a narrow clincher rim for high pressure tires), I don't recall being able to identify their products without having to resort to general descriptions. The funny thing, is that even with circa 1960s steel rims, they seemed to have produced 2 or 3 different types. (Or was that merely due to the inconsistent quality control of the era?) Anyway, from examining a fair number of bicycles, I _think_ they even produced a lightweight steel rim, akin to the Dunlop offerings. The other day, I asked about a circa 1968, lightweight Hutchinson tire on the CR list. You could find those, mounted on Rigida's steel rims, on some really high class bicycles, even Italian bikes. Nevertheless, Rigida seems always to have been a rather mysterious outfit - except perhaps to actual bicycle manufacturers. Therefore... I doubt anyone felt strongly enough about their products, except perhaps about their peculiarities, to produce a decent Web page. (Except perhaps to note that the 1320, while being a nice lighweight rim, had really soft braking surfaces.) Cheers, Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia (USA)

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