[CR]Huret long stem shifters

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme:2002)

Content-class: urn:content-classes:message
Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2008 19:07:14 -0600
Thread-Topic: Huret long stem shifters
Thread-Index: AchSW+aOX6/kH9zhQdWhcod+owfKXQ==
From: "John Hurley" <JHurley@jdabrams.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]Huret long stem shifters

List, Earlier I asked if anyone knew anything about Huret long stem shifters. In addition to the two replies posted to the list, I got two off-list. One of these took a different view and offered that during the 50's and 60's the Huret Luxe shifters were fairly well regarded. The other off-list reply agreed that Huret stuff was on the lower end of the totem pole, but... more on this in a moment.

I have two observations. First, it's a good thing to be able to spare a little admiration for the less glamorous componentry. It makes the cycling world larger and more interesting. That is what all four of these replies were about, in my opinion. Maybe the hardware was lower-end, but it did the job and left behind some good memories, and some of it wasn't that low, either. Second, over the past year I have received some pretty interesting emails off-list and usually end up feeling it was too bad they weren't on the list for others to enjoy. I've stayed off-list because I didn't want to appear stupid or out of touch, or because I didn't think the subject would interest enough people. So while we always need to exercise restraint and to give careful consideration before hitting "send", I would encourage a little more generosity with our questions and answers.

To return to the second off-list reply, it was especially good as it included a funny anecdote about the list member's wife back in 1972 trying out a bike equipped with long shifters when she was eight and a half months pregnant. Sorry I can't tell you about it. It was off-list, you know.

John Hurley
Austin, Texas USA