In response to Bob's last question, in my recollection 700c clinchers didn't really start showing up in racing in the US until well after the CR timeframe. Some people may have been racing on them in the late 80s, but it was probably mid-90s before they got close to 50% in cat 1-2 races in the US.
In my opinion, the first clincher that I'd really have wanted to race on was the Michelin SuperComp HD, which dates from around 1990, I think.
Baird
_____________________________________ Baird Webel Washington DC
On Thursday, August 07, 2008, at 03:12PM, <classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org> wrote:
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:15:55 -0700
>From: Bob Freitas <freitas1@pacbell.net>
>To: CLASSIC RENDEZVOUS <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
>Subject: [CR]re:700c clinchers
>Message-ID: <489B1FBB.5000201@pacbell.net>
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>
> 700c might have been a Euro standard but my 1970
>Hetchins VMIII was one of a pair that was delivered at the London shop,
>mine has 700c wheels but the other came with 27s. They were ordered by a
>Couple from the Bay Area who were going to do a European Tour. On
>arriving they found their bikes were not ready and ended up taking a
>couple of bikes off the shop floor. So the question might be was 27 a
>Standard in the UK?
> My 1947 Ceroni Cambio Corsa bike has single wall
>Ambrosio 700c Clinchers which look original.
> On a USA note 1960 Schwinn Varsity had 26'' wheels while
>Continental had 27's
> Quality Clincher rims did not show up until the
>early 70s with the first bike I saw out of the box with them was Follis
>bikes(Mavic) in maybe 1971.
> Tires were the real problem and the Michelin Elan
>(with folding bead ) showed up in maybe 1973 and the Schwinn Super
>sports (Thank You, Dave Staub!) maybe the year after.The Schwinn tires
>were available in both 700c and 27'' and featured different weights and
>diameters.
> What year did Clinchers really show up in the Cat 1/2
>races?
>
> BOB FREITAS
> blue skies today in MILL VALLEY, CA USA
>
> Who wishes he could find a bundle of those Schwinn
>tires