The last sentence of the last paragraph of the last message I sent SHOULD have read:
"And while I do not have any idea as to its exact weight, surely it would .. (NOT) ... have been more than the Regina Titano titanium chain seen at that very same Milan Bicycle Show ...."
Robert "working without a proof reader" Broderick
..the "Frozen Flatlands" of South Dakota
Sioux Falls, USA
-----Original Message-----
From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of R.S. Broderick
Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 1:05 PM
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: RE: [CR]Vintage Weight Weenie Question-Light Italian Chain/Freewheel?
George,
I apologize for the delayed reply here, but I have been out of town once again attending to details of our impending move out to the "Left Coast"....
Unfortunately, I cannot state with authority exactly which Italian specific freewheels and chains would have been the lightest models produced during the years 1970 through 1975 inclusive - but I might be able to at least offer what I would like to think are some well reasoned suggestions.
On the freewheel front, my "best guess" would be the Regina Extra Light alloy six speed freewheel (...weighing in at approximately 200 grams - depending upon one's preferred selection of cogs) which debuted in late 1973 for the 1974 model year. This freewheel uses a standard steel body with aluminum alloy cog wheels and is decidedly NOT the same version of alloy freewheel as the Regina America marketed during the 1980's. For purposes of contemporary comparison, the French manufactured all alloy Maillard 700 freewheel also introduced in 1973 was the world's lightest at the time tipping the scales at a mere 135 grams for a 13-19 six speed - but these were prone to premature failure under such simple conditions as a climbing sprint by a powerful rider. Perhaps also worthy of mention, although not within the stated timeframe, the Regina Titanio freewheel (...again, a steel body but with titanium cogs) did not come to market until model year 1976 and their Titanio Superstar model (...titanium body and cogs with steel pawls, balls, and springs) did not appear until 1977 or 1978. Of course, the Italian firm Everest also produced lightweight alloy freewheels starting in the year 1975. But if weight is your primary consideration for selection, the Everest alloy freewheels were a tad heavier than their Regina counterparts (...roughly 210 grams in six speed 13-18 configuration) although they were of superior construction in my humble opinion.
As for a drive chain, my vote for the "weight weenie" winner here would be the highly-impractical-for-anything but-display Everest alloy (...yes, aluminum through and through) chain which debuted in late 1975 at the Milan Bicycle Show. And while I do not have any idea as to its exact weight, surely it would have been more than the Regina Titano titanium chain seen at that very same Milan Bicycle Show (...and available thereafter at well heeled bike shops here Stateside, albeit at exorbitant prices) which I suspect was the same model as seen on the custom Maserati displayed at the 1974 New York City Cycle Show.
Robert "often seeking enlightenment himself" Broderick
..the "Frozen Flatlands" of South Dakota
Sioux Falls, USA
-----Original Message-----
From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org
[mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of gholl@optonline.net
Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2008 7:05 PM
To: Classic Rendezvous
Subject: [CR]Vintage Weight Weenie Question-Light Italian
Chain/Freewheel?
What were among the lightest Italian chains and freewheels during the
period
1970 through 1975?
Thanks for any help.
George
George Hollenberg MD
CT, USA
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