[CR] Eugene A. Sloane

(Example: Framebuilders:Alex Singer)

Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:51:36 -0700
From: "Steve Whitting" <ciocc_cat@yahoo.com>
To: <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR] Eugene A. Sloane


Hopefully this is not too off-topic, but I was wondering how much of our "Bike Boom Era" perception of what a "good bike" should be here in the U.S. was colored by the late author Eugene A. Sloane's "The Complete Book of Bicycling"?  I recall reading this back in the early 1970s and I (being young and ignorant) considered it to be one of the "bibles" of cycling - along with John Forester's "Efective Cycling".  I have both books, btw.  My early Forester edition is crudely illustrated and GBC bound.

It has been a while since I read his book, but I seem to recall Mr. Sloane praising Mafac Centerpull brakes and Reynolds 531 tubing, but having little to say about Columbus tubing or Campy NR brakes.  I also recall his 1.09-times-inseam formula for saddle height that may have contributed to the "big frame craze" in the States.  (No disrespect intended or otherwise implied toward the late Mr. Sloane.)

Your thoughts? 

Steve Whitting
Prairieville, Louisiana USA
http://ciocc-cat.angelfire.com/