-----Original Message----- From: Derrick Bourgeois Sent: Sun, Aug 16, 2009 8:56 pm Subject: [CR] ...more Universal hoods... Derrick, et al
Up into the mid 70's an "All Campy" bike frequently meant sans Campy brakes. Not only were Campy brakes hard to find in the early 70s, but you could buy a good used car for what they cost!
We sold Bottecchia, Legnano, Frejus and a few other Italian marques and they all came with Universal model 61 brakes. I remember working on some early Masi bikes that had them too.
My 1971 Motobecane Le Champion has model 61s while my 1974 Le Champion has 68s.
In 1973 I switched out the Mafacs on my Gitane Super Corsa for Universal 68s. The hoods only lasted about a year or so before they started cracking and I had to change them out.
A friend of mine started a project last year to make Universal hoods. He made a couple of prototypes but the mold wasn't right. His moldmaker flaked out on him so I guess they project is dead in the water for now.
I'm glad Italian male personal protection devices aren't sold in the States! ;-)
Chas. Colerich Oakland, CA USA
You guys are making this hard because the subject line keeps changing but anyway...
I'd be in for 3-4 pair of Universal repro hoods. I've got three bikes with Universal brakes to keep running. I don't really understand why there would be so much demand for Campagnolo hoods but not for Universal. They must have sold 100X more Universal brakes than Campagnolo. Even high-end Italian bikes often came with Universal brakes on otherwise full Nuovo Record bikes.
Regards,
Derrick Bourgeois
Colorado Springs, CO, USA