Re: [CR] on-topic side-pull brakes convertible to down pull?

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot:PY-10)

In-Reply-To: <56AAB98FC03D4BFDBAB465788AD27CB2@ToshibaLaptop>
References: <56AAB98FC03D4BFDBAB465788AD27CB2@ToshibaLaptop>
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 22:32:18 -0700
From: "Kurt Sperry" <haxixe@gmail.com>
To: Steven Maasland <themaaslands@comcast.net>
Cc: CR <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: Re: [CR] on-topic side-pull brakes convertible to down pull?


2009/9/7 Steven Maasland <themaaslands@comcast.net>:
> George asked: "I've wondered why a Cinelli would use a Weinmann caliper
> instead of a Universal."
>
> Likely because Cinelli was the sole distributor of Weinmann products in
> Italy. Cino's wife was Swiss cycling aristocracy and Cino was thereby able
> to become distributor for many Swiss and other non-Italian products.
>
> BTW, the Weinmann were lighter and a bit more resistant than Universal
> brakes.
>
> Steven Maasland
> Moorestown, NJ
> USA

Which begs the question of why such a preponderance of the Cinellis- at least those I saw imported to the US- came out of the box fitted with heavier and less "resistant" Universal Mod. 61s. The Swiss and Italian CP brakes both seemed to work well enough to me but I preferred the Universal levers for feel and style, though the Swiss made lever bodies seemed better constructed.

Kurt Sperry
Bellingham, Washington
USA