At 03:19 AM 10/19/2009, you wrote:
>My early-80's Bridgestone Altair LDT came with 40/36 (endearing); whereas
>same vintage Trek 720 is 36/36. I don't know if the Miyata 1000 was 40/36,
>unlike Schwinn Voyager someone mentioned. It'd be interesting what
>mass-produced 70/80's tourers came 40/36? Seems if someone is serious about
>designing a "true" tourer, 40/36 would be de rigeur...no?
>
>Jack Romans
>Sacramento, California
Jack, et al
Specialized Expeditions came with 36 front / 40 rear wheels, using their own "Specialized" branded sealed bearing hubs. Super Champion rims I believe. 1983 (just within the timeline, initially) thru 85 or so. I don't remember any others. Haven't found anything I like better than the Exp from the "golden age of production touring bikes", so I kinda quit looking at specs for the other 80s tourers.
From having watched them on ebay and elsewhere for years, I've noticed that not many of the original 40 spoke wheels have survived, on bikes that saw any actual touring use.
Larry "just a sucker for 3 bottle cage mounts" Osborn Bruceton Mills, West Virginia - USA