Hi Kervin and all. It seems to escape peoples notice that in the after war years, us Brits were a little impecunious, as were the europeans. So we could seldom afford more than 1 bike so our race bike became our winter bike. We still rode TUBS and not prsuures, now called clinchers[no one has asked me yet, nor come up with the origins of the word, "clincher"] .and we had mudguards, hence the low rear end for the brake calliperto take the clearance. If you look at photos of the early pros, Coppi . Bartali etc, the clearance on their bikes was large and took the deep drop caliper, no doubt to accomodate the filth and muck thrown up on the unmettalled roads they raced on. As road s improved and wheelbases became shorter, coupled with better TUBS and wheels, brakes became better,We could afford more than one bike, and a race bike was just that. Look at early pictures and see how many racers bikes have mudguard eyes. But for all that,they still raced on TUBS Barrie Carter in a tub loving environment, Roundham, UK
________________________________ From: kevin sayles <kevinsayles@tiscali.co.uk> To: Matthew Bowne <devotion_finesse@hotmail.com>; CR List <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Sat, 6 March, 2010 13:29:56 Subject: Re: [CR] Short Reach Front, Long Reach Rear?
Matthew, In them days it was usual for Universal 68s to be fitted with a shallow front & deep drop rear.......this is why the Campag drop bolt was introduced as a after sale item following the introduction of Campag brakes in 68~69
cheers Kevin Sayles Bridgwater Somerset UK
----- Original Message ----- From: "Matthew Bowne" <devotion_finesse@hotmail.com> To: "CR List" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2010 1:05 PM Subject: [CR] Short Reach Front, Long Reach Rear?
> Do my eyes deceive? Or is it really possible that this early 70's Colnago Super is built to accept a short reach front brake caliper...and a standard reach in the rear? Am I missin' something here? Or was this a common practice for builders of the era? If so, why?
>
> Matthew Bowne
> scratchin' my head in
> Breukelen, New Amsterdam
> (BKNYC)