John, I agree re lack of Shimano replacement parts. Back in the freewheel days, I used to snap axles on a regular basis (weight of rider, not horsepower; and 2x4 stiffness of early C-dales). Campy I could always find, but looked high and low for an axel for my new Dura Ace hub. I was so frustrated, I wrote a letter to Velo News. Day after the publication comes out, a Shimano rep from Calif. calls and says something like I did not look hard enough - and sent me a half dozen axles in the mail. I went through all of them.
Damien Roohr
Canton, CT
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#searchform div.poweredby img { width:60px; }No, not Charleton Heston.
I am a fan of other-than-Campagnolo as well as vintage Campagnolo parts.I have an affinity for Sugino but i do not care for Shimano. My reason is that no matter the price of a Shimano part, they Shimano, offer no repair support. I use the following only as an example for illustration. As that example Shimano "brifters" are broken when they are broken and the only repair is purchase of new ones. These parts are relatively expensive and I just don't think that is right. It is the same with their other items and always has been. Happy trails,
john strizek
in sacramento california in the USA
where it rained again but was not as foggy.