tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post1390450701021482949..comments2024-03-28T11:56:48.304-04:00Comments on The Retrogrouch: New Dura Ace Anticipation - And a Look BackBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-65079299742280919012021-07-17T04:02:39.044-04:002021-07-17T04:02:39.044-04:00Indexing had a massive benefit even though its not...Indexing had a massive benefit even though its not strictly necessary for the committed user. Without it the mass take up of sporting bikes would not likely have happened. It dumbed down the art, that's true but many people forget the little improvements like pinned chainrings & shaped cogs that have made shitfing so easy in the modern era. I wonder how good indexing would be without those - would indexing have worked at all without these?Greg from Melbournenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-72363513481751272952021-07-17T03:50:49.124-04:002021-07-17T03:50:49.124-04:00The bike industry could have arranged every single...The bike industry could have arranged every single tech movement to maintain compatibility - if they only wanted to. I work in IT and its so common it has a name: user hostile design. They could have come together and formally adopted say common cog spacing or even chosen to follow another brand out of convenience, like SRAM did with Shimano until they came up with that XD contraption.<br />My latest peeve is making use of 11T-starting cassettes on 12 speed Campagnolo, I can only make them useful by going subcompact at the front. Its like a conspiracy to force the 11T on riders! On that the companies seem in perfect coordination! The solution is to go subcompact at the front... which they also mess up by inventing a pile of new BCDs.<br />Justine! New stuff isn't necessarily ugly... I am actually grieving over having scratched Record shifters up a bit in a crash today, so beautiful they look. Never mind my bleeding knee.<br />Greg from Melbournenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-77667171486453443782021-07-17T01:09:40.886-04:002021-07-17T01:09:40.886-04:00Wow,I have to agree; the new Shimano D/A component...Wow,I have to agree; the new Shimano D/A components are across the board ugly. And the shape of the brifters remind me of some poor soul with disfiguring rheumatoid arthritis in their knuckles! It's almost painful to look at them. But then, like you and other commenters indicate, the much earlier 7400/7402 Dura-Ace groups were just so graceful looking yet purposeful.<br />Thanks for your blog, Brooks, it makes for enjoyable reading! ChasAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08985738357798618091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-9948796159466837472021-06-22T12:27:07.264-04:002021-06-22T12:27:07.264-04:00Those new cranks look like they were inbred, heavi...Those new cranks look like they were inbred, heavily, for many many generations. Bicycle Safarihttp://thebicyclesafaris.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-12204042251493921062021-06-15T10:45:45.601-04:002021-06-15T10:45:45.601-04:00Like you, I was a SunTour guy when Shimano introdu...Like you, I was a SunTour guy when Shimano introduced index shifting. Like you, I was underwhelmed. I wonder if those facts are related? Is it possible that SunTour equipment shifted so much better than the competition that SunTour users saw no need for improvement? <br /><br />I recall a tech question posted to Frank Berto's Q&A column. Some gent wanted advice on converting his Cannondale touring bike (the one I still ride) to index shifting. Berto's answer, essentially: "Why? That's a great shifting bike as it is." <br /><br />On the other hand, a contemporary Campy fan might have tried the first SIS and say "Wow - it actually shifts correctly!" <br /><br />Just speculating...Frank Krygowskinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-64691133846312218532021-06-15T10:32:52.160-04:002021-06-15T10:32:52.160-04:00About friction shifting - you may enjoy this video...About friction shifting - you may enjoy this video:<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRDD0E6YQjcFrank Krygowskinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-19337270437378537202021-06-14T14:31:58.657-04:002021-06-14T14:31:58.657-04:00I agree that the new stuff is ugly. In fact, most ...I agree that the new stuff is ugly. In fact, most new bikes are ugly, at least to me.<br /><br />The Dura Ace 7400 series, which spanned 6 to 8 speeds, was really nice stuff: It worked perfectly, as you say, and it was elegant in a sleek kind of way. There's no shame in mounting it on any bike.<br /><br />About the levers: Simplex retrofriction and Dura Ace are my favorites--the former for its smooth operation and elegance (especially the "tear drop" version) and the latter for the shape of the lever, which plays well with my hands.Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-89694785747949474042021-06-13T01:31:29.520-04:002021-06-13T01:31:29.520-04:00Everything above three speeds is LUXURY!Everything above three speeds is LUXURY!xmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00863364187708747382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-68721992671667640422021-06-09T17:10:21.767-04:002021-06-09T17:10:21.767-04:00Shimano once again reinvents the wheel... film at ...Shimano once again reinvents the wheel... film at 1100...mike w.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10317710564489321690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-26211138934026984412021-06-08T15:51:06.967-04:002021-06-08T15:51:06.967-04:00Nice write up!Nice write up!Guido D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15261253045285589602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-4764044264404450642021-06-07T20:45:47.821-04:002021-06-07T20:45:47.821-04:00LOL! I well remember my Instamatic! No focusing, s...LOL! I well remember my Instamatic! No focusing, shutter speed or aperture to worry about. Just click and you're done.<br />Re: the continued degradation of component aesthetics and the insistence on using black as the default color, I remain in the retrogrouchy camp.<br />Richard Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07649208682446529652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-30073387892481646972021-06-07T13:08:41.250-04:002021-06-07T13:08:41.250-04:00SIS, or we called it: "Instamatic shifting&qu...SIS, or we called it: "Instamatic shifting". If you don't get the instamatic reference, ask your DadDalenoreply@blogger.com