A very cool story. Sounds like the perfect subject of a guest article.

So today I was doing a laboratory test at a university as part of a research study – the third in a series of VO2 and CP tests. I walk into the lab and the researchers are there along with a chap I haven’t met before – older guy in his 60s/70 but very trim and fit.

The researcher introduces me to him – his name is Geoff Wiles – and says he’s been helping her set up some of the equipment as he was a very experienced cyclist.

Geoff sets up my bike on the lab machine. He’s just changed the cassette and we get chatting about gear and bikes, as you do. I’m running Campagnolo Record/Super Record 11sp. He mentions he’s been using Campagnolo for a long time… this is where it gets interesting.

Apparently he was riding the Tour de l’Avenir with the British National Team in 1967, the year Tom Simpson died. The Brits are all self-funded amateurs. They’re at the start and Tullio Campagnolo arrives with his people, wanders around looking at the bikes and eyes the Simplex groupset which Geoff had saved up for. He waves someone over and tells them to replace it on the spot, which they do, removing the offending item as if it was a dog-turd at a flower show.

So that, says Geoff, is how I got my first set of Campagnolo.

He went on to ride professionally with Holdsworth-Campagnolo in the 70s, run a bike shop and does Masters racing. He came second in the World Masters last year in his age group, road and track. I was too polite to ask but it turns out he’s 71. I wouldn’t bet against him being able to kick my ass despite the 20 year difference.

LOVE that photo of Merckx! Casually Deliberate, even on a bench.

The #1 on his bike, the drilled chainrings…awesomeness.

And, the dude knew how to wear a cycling cap!

I think it’s a look that mere mortals find very hard to pull off, Merckx does it pretty easily.

I must say I prefer the look and operation of the curved quick releases to the original ones.  When you see the old Cambio Corsa or Paris-Roubaix mechs it makes you realise how easy we have it now days..

The #1 on his bike, the drilled chainrings…awesomeness.

And, the dude knew how to wear a cycling cap!

My bike #2 doesn’t have QR wheels, and its one of those things that you don’t even think about until you’re fucked. Having to ride with extra tools and praying that you don’t get a flat isn’t the most fun. I keep meaning to buy new wheels for it, but somehow that money keeps being spent on bike #1 instead…

Was it 1978? A regulation (USA?) went into place. The quick release arm was bent. The quick release nut added a roundish tip. The brake caliper release lever took on a spoon shape. The front rerailer added a spoon shape to the leading edge. The brake pad holders got a plastic coating on the down bit. All in the name of safety.

Jim, very cool background – I had not heard those reasons for the changes. Thanks for sharing. You forgot to add about the lawyer tabs on the forks. Which I file off every fork that crosses the threshold into my workshop.

Nice photo. It would be interesting to have a ride on one of those but we don’t know how good we have it!

No I won’t accept any photos. The limited number of photos of the past make the argument moot.

Those are beautiful!

Here’s an interesting bit of Campy kit falling from a bit later on
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1940s-campagnolo-cambio-corsa-legnano-super-rare-/120738618643?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c1c951d13#ht_4325wt_1139

Gah, I couldn’t be bothered ripping the garage apart looking for a slide, but thanks to the wonders of the interweb, I offer the following derailleur photos in context…

And you won’t take a picture as proof? Even one of Eddy Merckx?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1940s-campagnolo-cambio-corsa-legnano-super-rare-/120738618643?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c1c951d13#ht_4325wt_1139

I’d just finished reading “It’s all about the Bike” and it jumped out straight away when I read your piece. Right time right place.

Great article, thanks. My knowledge of these thing is poor and I’m really enjoying reading up on the history.

With older Record hubs, you do need the tiniest bit of free play in the bearings, as the QR is so powerful it slightly compresses the bearings. The freeplay (and it is a tiny amount) allows for this. Many Campag hubs were ruined (or so the owners thought) by getting the freeplay right, then having it over-tightened thanks to the QR. The good bit is that with the right tool, you can remove and replace the cups. I’ve ‘saved’ many pairs of large and small flange hubs thanks to this.

The other thing worth noting with Record hubs is that they don’t use the same size bearings in the front hub as either any other Campag front hubs, or any other manufacturers for that matter! It’s a tiny amount ‘un tolerenzia di un millisima’ as the box says, but if you put the wrong ‘uns in, you’ll ruin them eventually.

Anyway, if it worked, here’s my Mercian Strada, with nice 28 spoke S/F’s, with a delta groupset since the brakes just had a mention.

The newest models are in use on the Bozzie…

Now inspired by the fine machines (carbon and steel) here at Velominati, I’m putting the old girl back together. But, I’m taking my time, so it comes correct. No carbon, no SRAM or Shimano. Campa C-Record (just picked up a crankset in exchange for a 12 pack of Widmer). Perhaps I’ll be allowed the honor of a short piece here when I’m done. Now, where did I store those Delta brakes…………….

Abso-fuckin’-lutely.

@austin

I have miche hubs and skewers but they are atleast 1980 build on a Torpado Nouvo Sprint…love em. Rule #5

Photos please. Not sure I’m even familiar with them!

Back in the early days of ebay when there was an abundance of vintage Campy parts I procured several hi-flange record hubsets from the 60″²s and 70″²s. So I’ve had my share of Campag QR’s (still do :). I must say that I prefer the older straight levers. The curved levers have a certain wet noodle look to me..they’re the straight one’s – but bent. On the back they line up nicely under the chainstay, or even straight back the shape is pointing forward giving an almost aero quality. When the front is closed in the same manner (straight back) the two tie in together giving some added symmetry. It’s a subtle difference between the two but one I prefer.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/83868261@N00/2041640581
(not mine but best example I could find)

I remember those days on eBay. It was amazing. As a point of fact, however, I got my entire 10spd Record Group for my TSX – including built wheels with Record hubs for about $600 on eBay due to a what I believe is a micro-effect of the 11spd upgrade craze. Those riders who are willing to shell out for Record are probably also anxious to upgrade to 11spd for the same reasons they wanted Record in the first place: to have the best. They’re now dumping all their old gear as they upgrade, making a surplus of 10spd Record bits. It was actually cheaper to buy (and easier to find) Record than Chorus!

By the way, I like the curved ones better…that sexy bend just gets me!

On my steel bike I’ve a Shimano gruppo but the quick-releases are Campagnolo, the moots is all Campagnolo but the pedals are Shimano…

Sounds like you’ve got an identity crisis! You are in fine company, though, as Museeuw also rode Campa with shimano shoes/pedals. It makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up to think of mixing like that, but to each their own! I rode Shimano pedals a long time, they’re great pedals.

@Ron

I do have to say, despite any attacks I may incur, I do have some Dura Ace skewers that are beautifully finished and have a wonderful action.

I know which ones you’re talking about, and Shimano did make some beautiful stuff…still do, actually, just from a different perspective.

The Shimano 7400 Group, along with Suntour’s Superb Pro were stunning as well. It was a beautiful time, actually, as there was so much diversity in the groupos, and you could still pretty easily mix and match components from one group with another. Campa, Suntour, Mavic, Shimano, Simplex, Sachs (feel like I’m forgetting some) in the late 80’s early 90’s. Nirvanna.

Then Shimano came up with the STI lever (Shimano Total Integration) and the idea that each part was made to work specifically with all the others was born. And that was the end of that. The competition that thrived on the mix-and-match appraoch died out and only the big names lasted.

Few people knew, though, that despite the persistent rumors, you could still mix it up. I remember I ran a Superb Pro rear mech with Shimano 105 STI levers with a Sachs freewheel for a while, and it was fine. No worries at all.

(i must say as a clarification from a deep crevis within my psyche, the rear derailleur must have been the no. 1 revolutionary piece of component made however)

Man, if I had a Margaritaville derailleur, I’d certainly do a reverence on that one!

Yeah, the mechs make a big impact, but I guess I see those as more iterative and incremental improvements over an existing design…what I love about the QR is that it’s just from nothing – there was nothing like it and he just conceived of it. That’s innovation!

@Gillis
I have pairs of both q/rs but IMO the curved ones look better, plus they work much better than the old flat ones.

there is nothing more simple and more revolutionary than the Campy QR’s.

Italian beauty and function
Steel
must be matched w/Hi flange hubs and freewheel, tubulars, campy toe straps, down tube shifter…a dirt road, autumn foliage, peace and quiet

(i must say as a clarification from a deep crevis within my psyche, the rear derailleur must have been the no. 1 revolutionary piece of component made however)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/83868261@N00/2041640581
(not mine but best example I could find)

I have some circa 2007 Record hubs in black, not as nice as my silver Record hubs. Those levers are kind of clunky, kind of ugly. Have a cut-out, kind of too big.

I do have to say, despite any attacks I may incur, I do have some Dura Ace skewers that are beautifully finished and have a wonderful action.

Nice one, Frank! Thanks for keeping us up on the beautiful bits, even the tiny ones we might overlook!

TGIF to all! Hope you get some nice rides in. I’m off the bike for a few days and heading to a wedding.