tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post1242243785241070678..comments2024-03-27T19:12:49.609-07:00Comments on Midlife Cycling: My Only 'Cross: Voodoo WazooJustine Valinottihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-68843938088639274152013-09-23T22:43:06.537-07:002013-09-23T22:43:06.537-07:00Yes, I would have to agree with the previous comme...Yes, I would have to agree with the previous commenter, Anon at 8/22/13, 5:50pm. My cross bike is an Andre Bertin, bought in 1986 or '87 as 'new old stock'. It was probably built in the mid-80s. I rode it in cyclocross events in the Puget Sound area in the late 80s. There is a photo on my bike room wall of me in the 1988 National cyclocross championships held in Bremerton Washington. <br />I've read Bertin was the French importer of Shimano, when most bikes had French components, more expensive ones, Campagnolo. I believe its Shimano parts are called Arabesque or Scrollwork, early 600. Brakes are Mafac cantilevers. This bike has a very flexible ride and can be hammered over rough, rocky fireroads as well as single track. I tried but never liked mountain bikes. Today the Bertin is a comfortable, fendered road bike for me. Incidentally, Justine will appreciate that my 'best bike' is a late 80s Mercian Pro, currently set up as a single speed. Vancouver Island cyclisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15150635169233877051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-7520668732530802592013-08-22T05:50:58.765-07:002013-08-22T05:50:58.765-07:00Cyclocross bikes with cantilever bosses and wider ...Cyclocross bikes with cantilever bosses and wider tires have been around a very long time. They're not a recent development, they were just few and far between, and the sport wasn't heavily publicized until the last ten years or so. Here's a vintage Eddy Merckx cyclocross bike, late seventies or early 80's. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZfO4EcgunhA/TITsnbPgpcI/AAAAAAAAFsg/S_LKXIrNFBw/s1600/P1020235.jpgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-76194836463652790652013-08-22T05:39:39.046-07:002013-08-22T05:39:39.046-07:00You have to know how to set up the travel agents. ...You have to know how to set up the travel agents. Apparently whoever assembled the bike didn't know what they were doing. Often they have to be set up in a different hole in the mount to make the springs "stronger" then loosening the centering screws to dial them in correctly. Otherwise they feel weak, and don't pull back from the rim correctly when you release the levers. I had a single speed road bike set up with road levers and V brakes, and I could lift the back wheel off of the ground at will. I say find a shop that has a clue, and try the V's again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-56051430265815304692013-03-15T05:45:19.128-07:002013-03-15T05:45:19.128-07:00I completely agree with your comments about 'c...I completely agree with your comments about 'cross bikes. I have a 1987-88 Bianchi Axis that I dearly love that is one of Bianchi's earliest 'cross bikes. Versatile, sturdy, fast, and an excellent climber, this bike can and does do it all. It has tremendous tire clearance, is lugged, double-butted good steel, and I think it was made in Japan. I have had this one a long while, and absolutely love it - it has Suntour's 7 speed paddles shifters and triple crank to get you where you need to go. I have run it with panniers and a rack and also neither and it is still a great ride. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8908461644259659419.post-22053629607601570732013-03-14T04:49:56.774-07:002013-03-14T04:49:56.774-07:00It hasn't changed. I also switched from v brak...It hasn't changed. I also switched from v brakes to cantilever brakes.Steve Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13650405341304401203noreply@blogger.com