Tullio Campagnolo, an amateur racing cyclist, was racing on a classic Rule #9 day in Italy. The weather was cold, and I believe he was racing in the mountains. Riding with the leaders, I can almost feel in the pit of my stomach the dread that must have crept over him as he realized he wouldn’t be able to change gear. At the time, wheels used a flip gear to allow for changing of gear, and were fixed in place with wing-nuts which made it easy to remove the rear wheel – assuming everything was well greased, nothing was dirty or frozen, and the rider had just taken a refreshing shower. Which happened to not be the case on this particular day, as he had the misfortune of actually riding his bike.
It almost goes without saying that his frozen fingers were unable to loosen the frozen wing-nuts. And here is where Tullio distinguishes himself from people like me; whereas I would have chucked a Millarcopter you could see from the International Space Station, Tullio made the slightly more productive move of inventing perhaps the most sensible component on our bicycles: the quick-release.
There is no component a Velominatus can own that speaks more clearly to the history of our sport than a Campagnlogo Quick-Release. Bearing that in mind, it’s a shameful thing that I, a self-proclaimed Velominatus, have never owned one. Until a few months ago, that is, shortly after procuring my Record hubs, when I finally got my hands on a set.
And I have to say, they don’t disappoint. They’re not the lightest skewers in existence, but they do have a beautifully solid feeling when opening and closing them, and they grip amazingly true to the Campagnolo dropouts on my steel frame. The arc of the lever defies description; on the front it hugs the fork and tucks neatly behind it while on the back it bisects the angle of the chain and seat stays in perfect Rule #41 compliance. It is a sight to behold. In fact, it’s a little bit dangerous because I should spend less time staring at them when I’m riding and more time starting at the road.
Grazie, Signore Campagnolo.
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I have miche hubs and skewers but they are atleast 1980 build on a Torpado Nouvo Sprint...love em. Rule #5
I have some very nice Campagnolo levers on my Record hubs circa 1991. They are a lot like those pictured, or the same. Slick levers for sure!
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.
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's and 70's. 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)
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...
Amerckx Frank!
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)
Nothing, absolutely nothing, on Merckx's green Earth can compare to Italian style.
I have a set of those in my 'cycling storage box'. Glad I kept them. When I quit cycling 12 years ago or so, I sold off most of my stable, save my beloved Ritchey Road Logic, and the frame and fork of my late 80's Viner (funny) TT bike. 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................
@frank
Did he not want to take his wheel our so that he could flip it over having use the big sprocket on one side to get up the mountain and use the smaller sprocket to go down? Flip flop hubs being the only option back then. The race was the Gran Premio Della Vittoria and the location was the Croce d'Aune pass. 1927ish.
@Chris
You're right Chris, it wasn't a puncture it was a gear change (despite the Wiki entry). And the name of the pass inspired the name of the 80's Croce d'Aune gruppo.
@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.
@Frank
Definitely a part worthy of Reverence however - good stuff!