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ROAD TEST
ENTRY-LEVEL RACERSStarting Up Keeps Getting Easier, Not To Mention Cheaper
By John Kukoda
Entry-level racing bikes are not just for en-try-level racers. Sure, their short wheelbasesand maneuverable handling are ideal forsomeone about to enter the close-quartersjostling of a novice peloton. But this class ofnot quite all-out racing bike is also the bikeof choice for just plain hard training and
90 BICYCLING
club riding. With less twitchy steering thanfull-bore, usually-more-costly criterium rac-ers, entry4evel bikes are also ideal for triath-lon competition - they're fast and climbwell, yet are willing to hold a straight linewithout the need for unwavering attentionat the handlebars .For more details on the attributes of the
entry-level racer, see Thomas Prehn's accom-panying article . For some straight talk aboutfive examples of the breed, read on, as weexamine the Bianchi Stelvio, Nashbar Sport
EX, Miyata 912, Bridgestone 600, and BMXProducts Mangusta.
These five examples share several featurescommon to most bikes designed for begin-ning racers . All are equipped with narrowclinchers in 7000 diameter, which facilitar~quick changes to sew-up wheels . All have"wheelbases of between 39 and 40 inches.Any shorter and you have an all-out racingbike ; any longer and you're talking sedatesport tourer. All five also include fender eye-lets front and rear on the dropouts . They're
With the classic Italian road feel of four-figure
superbikes, the $420 Bianchi Stelvio (left) is
enough bike for any beginning racer. Campy's
derailleurs shift with authority. Modolo Corso brakes
(left, bottom) provide enough stopping power, but the
Stelvio's confident handling discourages their overuse.
Brilliant sunshine brings out the best of the burgundy
and chrome Nashbar Sport EX (above), and the bike's
components perform flawlessly. Nashbar's made-in-
Japan Sport EX (right) shows off dean lug work by
Moruishi .
J U L Y
1985
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unfashionable among racing cyclists and areseldom found on more expensive road bikes,but they do make it easy to attach fendersfor comfortable wet-weather training and arack for a day-tour or a quick trip to thestore .
Bianchi StelvioDesigning the Stelvio was as easy for Bian-
chi as dusting off the spec charts from theirmost successful road racers. While the Japa-nese look to their often massive research anddevelopment departments for bicycle de-signs, this Italian giant looks no further thanthe real-world proving grounds of the Girod'Italia or Paris-Roubaix for confirmation ofwhat works and what doesn't.The Stelvio is a comfortable road bike in
the time-tested European tradition . Theframe, made of Columbus double-buttedAelle R carbon-manganese steel tubing, is
92 BICYCLING
The beefiest triple-butted tubing in town makes the
Miyata 912 (above) a terror under a strong rider .
After you've admired the Miyata's attractive two-tone
gray with block paint combination (left) , take note of
the beefy, crash-proof 1 .2-mm down tube and the neat
lug work .
The $310 Bridgestone 600 (above) proved a little
skittish in high-speed descents, a trade-off for its
excellent low-speed maneuverability. Silver-gray paint
is accented by the rich brown saddle and handlebar
tape. Self-centering brakes on the Bridgestone (right)
make rubbing brake shoes a thing of the past-a
boon for cyclists who would rather ride than work
on their bikes.
beefed up with a heavy 1.0-0 .7-1 .0-millimeterdown tube and ultra-rigid 1.0-millimeterchainstays . Efficient climbing and enough ri-gidity for flex-free sprinting are the inevita-ble result of this enlightened design, but thebike somehow still offers enough comfortfor those long rides .Handling is quick but not scary, thanks to
the 74-degree head angle and 1 3/4 inches offork rake . The combination results in 2.01inches of trail, just enough to keep straight-line riding from being a chore without can-celing out maneuverability. I liked the Stel-v-io's ride the best of this month's test bikesbecause of the ideal combination of stiffness,comfort, and maneuverability.
Bianchi has bucked the trend toward slap-ping on a Cyclone or 600 EX gruppo, an al-most universal feature of bikes in this pricerange. Instead, the Stelvio is all-Italian, savefor a little international cooperation from
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the French,who provide the Mavic E2 rimsand Wolber Rallye tires . The Gallic Lyotardpedals could cause problems for cyclistswith narrow cleat slots on their shoes. Ifound my cheapie commuter cleats fit nicelyover the thick shoe plates, but the cleats ofmy Vittoria SLs did not. So take your shoesto the shop or risk some pre-ride filing toopen up the slots.The drivetrain is highlighted by Regina's
new BX series freewheel, a simplified andupdated version of its popular Corsa/Orolines. It's paired with the old standby ReginaCorsa black chain to make the bike shift withauthority. The heavy-plate chain drops ontothe cogs with a solid, satisfying clunk. Cam-pagnolo Triomphe derailleurs also lend theirshifting ease and hallowed name to the drive-train, which is rounded out by an economi-cal but functional Ofmega Brilliance crank-set .
94 BICYCLING
Beauty is more than skin deep with the brilliant
chrome Mangusta (top) . This all-European, X399 road
racer proved the best compromise of handling,
acceleration and comfort . At 22.8 pounds, its also this
month's lightest bike . Mangusto's seat tube (left)
tapers to fit the typically French 25.4-mm seatpost. A
clean fastback desi gn joins the pencil-thin stays to the
lugless seat cluster.
BIANCHI STELVIOROAD TEST GRAPHIC EVALUATION FORM
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96 BICYCLING
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Too bad the Stelvio colors don't live up totheir billing . Calling the bright paint color"Ferrari red" conjures up visions of low-slung, 160 mph speedsters, but to our eyethis red is more plain Jane than Gianellabella. The other color option, "Milano gray,"looks classier but a little commonplaceamong the racks of similar gray bikes. Sadlyfor us traditionalists, Bianchi chooses to re-serve its signature Celeste green color for itshigher-priced racing models.
Nashbar SportEXLet's start by setting the record straight :
The Nashbar Sport EX is not one of the"finest bicycles in the world!" as the adsproclaim .
That bit of Madison Avenue hyperboleaside, this mail-order road racer offers a lotof bike for the buck : a complete Shimano600 EX gruppo, a chrome-moly frame, tightgeometry, and rich burgundy brown paintset off by a chrome fork . Its ad's other claim,"More bike than you'd expect for $530 . . .only $420," is closer to the mark.
This is not a bike for leisurely daydream-ing. A novice cyclist, used to communingwith nature while pedaling a bike that prac-tically steers itself, could wind up in thebushes on the Nashbar if he's inattentive -it's that twitchy. But ifyou enjoy the slithery,
over-eager steering of a track sprint or cri-terium racer, you'll feel at home on the SportEX . With a 74-degree head angle and twoinches of fork rake, there's a scant 1.75inches of trail to keep the front wheel on thestraight and narrow. This compares to the 2to 2.5 inches of trail found on most road rac-ers. Whether this poses a problem dependson whether you like twitchy bikes. I didn'tlove the handling, but I could ride it with-out incident .For a bike with clincher tires, Arni and
Co .'s Sport EX accelerates pretty well . Itsclimbing and sprinting capabilities aren't ex-actly awe-inspiring but are adequate for en-try-level amateur racing and certainly forserious training or triathlons. That the SportEX rivals four-figure Italian racers in thelooks department is probably its strongestselling point. The paint is deep and lustrousin the sunlight ; the lug work is clean; andchrome forks never fail to please the eye.From its twin water bottle braze-ons to its
13-24T freewheel and 42/53T chainrings, theSport EX is ready to roll up to the startingline as is . The more serious competitors willbe pleased to note that the Nashbar, like allthis month's bikes, simplifies changing fromclinchers to sew-up wheels, thanks to thestandard six-speed rear dropout spacing and7000 clincher wheel diameters.
In case anyone believes otherwise, noneof the smiling gang you see in the Bike Nash-bar catalogs earns a paycheck by brazing andfiling Nashbar frames in the back shop . TheSport EX is made in Japan by Maruishi,whose own entry-level racer won praise as astiff, responsive, all-around road bike in ourlast Buyer's Guide issue.How is Nashbar able to offer the Sport EX
for $110 less than "you'd expect"? First, let'slook at the frame, constructed ofTange Infin-ity chrome-moly, double-butted tubing . In-finity is one ofTange's seamed, chrome-molytubesets, which is less costly than its seam-less Champion line . If seamed tubing makesyou think ofdepartment store bikes with vis-ible weld-lines running the length of thestays, think again. There's no seam visible,either inside or outside the tubes. And, mod-ern seamed tubing is only slightly less strongand effective for bicycle construction thanseamless tubing. (Shotgun barrels are a dif-ferent story.)The Infinity set's tube gauges are identical
to Tange's Champion No . 2 seamless tubing:0.9-0 .6-0.9-millimeter main tubes, 0.8-milli-meter chainstays and seatstays, and 1.0-mil-limeter fork blades . While I personally prefera heavier-gauge down tube to help counter-act the weighty effect of too-frequent pitstops at doughnut shops, the use of relativelyheavy 0.8-millimeter stays (versus Columbus
SL's 0.7-millimeter rear triangle members)helps stiffen the frame for acceptable rigidityin sprints and climbs .
Nashbar's component selection also savesthem money without sacrificing perfor-mance-they've equipped the bike with thecomplete Shimano 600 EX gruppo . We'renot even going to talk about how well thisequipment works since we've discussed itsvalue more than enough in past issues .As a mail-order firm, Nashbar is able to of-
fer bikes to the consumer at a price closer tomanufacturing cost since there's no dealermarkup involved . That's good news for youbut bad news for the bike shop ownerstrying to make a living on most bikes'35 percent markup . You want an earful?Walk into your local bike shop and ask themwhat they think of mail-order bikes. If youdon't have time for the full course, let mesummarize.
First, you're buying a bike literally sightunseen, without the benefit of a proper fit-ting, and more importantly, a test ride. Ge-ometry and specs tell you a lot, but even thewizards at Bicycling can't always predicthow a bike will feel just from the numbers.If we could, we wouldn't have to ventureforth in the cold and snow for winter issuetest rides!A shopkeeper's second point would likely y
be that there are no free setup and 30-day fol-low-up with mail-order bikes, no patientshop mechanic to explain how to adjust thederailleurs or raise the stem, and no instantrecourse if a part proves defective.We agree these are valid criticisms of mail-
order bikes in general. Our test bike cameequipped with a seatpost that was too small,an error one road tester discovered when hetwisted off the seatpost bolt trying to securethe post . If the bike came from a local shop,the unhappy customer could just wheel thebike back inside and walk out with a newseatpost and bolt . With mail order, the cy-clist would be spending, at best, a few daysstaring intently down the road for that big,brown United Parcel Service truck to bringreplacement parts .
Before anyone imparts an unintended sig-nificance to a single mail-order bike mistak-enly shipped with a wrong-sized seatpost, letme add that I once bought a $600 racingbike at a large, well-respected Gulf Coast proshop, only to discover later that someonehad deliberately crimped the seat tubearound a 26.8-millimeter seatpost inste, 'of using the required 27.2-millimeter size .Admittedly, that's a rare occurrence, but ithappened.
To counteract the lack of in-shop servicefor its products, Nashbar is currently at-tempting to organize a nationwide network
NASHBAR SPORT EXROAD TEST GRAPHIC EVALUATION FORM
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REAR SHIFTING
CONTROL LEVERS
BRAKES
OVERALL MECHANICAL
OVERALL ROAD FEEL
Miyata 912
of "certified installers"-local bike mechan-ics who would install parts and service bikesfor customers at reduced rates . The jury'sstill out on this one.As for selecting a bike sight unseen, we
agree it's not an ideal situation for someonenew to the bike market . But if you knowenough about cycling to make a decisionbased on listed frame dimensions and com-ponents, the generally lower price of mail-order bikes may outweigh the loss ofperson-alized service and a pre-purchase spinaround the block.
With its even 40-inch wheelbase and 72-degree head angle, the Miyata 912's framemight be more at home in a review of sporttourers or triathlon bikes than among thismonth's bevy of entry-level racers . That is,until you remember that Lucien Van Impewon the Tour de France on a bike with a72-degree head angle. Still, the $499 model912 is race-worthy and probably far saferfor a beginning racer than a more twitchyt)oneshaker .
Outfitted with a full Shimano 600 EXgruppo, a moderately tight 13-24T freewheeland a Bernard Hinault Turbo racing saddle,the Miyata needs only the strong legs of alicensed rider to join the fray. We can even
MIYATA 912ROAD TEST GRAPHIC EVALUATION FORM
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HIGH SPEED DESCENT
LOW SPEED STABILITY
CORNERING
suggest a race strategy : Get to the front im-mediately and stay there, because the bikeisn't that anxious to comply with instant de-mands to sidestep ugly crashes or changelines through 90-degree corners when the"wandering weenie" just ahead cuts intoyour path .On the other hand, the relatively long
wheelbase and no-hands stability make the912 a fine bike for long road courses overvaried terrain . That 40 inches between hubsallows for a lot of shock absorption, as doesthe generous fork rake . That's intentional, ac-cording to Jim Reid, sales manager for Miyataof America, because the frame is builtaround some pretty stiff, unforgiving tubes.Raw Miyata tubing comes from the same Jap-anese mill that supplies Tange and Ishiwata,but there the similarity ends . Using state-of-the-art, in-house reworking and laser cuttingmachinery, Miyata butts, cuts and miters theraw stock to its own specifications .For example, all three main tubes are tri-
ple-butted, and all three are different. Thetop tube starts with a 0.9-millimeter thicksection up front, tapers to 0.6 millimeters,then thickens again to 0.7 millimeters at theseat cluster. The seat tube, single-butted onmost bikes, has a hefty 1.0-millimeter wallthickness at the bottom bracket before thin-
I ping to a 0.7-millimeter central section. The
SANREMO:THE ROOF-CARRIERNOW WITH IMPROVED,MICRO ADJUSTINGFRONT WHEEL HO4DER IN,ALUMINUM.HIGHEST QUALITY CASTALUMINUM ENSURESPERFECTRTTING FORBICYCLES WITH OR.FIXINGS FOR SKI, SURFAND CANOE NOWAVAILABLEELITES ELEGANT ITALIANDESIGN TOUCH ISCLEARLY LEVIDENT.
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seatpost end is 0 .8 millimeters . But it'sthe 1 .0-0 .9-1 .2-millimeter, triple-butted downtube that makes the most sense. Intuitionwould dictate putting that thick end into thebottom bracket to stiffen it, right? Wrong .Reid says Miyata's tests showed that the 1 .2-millimeter section located at the head tubeend held the bottom bracket in check betterthan the other way around .
I'm a bikie, not a slide rule jockey, so Isought out the expertise of our residentframe builder, Jim Redcay. He says savvybuilders have always used the longer, buttedend of a double-butted down tube at thehead tube end for the same reason . Whathappens, he explains, is that the down tubeacts as a torque lever for pedaling forces,increasing the stress at the other end - atthe head tube . The real secret to down tubestiffness, Redcay says, is stiffening up thehead/down tube joint and the upper forkblades. So much for intuition .The long, beefy front sections of the top
and down tubes also "bulletproof the frontend against a collision," Reid adds . At the up-per end of the down tube, the extended buttalso provides a solid base for the brazed-onshift lever bosses, a weak point on manyframes. Specially-designed, investment castlugs complete the bombproofframe design .
Not surprisingly, the 912 didn't mind a bitwhen I grudgingly coaxed myself out of thesaddle for some dreaded intervals . This isone rigid frame all right, but as Reid claims,there's a modicum of comfort left over. Thebike is stiff enough for racing, but triathlonsare probably its most appropriate use sincethe stability that hampers elbow-to-elbowpeloton riding is a benefit to solitary effortscontre la montre (against the clock).
If looks are important, you'll be pleasedby the bike's silver with red color scheme .Metallic black with silver-gray is a secondcolor option .
Bridgestone 600Stability in a bike is its tendency to hold a
straight line . Maneuverability is the measureofhow readily it changes course when asked .Bridgestone has managed to build an entry-level racer with lots of low-speed maneuver-ability, but the bike comes up a little shy onstability during high-speed descents . The$370 model 600 is an eager bike - eager tocomply with the rider's wishes but a littleover-eager to assert itself through tricky,winding turns when the rider most likely hashis own ideas on how to get safely aroundthe next bend .
Let's look at the specs on this one . With a74-degree head angle on our 23-inch testbike, the 1 7/8 inches of fork rake give only1 .88 inches of trail, more than the Nashbar,
100 B I Cl'C L I 1 G
CHOOSING ANENTRY-LEVELRACING BIKE
If you're in the market for a bicycle that will get you started in racing, you'll be pleasantlysurprised, if not a bit overwhelmed, with the current selection . The showrooms of qualitybike shops are stocked full of entry-level racing machines that just a few years ago did notexist . With advances in technology and marketplace competition, the price ofthese bikes hasbecome quite reasonable, ranging from well under $400 to around $700 .The bicycle frame is really the heart of what you are investing in . All the components,
wheels, pedals, et cetera . can be changed or upgraded as your racing involvement becomesmore sophisticated .What you'll need to look for is a frame with a tight wheelbase ranging from about 39 to 40
inches and angles in the range of 73 to 74 degrees in the middle sizes . Small and large frameswill vary up to a degree from that spread to accommodate design requirements in these sizes .With double- or triple-butted tubing available these days on even $-100 bikes, it's probably
not necessary to save money on a less expensive frame with straight-gauge members . Buttingmeans the wall thickness of the tubes is greater at the ends, where they join the other tubes,than in the middle where there is less stress. While you can't actually see this because it'sinside the tube, most frames that have this feature will also have a sticker on the bicycle frameindicating so .
Strong riders, especially those weighing 170 pounds or more, may benefit more from aheavier but stiffer frame - achieved either with thicker-gauge butted or straight gauge tubes- than from owning a superlight "flexible flyer."The dropouts, where the wheels fit into the frame, should be of forged metal rather than
stamped steel . The rear dropouts should have micro-adjusting screws so the placement of therear wheel can be fine-tuned .
Rolling AlongThe wheels constitute the second most important part of the entry-level bicycle and perhaps
your biggest buying decision . Your choice is between the more conventional "clincher" wheel,with its separate inner tube and tire, and the racier "tubular" or "sew-up" tire .
In the past, clinchers were durable but fat, heavy, and handled poorly . With recent advance-ments in design and materials, however, they've become a more attractive and practical choicefor the entry-level racer. The finest clinchers have rolling resistance that is comparable to allbut the most expensive tubular tires, as well as excellent cornering adhesion . Clincher wheel/tire combinations are still a little heavier than tubular afieel/tire pairings and therefore a slighthandicap in criteriums and other races where acceleration is important . Even so, most entry-level racing bikes tend to come equipped with clinchers .For those aspiring racers who are a bit more daring or certain about their commitment to
the sport, I recommend tubulars . You will feel the difference in speed and handling right away,because of the lighter, more pliable tire and the generally lighter rim . Just make sure you knowhow to glue on the tires and carry a pump and a spare tire with you on rides. High-qualitysew-ups are no more puncture-prone than lightweight, skinA-all clinchers . Note that I specified"high-quality" sew-ups . While the $10 cheapie tubulars are okay for training, they do tend towear out quickly and have an uncanny way of attracting road glass and gravel .Many beginning racers who need to be thrifty with their equipment dollars solve the
dilemma by using both clinchers and tubulars . The set of lighter, faster, and more expensivetubular wheels is saved for racing.Most beginning racers need a closely-spaced freewheel like a 13-14-15-17-19-21T Unless
you're going to be climbing some incredible mountain, the closer gears are essential forkeeping your legs spinning at a more even cadence .
If your prospective bike's pedals do not include toe clips, you'll want to make sure they canbe installed.Shop around and ask a lot of questions . Most importantly, ride the bikes and get a feel for
comfort, response, and performance . Soon you'll be able to spot the quality bicycles from therest of the pack.0
By Thomas Prehn
Thomas Prebn isa memberof the US. National Cycling Team and a Contributing Editor qfBicwling.
BRIDGESTONE 600ROAD TEST GRAPHIC EVALUATION FORM
~',ANDLING
HIGH SPEED DESCENT
LOW SPEED'STABILITY
CORNERING
CLIMBING
MECHANICS
but still less than ideal. Most racing bikeshave slightly more than 2 inches of trail fora suitable combination of maneuverabilityand sure tracking through turns. A little crib-bing from Italian front-end geometry wouldbe in order here.
Still, the Bridgestone isn't all that far offthe mark . The handling is not dangerous,only different from that of most similar entry-level racers we've ridden . The bike climbsand sprints well enough and absorbs a rea-sonable amount of road shock, thanks to thetriple-butted main tubes. The 600's downtube, at 1.0-.7-.8 millimeters, isn't quite asheavy as the Miyata's, but maybe the Bridge-stone doesn't need the extra beef with itshalf-inch shorter wheelbase. Of course, wenow know the 1.0-millimeter end goesagainst the head tube, not into the bottombracket shell, right? Right. The single-buttedseat tube does put a full 1.0 millimeter ofwall thickness into the bottom bracket shell,though . All four stays are 0.8 millimeters,
id the fork blades are 1.0 millimeter.Mechanically, we liked the performance of
the SunTour Cyclone derailleurs but ques-tion the Perfect freewheel's 14-28T toothrange, which is too wide and low for a racingbike . A 13- or 14-24T is about as low as evena novice racer should ever need, and a 13-
18T or 13-21T would come in handy for flat-ter courses. Save the 12-17 for your nextbike, when you make it to Category 11 .
Most unusual were the Bridgestone SCself-centering brake calipers, which usesome clever lever action to align both brakeshoes an equal distance from the rim everytime the levers are squeezed .The visually striking choice of a "silver
gray" is accented by a rich brown suede sad-dle and matching cloth tape and copper-
brown anodized rims . A light "pearl blue"paint finish is also offered . But the pleasingpaint is eclipsed, upon close scrutiny, bysome sloppy inattention to filing where therear dropouts plug into the chainstays . Thefork crown could also do with some rede-signing, or at least filing, to thin out its 2.5-millimeter thick edges for a more attractivetransition to the chrome-moly fork blades .The rest of the lug work was acceptable fora mass-produced bike .
ISCASELLE & ITALMANUBRI
the winningcombinationIscaselle and Italmanubri are synonyms all over the world for a
wide and prestigious range of saddles and handlebars for racing,tourism, cross and mountain bicycles .
Features of the entire production range are the extremelyfunctional and original design and the use of carefully selected materials .
Iscaselle and Italmanubri, the combination which always ensuresyou're right on your bike!
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italian style for your bikeOMNIBIKE INC . P.O . BOX 37426 HOUSTON - TEXAS " 77237 PHONE (713) 975-9000
TOPeAd'swi
t"CO-!,.We GIPI
1 u L v
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Mongoose Mangusta
You say you like a bike with a lot ofchrome? Put on your sunglasses and checkout the Mangusta from BMX Products, thefirst lightweight road bike from a companywell-respected for its dirt track racers . Butprepubescent racers of Mongoose dirt bikesgrow up, so Skip Hess & Son has expandedthe company's horizons (and market). Itsall-chrome Mongoose ATB stole the showin our 1985 Buyer's Guide (January/Feb-ruary) ; now their equally flashy, all-chromeentry-level racer is about to score big inthis road test .Mangusta is Italian for Mongoose, but a
more appropriate name would be Mangoustesince the bike is completely French, save forthe Campy 980 derailleurs, Nuovo Recordlevers, and West German Weinmann brakes .The frame, built for BMX by Motobecane,
shares several uncommon features with theFrench firm's own Mirage Sport. First, thereare no lugs, a fact that's not readily apparentat a glance . Instead, there are lug-like rein-forcing sleeves at the head tube, but theframe members are actually joined by a spe-cial, lugless technique with small, neat filetbrazing on the exterior and more substantial
106 BICYCLING
MONGOOSEROAD TEST GRAPHIC EVALUATION FORM
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filets on the inside of the joints. The seatcluster is unique not only for its lugless con-struction, but also for the pencil-thin, dou-ble taper seatstays that join in a neat fastbackdesign and for a seat tube whose outside di-ameter tapers down to accommodate theodd-sized, typically French, 25.4-millimeterAtax seatpost.A second feature shared with Motobecane
is routing ofthe rear brake cable through thetop tube - a feature common to costly cus-tom frames but seldom found on bikes in thisprice range.
MECHANICS
Ifyou prefer flashy, attention-getting bikes,you'll like the Mangusta . If responsive han-dling and performance are important, you'lllove it . At only 22.85 pounds, it's the lightestbike in the test . It's also the best all-aroundcompromise of race-quality handling, long-haul comfort, and quick acceleration . TheBianchi maneuvered slightly quicker and felta bit stiffer in the bottom bracket under hardpedaling, but both the Italian and thepseudo-Italian descended and cornered with
ITS AJUNGLE OUT THEREIt's getting tougher and tougher for today's cyclist-especially
in an urban environment where, often, the only rule is survival ofthe fittest. Let's face it, a lot of peoples' driving habits are prettybeastly, and to protect yourself in the "concrete jungle," you needthe right helmet . . . a Bell bicycle helmet .
What sets Bell helmets apart from a "herd" of competitive bicy-cle helmets is state-of-the-artdesign and protection, cou-pled with innovative features .
~7TDURIItP
Take the TourLite worn byour intrepid "jungle rider." Itfeatures flow-through ventila-tion ; pad-fit sizing ; and high-visibility, reflective graphics-all designed to providethe cyclist with cool, confidentprotection . And that can bethe edge that will keep you"fit" for survival.
It really is a jungle out there, and every cyclist should wear ahelmet . Bell bicycle helmets can helptoday's cyclist tame that jungle andmake bicycle riding safer and morepleasant for everyone .
Bell Helmets, Inc.15301 Shoemaker Avenue, Norwalk, California 90650
equal finesse . You could strap my feet to ei-ther bike and I would pedal away content. IfI want to impress the club, I'd take the shiny_liangusta over the Bianchi.The Campy derailleur shifts adequately,
even with the handicap of a flexible Sedis-port chain. The French links do mesh well,
Weight: 24 pounds
Bianchi StelvioIthported by : Vespa ofAmerica Corp .
385 Oyster Point Blvd .So. San Francisco, CA 94080
Suggested Retail Price: $420
Sizes Available : 49, 53, 56, 59 and 63 cm ; size tested,56 cm
Frame: Columbus Aelle R double-butted carbon-man-ganese tubingWheelbaseSeat tubeTop tubeHead angleSeat angleChainstaysBottom bracket heightFork rakeTrailWheelsHubsQR front and rear, 125 mm over locknut
Spokes
36, 4-cross front and rear
39 1/4 inches56 cm55 cm
_ 74 degrees-75 degrees16 1/4 inches10 5/8 inches1 3/4 inches2.01 inches
Ofmega Mundial, small-flange
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Dealer Inquiries InvitedFor a free sample, write to Dept . 1
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Bohemia, N .Y. 11716Supertube is a registered trademark of Synco Chemical Corp.
Teflon"'- is a registered trademark of E.I . duRont de Nemours Corp .
though, with the equally Gallic Maillard free-wheel, climbing from the 13-tooth high tothe 26-tooth low cogs without complaint. Acloser ratio racing freewheel would not onlyprovide more useful gearing, it would alsoshift even better.
Is this excellent bargain of a bike a flash in
RimsTiresDrivetrainDerailleursChain-Crankset -Freewheel _ComponentsPedalsSeatpostSaddleBrakesBar/stem
Italmanubri 10 cm stem
Mavic Module E2 7000-by-25 mm, 430 gr-Wolber Rallye 7000-by-23 mm, 385 gr
Campagnolo TriompheRegina Corsa black
Ofmega Brilliante 42/52, 170 mmRegina Extra BX
Lyotard 823TTT RSR
Selle Italia Aero with coverModolo Corsa
Italmanubri Mundial 40 cm handlebar,
Gearing in Gear Inches
the pan for BMX Products or the start ofsomething big? "Hopefully (it's) the first ofmany road bikes," Skip Hess, Jr. reports . "Wehave quite a few on the boards ."Keep it up, and you'll have to change your
company name to something more Conti-nental . Prodotti BMX, perhaps?
Bridgestone 600Imported by: Bridgestone Cycle (U.S .A .), Inc.
15003 Wicks Blvd .San Leandro, CA 94577
Suggested Retail Price: $370
Sizes Available : 19, 21, 23 and 25 inches ; size tested,23-inch
Weight: 23 .7 pounds
Frame: triple-butted chrome-moly main tubes, chrome-moly forks and staysWheelbase
39 1/2 inchesSeat tube
23 inchesTop tube
22 inchesHead angle
74 degreesSeat angle
75 degreesChainstays
16 1/4 inchesBottom bracket height
10 1/2 inchesFork rake
1 7/8 inchesTrail
1.88 inchesWheelsHubs
Sanshin Gyromaster, small-flange,QR front and rear, 125 mm over locknut
Spokes
36, 4-cross front and rear
Flick down a FlickstandT'and yourbicycle quicklybecomes a rigid panel that can be leaned anywhere,without the danger ofdamaging falls .
Weighing a scant 23 grams (that makes it less thanan ounce ofprevention!), the Flickstand is made ofdurable Zytel STthatwont maryour frame's finish .
'Ib receive our latest colorcatalog and the name of thedealer nearest you, call toll-free1-800-HOT GEAR.
The advantage is obviousBox 1087, Providence,R.I. 02901 a In Canada: Outdoor Gear,Montreal.
) u I y 1985 10 7
RimsTires
skinwall, 100 psiDrivetrainDerailleursChainCranksetFreewheelComponentsPedalsSeatpostSaddleBar/stem
handlebar. SR Custom 8 cm stem
108 BICYCLING
_Araya 20A 7000-by-20 mmBridgestone 7000-by-25 mm
SunTour CycloneIzumi
SR CRC-100, 42/52, 170 mmSunTour Perfect
KKT Pro Vic IIASR Laprade
Selle Italia MundialitaSakae Custom Road Champion 39 cm
GIPIE
Brakes
Bridgestone SC (Self-Centering)calipers, Dia-Compe levers
Gearing in Gear Inches
ME
to break away fromthe group'.
A wide sophisticated range of bike components including : fivecomplete groups, cranksets, pedals, hub sets, brakes, derailleurs,feewheel, seat post and headsets, and accessories to be brazed to theframe .
Gipiemme, greater prestige for your bike and new enthusiasm inyour cycling!
s
italian style for your bikeOMNIBIKE INC . P.O . BOX 37426 HOUSTON - TEXAS .77237 PHONE (713) 975-9000
repowd"sw~
i(Ne GIME
Miyata 912Imported by: Miyata Bicycle ofAmerica, Inc.
2526 W. Pratt Blvd.Elk Grove, IL 60007
Suggested Retail Price: $499
Sizes Available : 50, 54, 57, 60 and 63 cm ; size tested,57 cm
Weight : 24 pounds
Frame: Chrome-moly triple-butted main tubes, chrome-moly fork blades and staysWheelbase
40 inchesSeat tube
57 cmTop tube
56.6 cmHead angle
72 degreesSeat angle
73 degreesChainstays
16 1/2 inchesBottom bracket height
10 1/2 inchesFork rake
1 7/8 inchesTrail
2 .37 inchesWheelsHubs
Shimano 600 EX, low-flange,QR front and rear, 125 mm over lockout
Spokes
36, 3-cross front and rearRims
Ukai 7000-bv-25 mm, 480 grTires
Miyata Record dual-hard7000-by-20 mm, 270 gr, 100 psi
DrivetrainDerailleurs _ChainCranksetFreewheel -ComponentsPedals
Shimano 600 EXSeatpost
Sakae CRSaddle
Bernard Hinault TurboBar/stem
Win Pista 39 cm handlebar,Kusaki 10 .5 cm stem
Brakes
Shimano 600 EXI
Shimano 600 EXShimano Uniglide
Shimano 600 EX, 42/52, 170 mmShimano 600 EX
Nashbar Sport EXImported by : Bike Nashbar
215 Main St.New Middletown, OH 44442
Suggested Retail Price: $420
Sizes Available : 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 .5 inches;size tested, 22-inch
Weight: 22 .95 pounds
Frame: Tange Infinity seamed chrome-molyWheelbase
39 3/8 inchesSeat tube
22 inchesTop tube
21 inchesHead angle
74 degreesSeat angle
74 degreeChainstays
16 1/2 inchesBottom bracket height
10 5/8 inchesFork rake
2 inchesTrail
1.75 inchesWheelsHubs
Shimano 600 EX, low-flange,QR front and rear, 125 mm over lockoutSpokes
36, 3-cross front and rear
Rims
Araya 20 A 7000-by-20 mm,black anodized, 435 gr
IRC Roadlite, 7000-by-20 mm, 100 psiTires-_)rivetrainDerailleursChain-Crankset -Freewheel -ComponentsPedalsSeatpost-SaddleBar/stem-SR Aerox 8.5 cm stemBrakes
Shimano 600 EXShimano Uniglide
Shimano 600 EX, 42/52, 170 mmShimano 600 EX
Shimano 600 EXSR Laprade
Vetta leatherSR World Custom, 39 cm handlebar ;
Mongoose Mangusta
Imported by : BMX Products, Inc.5152 N. Commerce Ave.Moorpark, CA 93021
Suggested Retail Price: $399
Sizes Available : 19, 21, 23 and 25 inches : size tested,23-inch
Weight : 22 .85 pounds
Frame: Columbus chrome-mole tubing, lugless construc-tion with internal/external fillet welds and reinforcingsleevesWheelbaseSeat tubeTop tubeHead angleSeat angleChainstavsBottom bracket heightFork rakeTrailWheelsHubs
Maillard low-flange, QR front and rear,123 mm over locknut
Spokes
36, 3-cross front and rearRims
Wolber Gentleman 81, 7000 . 490 grTires
Michelin Bib TS 23DrivetrainDerailleurs -Campagnolo 980 with Vuovo Record leversChain
SedisportCrankset
Stronglight 100, 42/52, 170 mmFreewheel
Mail lardComponentsPedalsSeatpost-SaddleBar/stemBrakes
Maillard CXCAtax one-boltblack suede
Belled 41 cm handlebar : CTA stemWeinmann 405 brakes
Gearing in Gear Inches
Shimano 600 EX
39 1/2 inches58 cm
-57.4 cm74 degrees
- 74 degrees16 1/16 inches10 5/8 inches1 5/8 inches-2.14 inches
LEADINGEDCE
ORDERDIRECTTOLLFREE
I'M.
COD
'1 " 800 " 525 " 7525949 WALNUT ST. BOULDER, COLORADO 80302
GORE-TEX" is a registered trademark of W.L . Gore and Associates .
Call Toll Free 1-800-334-1612in North Carolina 919-799-6444
" Ciocc & Guerciotti Bicycles" Bicycle Clothing & Accessories" Complete Pro Shop" Triathlon Gear
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"The thrill is not just in winning,but in the courage to join the race ."
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" 1 .5 oz. GORE TEX* fabric" Polypropylene mesh back" Fully seam taped for waterproofness" Ventilating underarm zippers" Highly visible reflective piping
" Better fitting three piece hood" Accessible 12 In . leg zippers" Arms, legs & back cut for cycling
" Velcro® cuffs" Velcro® Storm flap overzipper
" High protective collar" Luscious nylon lining
Send S 1 .00 forour colorcatalog featuring ourfull line of cycling,running, swim wearand accessories .
14" x 21" In Full Color1
the Bicyclist's POSTERAluminum FRAME Optional-with chrome-like finish .
POSTER ONLY : $3 .95 ea . FRAMED : $16 .25 ea .(includes shipping-NY State res . add sales tax)
YES! Send me (qty):
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Send check with order to :VANTAGE Communications Inc .
(914) 358-0147Box 546-Y
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- Ziprh �� , R,gh,, eoim i � , .
CY75
1 U L Y
1985
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