Conference noted::bicycle

    
    I have the Athena group on my Marinoni with a Regina 13-24 freewheel 
    and no problems yet. I use the Synchro II shifters but that shouldn't
    make to much of a difference.
    
    Joe

    Dearest Bob,
    
    Such a dilemma.  I am glad to see that you realize that your
    addiction bicycle parts (and to continually changing them) 
    is not entirely rational.  
    
    But then, neither is love.  Your daughter and I would be happy 
    to get you the derailleur of your choice for Father's Day.
    
    Love,
    
    Your wife

>    But then, neither is love.  Your daughter and I would be happy 
>    to get you the derailleur of your choice for Father's Day.

    Heck, Bob, with an offer like that, you'd better go for C-Record
    or Croce D'Aune!
    
    MATT

>>    I'm getting pretty tired of my Super Record rear derailleur and for
>>    NOT ENTIRELY RATIONAl REASONS I'd like to stick with Campy. 
 
	Think DURA-ACE 8sp     

    
    Watch out Bob! It sounds like there may be some ulterior motives
    behind your wife's offer. She may, "for no rational reason", want
    some(?) diamonds for herself next! Is her birthday coming up soon?
    
    Enjoy your new derailleur!
    
    JB

    >   Watch out Bob! It sounds like there may be some ulterior motives
    >    behind your wife's offer. She may, "for no rational reason",
    >   wants some(?) diamonds for herself next! Is her birthday coming up
        soon?
    
     Or maybe she wants a new bike
     
    Steve
    

    DEAR .6,
    
    No thanks.  I am very happy with my one (1) bike, although he keeps
    trying to talk me into a mountain bike.  Four bikes, plus a trike,
    in the family is plenty!  (He has three (3)!)
    
    Dear .5,
    
    What a good idea! Nothing irrational about jewelery.  Good investment,
    too.  Never can have enough diamonds in the family since both me
    and our daughter have diamond as our birthstone (April, alas).
    
    Janette

Gee Janette, bad timing for a birthday present, but there's always your
anniversary, or Christmas, or Thanksgiving,...  how about 4th of July?
I understand lots of husbands are giving their wives diamonds as 4th of July 
presents these days...

(^8 -rob- 8^)

    This note seems to have taken on a slightly different character than I
    had originally intended.  I've heard from my wife, my best man, and a
    variety of well wishers - but I don't know any more about campy
    derailleurs than when I started.  Toward that end I will try to
    jumpstart the original intent of the note.
    
    Athena - cheapest and most recently introduced; adjustable for 5 
    different freewheels (20-30 tooth range) but you gotta take it off
    the bike to do it; also some steel parts (how gauche)
    
    Chorus - introduced late 87??, has adjustments for freewheel size
    (two settings) - potentially best price performance??
    
    Croce  - choice of zee famous Rowbear (formerly of Bicycle Exhange
    but now at Belmont Wheelworks); most bells and whistles, heaviest of
    Chorus, Croce, C-Record (though not a big deal), most expensive, and
    apparently to be discontinued in U.S. because it's too close to 
    C-Record
    
    C-Record - first choice of famous drug users such as Pedro Delgado,
    oldest design (??), slightly less pricey than Croce
    
    
    Thanks for all the cards and letters - my generous wife even said
    Croce or C-Record would be okay thanks to a suggestion in an earlier
    note.
    
    Bob

    I've briefly tried all but the Athena.  Strangely enough, I liked
    the Croce D'Aune the least.  I couldn't get it to shift one gear
    at a time -- I always ended up grinding away between cogs.  This
    is probably due to the novel design that eliminates overshifting;
    I no doubt overshift unconsciously after decades of doing it.
    Who knows? maybe it's great, but I'll never bother to change my
    habits.
    
    The Chorus has a nice, light feel, and I think it's the coolest
    looking of the Campy derailleurs.  I don't know what that's worth,
    but it makes a difference to me....
    
    The C-Record is a "classic" Campy derailleur, the kind that go
    "clunk" into the next gear.  It's actually kind of satisfying
    and positive, but slow.  I've heard conflicting opinions on
    its durability.  One guy in this conference said a friend's 
    disintegrated on a long descent.  Yet, there are all those 
    professionals beating the heck out of them.  I figure the one
    guy's was just put together wrong.
    
    As for Athena, all I know is hearsay.  Believe it or not, it's
    supposed to be the "best shifting" Campy derailleur.  In my
    opinion, that's like saying that the 144 is the "lightest" Volvo.
    Derailleurs are the worst thing that Campy makes.
    
    My choice?  Dura Ace.  I have an 8-speed and a 6-speed.  Even though
    I could get a 35% discount on Campy parts, I went with Shimano.
    So are a lot of other racers here in Italy.  But I understand
    "not wholly rational" reasons.  Best wishes on your choice!

    I wouldn't be surprised if Croce D'Aune was discontinued in Italy
    as well.  It's not very popular.  Except for the derailleur, the
    component group is just a bunch of lower-grade C-Record stuff 
    (less-polished aluminum, clunkier brakes, cheaper hubs).  It 
    doesn't have a real market niche.  But what can you expect from
    a gruppo that's named after a mountain pass where Campagnolo LOST
    a race?
        
    MATT

      From what I have heard Campy will be coming out with another groupo
    next year.  I think it is supposed to be less expensive than Athena.
    I thought I would just add to the confusion.
    
    						Norm

    Thanks for all the input - the choice I've made is to go for the
    Chorus - time permitting I'll pick one up at Nashbar tonite.
    
    Sorry Matt - no kickback.
    
    I'll update the note once I'm able to put some mileage on it.
    
    Bob