Conference noted::bicycle

    
    A Super Record Reduced gruppo is less than a Dura-Ace group.
    
    The Suntour Superbe Pro group is nice but it just doesn't hold up
    under hard use as well as Campy, and it's throwaway...
    
    CdH
    

    Or... Campy Nouvo Record.  (are they still available, i'm sort of
    out of touch with components lately)
    
    My Nouvo Record stuff has held up extremely well.  
    
    I would feel safe buying it mail order, since its Campy.  
    
    P.S. When buying components be sure to specify...
    
     - spokes per wheel
     - headset size
     - crank threading
     - crank arm length
     - chain rings
     - brake mounting
     - seat post size
     - braze/on vs. non for front derailleur
     - braze/on vs. non for shifters
    
    Anything else anyone can think of??
    
    
    Chuck

    
    That's just about all of them, but don't forget...
    
    120 or 126 mm rear axle (5 or 6 spd)
    High or low flange
    English or Italian freewheel threads on the rear hub (you probably
    won't have to worry about that, 99.9% are English coming into this
    country)
    
    also short or long reach calipers
    
    CdH
    
    
        

    I'm in the same situation as Gary, who started this note.  I've
    got a frame on order and am trying to decide what to put on it.
    
    I am currently riding a bike with Campy NR (about 12 years old)
    on it.  It works O.K., but I am interested in information on Campy
    alternatives.  Has anyone out there tried MAVIC SSC or New Dura-Ace
    and liked it?  The SSC group seems infinitely adjustable and has
    sealed mechanisms that Campy doesn't.
    
    The frame will be done April.  Any thoughts on alternative groups?

    I can understand the conservatism expressed by experienced racers
    in this note.  Component manufacturers have been swept by a series
    of fads in the last several years (pushing "light as possible",
    then "aero everything", then "color coordinated"). Now we have
    indexed shifting, hexagonal handlebars, and rachet pedals.
    Some of the influence of fads is good, but quite often, what's
    produced doesn't last.  Parts break, or work less well than 
    they used to.  The guy with the aero derailleur ends up by the
    side of the road trying to repair his roller bearing chain guide
    bushings while the guy with 13-year old Campy parts flies by.
    
    But some companies seemed to have learned a lesson in all this.
    The Mavic stuff has no frills, and it seems to be indestructible.
    I haven't tried it, but I would seriously consider the parts.
    To a lesser extent, the Dura Ace stuff seems to have calmed down
    and become more serious (remember the funky Aero AX brakes?).  
    Most of the frivilous "enhancements" nowadays are left for the 
    Shimano 600 series.
    
    Safe is better than sorry.  However, bicycle technology is not
    standing still, and a manufacturer with the correct formula
    today could produce better components than Campy's NR or SR.
    
    
    MATT
    (happy owner of a New Dura Ace crank and BB)

    
    The big question is...
    
    Are you going to race the bike?
    
    If it's just a recreational machine, by all means, buy the group
    that appeals to you. Certainly sealed bearings is an incentive to
    Campy alternatives.
    
    But if this is a competition machine, then that's another story.
    Make sure that the shop you buy your group from stocks replacement
    parts. That's the big advantage with Campy, you can go to any major
    bike shop and you should be able to get any part you need. You won't
    have that with the Dura-Ace and Mavic, only the dedicated shop owners
    will take the effort/time/shelfspace/inventory to stock those lines.
    
    CdH
    

    re:.6
    
    	Yes, I'm planning on racing with it.  How often depends on how
    well I do in jumping from citizens to USCF (getting dropped is 
    demoralizing.)  Will going from citizen's to the IVs create a greater
    need for spares than I have now (tires & rims excluded?)

    
    Greater need for spares?
    
    If you're planning on trying Cat IV on such a nice machine, be prepared
    for the possibility that it may not last the season. Cat IV is a
    far cry from the safety of citizens where riders are courteous and
    polite. The prevailing attitude in IV's is "Now that I've got my
    license I'm a real racer now and I'll do anything to win". You won't
    believe some of the things I've seen in IV's. The situation hasn't
    gotten any better since the '84 Olympics, either, something which
    was promised us by the Federation. 
    
    Just be prepared for anything. The best advice I can give you equipment
    wise is to leave the nice bike in the garage for training and ride
    an inexpensive bulletproof bike in the IV's.
    
    CdH
    

    re:.8  
    
    Hmmmm, maybe a license isn't such a good idea...
    

    
    Wrong!
    
    Getting your license is a great idea. And taking a realistic attitude
    about the possibility of damage to yourself and your machine is
    another. You can't be concerned about scraping you new Super Record
    pedal in a corner or tearing up your new bar tape in a crash. You'll
    have enough to be concerned about in that pack of riders.
    
    By all means get your papers and ride Cat IV. Be competitive, be
    careful and most of all enjoy it. 
    
    CdH
     

    
    I raced for several years and often found the USCF races frightening
    (I know I shouldn't really admit that, but...).
    
    I enjoyed the club racing more.  People were more mellow and it
    was almost as hard to win.  Check out Northeast Bike Club, Boston
    Road Club, Mass Bay Road Club  (Chelmsford, Newton and Plymouth
    MA respectively.)
    
    Chuck
    

    This seemed like a good place to ask this, though it's a little
    different from the original topic.  I'm looking at mountain bikes right
    now and trying to decide which brand what model, etc.  The only
    confusing part is that I'm really only familiar with quality of Shimano
    components, and every now and again, right in between two Shimano
    equipped bikes, is a SunTour equipped bike.  What gives?  Why do they
    do that, but more importantly, what are the equivalences?  Can anyone
    out there sort of do a model by model mapping of one to the other??  If
    this is asking too much, I can go through the spec sheets and look for
    specific models to ask about.  This info would be appreciated greatly,
    as I think I've decided to go with GT but not a specific model yet.
    
    Thanks,
    -Jesse