Quote:
Originally Posted by berserk87
So in asking "what happened to Campy popularity", has it ever been more popular than it is?
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Well, when we were racing in the early '70s--in that small window between some less-than-stellar other Euro options (Huret, Simplex) and before the Suntour innovations and the first Dura-Ace--if you could afford it, you bought Campagnolo to go racing.
The combination of brakes that worked (without squealing), shifters that were reliable (alloy), and mechs that shifted reliably (albeit not extremely well), hubs that were beautifully finished and easily rebuilt plus those pro tools that were almost the only thing around (think no Pedros or other aftermarket tools) meant that you really wanted to go racing with Campy and their tools.
This was a small market segment even then I suspect, and the supply of parts and new goods was spotty even then--there was a lot of scrambling to get stuff, including resorting to buying new bikes to strip the groups off to keep product on the shelf for those who wanted it. And that probably added to the sense that you were onto something special...
They did not maintain their edge--and those in the know on the pro tour were already on Dura Ace by the early '80s, and the catch up was difficult for Campagnolo...