Interview with Pietro Piazzalunga

Tom Nakashima said:

Mechanic to Champions
For you retro enthusiast.
Great article interview by Bill McGann & Valeria Paoletti.
http://www.bikeraceinfo.com/oralhistory/piazzalunga.html
-tom

Dear Tom,

Thanks--nice article.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Tom Nakashima said:

Mechanic to Champions
For you retro enthusiast.
Great article interview by Bill McGann & Valeria Paoletti.
http://www.bikeraceinfo.com/oralhistory/piazzalunga.html
-tom

Dear Tom,

Thanks--nice article.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

Your welcome Carl,
-tom

Tom Nakashima said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Tom Nakashima said:

Mechanic to Champions
For you retro enthusiast.
Great article interview by Bill McGann & Valeria Paoletti.
http://www.bikeraceinfo.com/oralhistory/piazzalunga.html
-tom

Dear Tom,

Thanks--nice article.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

Your welcome Carl,
-tom

pah-leeeze, "you're", [as in "you are"] not "your".

change of useage required. just like when people change there break pads.

Proof that the interview's fake-

Q: Your career was long and you saw the profound changes to the bicycle,
from a steel 10-speed to an aluminum, super lightweight 20-speed. Did these
changes make your job easier?

PP: Oh yes, they did! Especially when all the innovations related to Shimano
arrived.

No self-respecting Italian would say that! :>😉

But I agree, it's a great read. Bill McGann's been doing fantastic stuff.
His book on the hsitory of the TdF is a must-read for anyone interested in
the early days of racing. Can't wait for part 2 to arrive.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

jim beam said:

Tom Nakashima said:

...
Your welcome Carl,
-tom

pah-leeeze, "you're", [as in "you are"] not "your".

change of useage required. just like when people change there break pads.

Next topic - capital letters.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

Tom Nakashima said:

Mechanic to Champions
For you retro enthusiast.
Great article interview by Bill McGann & Valeria Paoletti.http://www.bikeraceinfo.com/oralhistory/piazzalunga.html
-tom

Pardon my ignorance.
Do you know if Piazzalunga is still around and if possible for anyone
to drop by?
When was that interview given?

Sergio
Pisa

jim beam said:

Tom Nakashima said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:53:02 -0700, "Tom Nakashima"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

> Mechanic to Champions
> For you retro enthusiast.
> Great article interview by Bill McGann & Valeria Paoletti.
> http://www.bikeraceinfo.com/oralhistory/piazzalunga.html
> -tom
Dear Tom,

Thanks--nice article.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

Your welcome Carl,
-tom

pah-leeeze, "you're", [as in "you are"] not "your".

change of useage required. just like when people change there break pads.

That's 'their', not 'there' 😉

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

Proof that the interview's fake-

Q: Your career was long and you saw the profound changes to the bicycle,
from a steel 10-speed to an aluminum, super lightweight 20-speed. Did these
changes make your job easier?

PP: Oh yes, they did! Especially when all the innovations related to Shimano
arrived.

No self-respecting Italian would say that! :>😉

Well, he realized that shimano made some good improvements to this
stuff, that Campagnolo made better.....

Quoted message said:

But I agree, it's a great read. Bill McGann's been doing fantastic stuff.
His book on the hsitory of the TdF is a must-read for anyone interested in
the early days of racing. Can't wait for part 2 to arrive.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycleswww.ChainReactionBicycles.com

"Eric C." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

jim beam said:

Tom Nakashima said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> On Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:53:02 -0700, "Tom Nakashima"
> <[email hidden]> wrote:
>
>> Mechanic to Champions
>> For you retro enthusiast.
>> Great article interview by Bill McGann & Valeria Paoletti.
>> http://www.bikeraceinfo.com/oralhistory/piazzalunga.html
>> -tom
> Dear Tom,
>
> Thanks--nice article.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Carl Fogel

Your welcome Carl,
-tom

pah-leeeze, "you're", [as in "you are"] not "your".

change of useage required. just like when people change there break

pads.

Quoted message said:

That's 'their', not 'there' 😉

Oh go on then ... [break] brake pads.

--
Colin N.

Lincolnshire is mostly flat ... But the wind is mostly in your face

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Proof that the interview's fake-

Q: Your career was long and you saw the profound changes to the bicycle,
from a steel 10-speed to an aluminum, super lightweight 20-speed. Did
these changes make your job easier?

PP: Oh yes, they did! Especially when all the innovations related to
Shimano arrived.

No self-respecting Italian would say that! :>😉

Yea, I caught that too, but I do remember Eddy Merckx (although he's not
Italian) said something along those lines. This is when his company put out
the steel red/white/green 7-11 Merckx production bike years ago. If you
recall it had all new Dura Ace components. Someone questioned him on this
and his reply was that Shimano components were functionally superior to
Campagnolo. I was surprised Eddy said that, but I guess he had to defend
putting on Shimano components.
-tom

In article <[email hidden]>,

jim beam said:

Tom Nakashima said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:53:02 -0700, "Tom Nakashima"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

> Mechanic to Champions For you retro enthusiast. Great article
> interview by Bill McGann & Valeria Paoletti.
> http://www.bikeraceinfo.com/oralhistory/piazzalunga.html -tom
Dear Tom,

Thanks--nice article.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

Your welcome Carl, -tom

pah-leeeze, "you're", [as in "you are"] not "your".

That's a bit rich. If you're going to snipe at people's grammar,
perhaps it would be best to conform to standard capitalization in your
own posts. :-) As the saying goes, every spelling flame contains an
eror.

Tom Nakashima said:

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Proof that the interview's fake-

Quoted message said:

Q: Your career was long and you saw the profound changes to the bicycle,
from a steel 10-speed to an aluminum, super lightweight 20-speed. Did
these changes make your job easier?

Quoted message said:

PP: Oh yes, they did! Especially when all the innovations related to
Shimano arrived.

Quoted message said:

No self-respecting Italian would say that! :>😉

Yea, I caught that too, but I do remember Eddy Merckx (although he's not
Italian) said something along those lines. This is when his company put out
the steel red/white/green 7-11 Merckx production bike years ago. If you
recall it had all new Dura Ace components. Someone questioned him on this
and his reply was that Shimano components were functionally superior to
Campagnolo.

IIRC, that was in the ~mid-late '80s. At that point, Shimano
components *were* functionally superior to Campy.

Quoted message said:

I was surprised Eddy said that, but I guess he had to defend
putting on Shimano components.

He was simply stating a fact.

"Ozark Bicycle" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tom Nakashima said:

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Proof that the interview's fake-

Quoted message said:

Q: Your career was long and you saw the profound changes to the
bicycle,
from a steel 10-speed to an aluminum, super lightweight 20-speed. Did
these changes make your job easier?

Quoted message said:

PP: Oh yes, they did! Especially when all the innovations related to
Shimano arrived.

Quoted message said:

No self-respecting Italian would say that! :>😉

Yea, I caught that too, but I do remember Eddy Merckx (although he's not
Italian) said something along those lines. This is when his company put
out
the steel red/white/green 7-11 Merckx production bike years ago. If you
recall it had all new Dura Ace components. Someone questioned him on this
and his reply was that Shimano components were functionally superior to
Campagnolo.

IIRC, that was in the ~mid-late '80s. At that point, Shimano
components *were* functionally superior to Campy.

Agree, the 80's was a revolution period for Shimano.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I was surprised Eddy said that, but I guess he had to defend
putting on Shimano components.

He was simply stating a fact.

It's possible, but Shimano could have saw an opening and took
advantage of it. Merckx steel frames were up there with Colnago's
and Bianchi's in the 80's. I remember the magazine cover well, Andy
Hampsten leaning on a Merckx red/white/green (Italian colors)
7-11 bike, outfitted with Shimano Dura-Ace components.
-tom

Johnny Sunset said:

jim beam said:

Tom Nakashima said:

...
Your welcome Carl,
-tom

pah-leeeze, "you're", [as in "you are"] not "your".

change of useage required. just like when people change there break
pads.

Next topic - capital letters.

really?

Tom Nakashima said:

"Ozark Bicycle" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tom Nakashima said:

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Proof that the interview's fake-

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Q: Your career was long and you saw the profound changes to the
> bicycle,
> from a steel 10-speed to an aluminum, super lightweight 20-speed. Did
> these changes make your job easier?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> PP: Oh yes, they did! Especially when all the innovations related to
> Shimano arrived.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> No self-respecting Italian would say that! :>😉

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Yea, I caught that too, but I do remember Eddy Merckx (although he's not
Italian) said something along those lines. This is when his company put
out
the steel red/white/green 7-11 Merckx production bike years ago. If you
recall it had all new Dura Ace components. Someone questioned him on this
and his reply was that Shimano components were functionally superior to
Campagnolo.

Quoted message said:

IIRC, that was in the ~mid-late '80s. At that point, Shimano
components *were* functionally superior to Campy.

Agree, the 80's was a revolution period for Shimano.

And a kind of "down" period for Campy: Stynchro shifters, the exerable
SGR pedals, outdated RD designs, etc.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I was surprised Eddy said that, but I guess he had to defend
putting on Shimano components.

Quoted message said:

He was simply stating a fact.

It's possible, but Shimano could have saw an opening and took
advantage of it.

By selling Merckx the D-A stuff cheap? Perhaps so, but if the stuff
wasn't "up to snuff", I don't think Merckx would risk sullying his
reputation by using it.

Quoted message said:

Merckx steel frames were up there with Colnago's
and Bianchi's in the 80's. I remember the magazine cover well, Andy
Hampsten leaning on a Merckx red/white/green (Italian colors)
7-11 bike, outfitted with Shimano Dura-Ace components.

Yep, Buy-Cycling magazine, ca. 1988 (Did the caption say "America's
Best Rider"?)

"Tom Nakashima" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mechanic to Champions
For you retro enthusiast.
Great article interview by Bill McGann & Valeria Paoletti.
http://www.bikeraceinfo.com/oralhistory/piazzalunga.html
-tom

Thank you for the link. It was a great read and it is easy to see why he
has so many friends.

"Ozark Bicycle" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tom Nakashima said:

"Ozark Bicycle" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Jun 14, 8:35 am, "Tom Nakashima" <[email hidden]> wrote:
> "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

>news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

> > Proof that the interview's fake-

Quoted message said:

> > Q: Your career was long and you saw the profound changes to the
> > bicycle,
> > from a steel 10-speed to an aluminum, super lightweight 20-speed.
> > Did
> > these changes make your job easier?

Quoted message said:

> > PP: Oh yes, they did! Especially when all the innovations related to
> > Shimano arrived.

Quoted message said:

> > No self-respecting Italian would say that! :>😉

Quoted message said:

> Yea, I caught that too, but I do remember Eddy Merckx (although he's
> not
> Italian) said something along those lines. This is when his company
> put
> out
> the steel red/white/green 7-11 Merckx production bike years ago. If
> you
> recall it had all new Dura Ace components. Someone questioned him on
> this
> and his reply was that Shimano components were functionally superior
> to
> Campagnolo.

Quoted message said:

IIRC, that was in the ~mid-late '80s. At that point, Shimano
components *were* functionally superior to Campy.

Agree, the 80's was a revolution period for Shimano.

And a kind of "down" period for Campy: Stynchro shifters, the exerable
SGR pedals, outdated RD designs, etc.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> I was surprised Eddy said that, but I guess he had to defend
> putting on Shimano components.

Quoted message said:

He was simply stating a fact.

It's possible, but Shimano could have saw an opening and took
advantage of it.

By selling Merckx the D-A stuff cheap? Perhaps so, but if the stuff
wasn't "up to snuff", I don't think Merckx would risk sullying his
reputation by using it.

Quoted message said:

Merckx steel frames were up there with Colnago's
and Bianchi's in the 80's. I remember the magazine cover well, Andy
Hampsten leaning on a Merckx red/white/green (Italian colors)
7-11 bike, outfitted with Shimano Dura-Ace components.

Yep, Buy-Cycling magazine, ca. 1988 (Did the caption say "America's
Best Rider"?)

I remember reading an article in Bicycle Magazine comparing
Campagnolo components to Shimano components in the late 80's.
There was an elegant photo of the Campy Delta Brakes with a caption
that read: Our components look like jewelry!
-tom

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

Proof that the interview's fake-

Q: Your career was long and you saw the profound changes to the bicycle,
from a steel 10-speed to an aluminum, super lightweight 20-speed. Did these
changes make your job easier?

PP: Oh yes, they did! Especially when all the innovations related to Shimano
arrived.

No self-respecting Italian would say that! :>😉

That bit seemed like it was very carefully worded. You'll notice that
he said "innovations related to Shimano", not "innovations from Shimano"
or anything like that.

Tom Nakashima said:

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Proof that the interview's fake-

Quoted message said:

Q: Your career was long and you saw the profound changes to the bicycle,
from a steel 10-speed to an aluminum, super lightweight 20-speed. Did
these changes make your job easier?

Quoted message said:

PP: Oh yes, they did! Especially when all the innovations related to
Shimano arrived.

Quoted message said:

No self-respecting Italian would say that! :>😉

Yea, I caught that too, but I do remember Eddy Merckx (although he's not
Italian) said something along those lines. This is when his company put out
the steel red/white/green 7-11 Merckx production bike years ago. If you
recall it had all new Dura Ace components. Someone questioned him on this
and his reply was that Shimano components were functionally superior to
Campagnolo. I was surprised Eddy said that, but I guess he had to defend
putting on Shimano components.
-tom

In 1988 or whenever shimano first made STI, it WAS superior to
anything Campagnolo had..until about 1992....I do see that Eddy rides
his personal Merckx with Record on it.