Guinessisgoodforyou
rBotM Winner
That is a question @Woz and I have debated at length. I think our resident derailleur expert @ferrus could shed some light on this. From my point of view I love the Japanese parts. I think they improved, refined and gave the customer what they wanted at a reasonable price point. I obviously love the French parts and I lament the demise. I think for a long time (decades) they were a long way in front as regards Audax, Randonneuring and touring. I find the subject fascinating and the more I uncover the more unanswered questions I have.That Rene Andre is sublime. I've been looking at a lot of French components recently (for a build) and never ceases to amaze the level of ingenuity and QC that goes into their products. Where did it all go wrong for the French!?
I guess that lower end Simplex and Huret just got cheaper and nastier and the Japs took advantage. Or did they?
Check out this Cyclo marvel of derailleur design.
I think the earlier stuff promoted the "japcrap" rumour and by the time the early to mid 70s came along they were turning out top notch stuff like Crane then Dura Ace. The french parts had their own standards which did them no favours and price wise they become uncompetitive. Edit, I've been running Japanese parts for nearly 50 years, so I've seen some of the less desirable stuff.I'm always surprised that the Japanese became so dominant so quickly. Look at the competition they had: TA, Stronglight, the Simplex SLJ range, Huret Duopar for wide range cassettes, Maillard hubs, Corima... The list goes on! Early Shimano and Suntour were a bit rubbish I thought, I grew up with this stuff. It was rugged though - I've still got Suntour Powershift running on a bike from 40 years ago!
How did they lose the war to the east?
Where did it all go wrong for the French!?
That is a question @Woz and I have debated at length. I think our resident derailleur expert @ferrus could shed some light on this. From my point of view I love the Japanese parts. I think they improved, refined and gave the customer what they wanted at a reasonable price point. I obviously love the French parts and I lament the demise. I think for a long time (decades) they were a long way in front as regards Audax, Randonneuring and touring. I find the subject fascinating and the more I uncover the more unanswered questions I have.
Fair point, but by the end of the 80's Mavic, Simplex and Corima had pretty much ditched French standards and were selling very well internationally. The Mavic sealed bottom bracket pretty much put paid to any compatibility problemsYes, indeed @Guinessisgoodforyou - the almost ridiculous and bizarre path - essentially British frame standards (but not wheels) with French wheel standards (but not frames or parts) is were we got to. Even in the early days for Japanese industry to enter this must have been a nightmare and they themselves must have had to take some gambles and steered some type of standardisation.