When did Pace introduce their chainrings?

[TreaderSteve]

Agree re: Pace being the schizzle - top quality. I lusted after them and got them even when an impoverished student.
The more modest parts I mention on this Merlin I got recently are fairly run of the mill groupset components - indeed not even a groupset with Dia-Compe cantis, a Shimano 600 rear mech (chosen for low weight?) and a Suntour XC Comp (nor Pro!) front mech - I dunno why but it seems to have been on there since day dot. XT hubs, although I suppose they were high-up in rank in 1991 without going crazy on some niche US brand.

 

[greencat]

Agree re: Pace being the schizzle - top quality. I lusted after them and got them even when an impoverished student.
The more modest parts I mention on this Merlin I got recently are fairly run of the mill groupset components - indeed not even a groupset with Dia-Compe cantis, a Shimano 600 rear mech (chosen for low weight?) and a Suntour XC Comp (nor Pro!) front mech - I dunno why but it seems to have been on there since day dot. XT hubs, although I suppose they were high-up in rank in 1991 without going crazy on some niche US brand.

Sounds like they were going for a light weight racy build during quite a tight window historically - early 90s. Dia-compe were well regarded for a small time, and for a brief time a few were looking at road mechs (pre-XTR). Suntour stuff was very difficult to get a hold of, but can imagine why someone might have specced one of their front mechs (light weight, well regarded and a thumbed nose at Shimano without the compatibility issues) - but was constrained by what they could get. I reckon if you had some of the UK mags from the early 90s, you'd be able pinpoint which issues influenced this build as this is all on point when viewed with a bit of squint.

It no doubt feels a bit esoteric with the passing of time. But there will have been method in the madness. While I never built anything like this, I did have some bizarre builds based on nonsense I'd read in mags and my own wants/needs. They were never cheap (especially buying the parts individually) though.

 

[Mace4130]

Agree re: Pace being the schizzle - top quality. I lusted after them and got them even when an impoverished student.
The more modest parts I mention on this Merlin I got recently are fairly run of the mill groupset components - indeed not even a groupset with Dia-Compe cantis, a Shimano 600 rear mech (chosen for low weight?) and a Suntour XC Comp (nor Pro!) front mech - I dunno why but it seems to have been on there since day dot. XT hubs, although I suppose they were high-up in rank in 1991 without going crazy on some niche US brand.

A lot of people, myself included, ran a Suntour front mech as they were, supposedly, smoother shifting than the Shimano ones, due to the shape of the cage plates.
I still run both on my bikes, I think the Suntour is marginally better, but not by much.