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.

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.