Campagnolo Super Record (2nd-gen., 1978-87)

Campagnolo's Super Record became the immediate successor to Nuovo Record in 1976. Super Record's first incarnation was essentially identical to the Nuovo Record, differing only in cosmetics and titanium adjustment hardware, not to mention a considerably higher price tag.

Nevertheless, as the desire for more chainwrap in the cycling world increased (and as 5 cogs in the back became 6 and 7), Campagnolo revised Super Record's geometry in 1978, resulting in the "second-generation" dérailleur seen here (which so happens to be a 1986 example).

Super Record's slightly larger spacing between pulley wheels did give the dérailleur better chain-wrap capacity, but more importantly, the angle at which the parallelogram sits was increased, and the forward/upper pulley wheel was moved closer to the cogs yet again; generally lessening chain gap and improving shifting characteristics over Nuovo Record - and conceivably to a greater extent then Nuovo Record's improvement over Gran Sport.

Super Record, nice as it is, never did shake off the worst of its inherited flaws from Nuovo Record - its penchant for refusing to downshift into the smallest cog under load was never successfully eliminated, and is evident in the video at 0:41-0:43:

First-generation Super Record photos courtesy Jon Fischer, Velobase.com
Super Record video, copyright Kurt Kaminer

Campagnolo Nuovo Record (1967-1986)

Nuovo Record (literally, "New Record") was Campagnolo's third revision of the Gran Sport's parallelogram design, introduced in 1966/7. It followed the 1963 Campagnolo Record in Campagnolo's gradual dérailleur evolution.

While I do not own the original steel Campagnolo Record myself (the Nuovo's primary improvement was an all-aluminum body and pulley cage), the Nuovo Record and Record are virtually identical in terms of geometry, and serve equally to demonstrate the first major revision to the Gran Sport's mechanical design. To alleviate Gran Sport's limited chain-wrapping capacity, the pivot for the pulley cage was brought forward and down, which increased the amount of chain the dérailleur could take up; secondly, it brought the upper/forward pulley wheel closer to the cogs - via revision of the cage design and angling the entire parallelogram farther forward - improving the crispness of each shift.

Despite Nuovo Record's unbelievable popularity in professional cycling (the last Nuovo Records were produced in 1987; identifiable by the absence of "PATENT" or a date code stamped into the upper body), its design - along with the revised Super Record that followed it - was fundamentally flawed. Nuovo Record's often-excessive chain gap (depending on the gear combination, cog sizes, and chain length), typically required that the rider overshift the control lever to coax the chain to jump to the following cog. Worse yet, the Nuovo is particularly known for refusing to shift down into the smallest cog when under considerable load - legend has it that races were often won and lost as a result of this quirk, during final sprints to the finish line.

The following video shows a Nuovo Record rear dérailleur in action on a floor stand, though its negative characteristics may not be that apparent - in this example, a newer "freewheel" (the cluster of cogs) with offset teeth has been paired with it to help improve the shifting characteristics of the venerable design:

1963 Campagnolo Record variants, courtesy Jon Fisher's Velobase.com
Nuovo Record video, copyright Kurt Kaminer

Campagnolo Gran Sport (1955-1973 - 4th-gen review)

Campagnolo's Gran Sport is arguably one of the single most important rear dérailleurs in the evolution of the device itself. Lore had it for many years that it was the very first dérailleurs based around the now-standard "parallelogram" design - essentially, a pair of parallel arms swinging the lower body from side to side - as opposed to earlier whimsical spring or double-cable operated designs.

The originality of the design still remains questionable to this day. According to Frank Berto of The Dancing Chain:

"Most writers suggest that Campagnolo copied...the 1938 Nivex or the JIC. However, I believe the real inventor of Campagnolo's Gran Sport parallelogram rear dérailleur was probably Francesco Ghiggini. He obtained Italian patents on the design...[and] sold the rights to his patents to Campagnolo in 1951."

Origins aside, the Campagnolo Gran Sport went on to become the first successfully mass-produced parallelogram dérailleur, revolutionizing the entire industry, which set out to unabashedly copy the design and subsequent models.

The Gran Sport shown here is from 1961, an example of Gran Sport's fourth overall revision - largely cosmetic - from the original 1951 design. Despite these revisions, the geometry of the dérailleur remained essentially the same throughout its production; even the basic parallelogram was carried over to the later Record, Nuovo Record, and Super Record dérailleurs with relatively minor changes.

I leave you with a video of the 1961 Gran Sport demonstrating its operating abilities and characteristics. The limitations of the pulley cage should be apparent:

Gran Sport variants, courtesy Jon Fisher's Velobase.com
Gran Sport video, copyright Kurt Kaminer

Bicycle Elegance (a.k.a. Two Schwinns and a Rudge)

It is time to stop and enjoy a series of photographs from not long ago.

My stable favorites - a 1961 Schwinn Paramount P12, and the 1982 Schwinn Superior "Baby Paramount" built as a faux French constructeur (with equal grace as any Rene Herse, even if not as intricate):

The early, forged Campagnolo Record 151 BCD crank alongside the venerable TA Pro 5 Vis Cyclotourist (or Cyclotouriste, depending on your preference)

The Superior was built with three things in mind - elegance, class, and practicality. It excels in all three.

This may not be a road bike, but the 1979 Rudge DL-1 in the fleet is every bit as noble - even though it rivals a Ford F150 for size, weight, and general brawn.

If you want to see more, leave a comment.

-Kurt