Freewheel - 03

FREEWHEEL:
Campagnolo Record Titnaium - 14/21 (14-15-16-17-19-21) standard 6 speed - slant key 2 notch removal interface - 1.370" x 24 TPI English thread - 2x2x2 stepped aluminum alloy body - six notch slip fit individual cogs with single aluminum spacer / duplex threaded locking cog pair - 6Al-4V titanium alloy composition for all cogs regardless of size - model Record Titanium 050070 ... [Yet another variation with respect to that which came affixed to this Pino Morroni bicycle. Whereas it originally had a workman like Maeda / SunTour New Winner model NW-7000 ultra / compact spaced 7 speed freewheel with 13/23 (13-14-15-16-18-20-23) cogs, after vacillating between a couple of different options, I ultimately chose to go with a rather exotic Campagnolo Record freewheel sporting a full set of alloyed titanium cogs. Tulio Campagnolo himself actually unveiled his first branded freewheel at the November 1979 Milan Bicycle Show, although a production version of said freewheel was not to become generally available to the public until early 1982. In fact, its two year gestation was the very last component development project that Tulio personally oversaw prior to his passing on February 3rd, 1983. Of particular note, the removal slots on the body of these freewheels are cut at an angle so that the corresponding Campy specific removal tool naturally locks itself into the proper position under pressure. Unfortunately, this clever design feature also means that whenever a less than savvy bicycle mechanic unwittingly tries to use a traditional two notch removal tool in conjunction with one of these Campy units, it invariably results in the destruction, or at the very least severe mutilation, of the freewheel body itself. Incorporating a robust three pawl ratchet system, the vast majority of early Campagnolo freewheels were fitted with lightweight aluminum cogs. Considering their sobering $125 to $225 USD M.S.R.P. back in 1983 (...it all depended upon whether or not you sought that spendy six speed 12 tooth cog for your race rig) and the inherently limited durability of those aluminum cog teeth, it should come as no surprise to learn that the vast majority of these freewheels ended up being relegated to competition and/or event specific use. Still, for those who were well heeled enough to abide a further mind numbing incremental increase in pricing, Campagnolo offered yet another distinctive and quite understandably not often seen version of their freewheel which sported a complete set of matching 6Al-4V titanium alloy cog rings which, when weighed as a fully assembled unit, tipped the scales at a tidy 165 grams (...i.e. only 10 to 15 grams more than their all alloy version - depending upon the exact selection of cogs being compared).]