Un-expected differences between a classic Carlton and much more modern Ambrosio
Posted by: Agricola on 24 June 2013
In the winter, I bought a quite modern [ten speed by two front chain wheel Campagnolo ergo shift] Ambrosio cycle to augment the venerable Carlton.
The highest gearing on the Ambrosio is ten per cent higher than the Carlton, and the crankset is of the 170 mm variety that is now standard for men's road cycles. The Carlton has 175 mm arms that do mean I have to be careful not to strike the road with the pedals when leaning, but leads to a tendency to use higher gears at a lower cadence, which I personally like.
The Ambrosio is aluminium and carbon in construction, and the Carlton is traditional Reynold steel, though the Carlton is the lighter cycle by two pounds.
The Carlton has a by now antiquated Campagnolo friction system of two by six speed on a free-wheel rather than two by ten speed cassette.
The Ambrosio feels the faster cycle, but is not. It encourages high cadence rate, and it is hard to find top cog without that dead feeling that there is nothing more to add. It also handles rough surfaces less well than the Carlton. The slightly shorter legged Carlton is easy on top gear, and yet, I have found is the faster, safer, and better handling cycle.
With the Carlton, you actually don't realise how fast you are going, because it is smooth and never feels the least bit close to the edge.
The proof was to take the speedometer off the Ambrosio and fit on the old stead. On the commute it is significantly faster at an average speed of two miles per hour more, but from the feel of the cycle, you think you are ambling!
The Ambrosio will stay, but as second cycle! The Carlton is significantly cheaper to keep maintained, as well as clearly the better machine!
ATB from George