From a distance the Triplex Profesional apes the illustrious Campagnolo Super Record. Close up it is clearly from a different planet - the Planet Cheapo. The casting lines have not been ground off, the lustreless, grey aluminium is neither well polished or well anodised, the steel parts don’t quite rust, but become horribly discoloured - and I seem to remember that the spring tended to lose the will to live after a few months.

The Profesional was the ‘high-end’ Triplex model, upgraded from the Sport by the addition of a enameled name badge, an adjustable cable outer stop, 10 tooth pulley wheels and a mysterious and substantial gain in weight. My guess is that this example is an earlier Profesional, before the craze for drilling had caught hold. Perversely, it is 5g lighter than my red drilled version.

I dread to think which particular ‘profession’ Triplex had in mind when it named this product, but if it was that of the professional cyclist it could have only been so through an exaggerated sense of irony.

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1. •Brand: Triplex
   

2. •Country: Spain
   

3. •Date of introduction: 1970
   

4. •Date of this example: unknown
   

5. •Model no: unknown
   

6. •Weight: 200g
   

7. •Maximum cog: 30 teeth?
   

8. •Total capacity: 28 teeth?
   

9. •Pulley centre to centre: 46mm
   

10. •Index compatibility: friction
    

11. •Chain width: 3/32”
    

12. •Logic: top normal
    

13. •Pivots: two pivots, front sprung and rear unsprung
    

14. •Material: aluminium
    

15. •My theme: A riot of colour
    

0194/F