Gary Fisher at the Repack: Rare Footage

Fastest time:Gary Fisher-4.22 

Bikes At War!

Recruiting poster for the South Midland Divisional Cyclist Company

The Army Cyclist Corps of the British Army was active during World War I as part of the Army's bicycle infantry, and the first complete bicycle unit was raised in 1888. While the units were not deployed as organised combat formations, the bicycle was found to be invaluable for reconnaissance and communications work as they were lighter, quieter, and logistically much easier to support than horses. On the eve of the First World War, there were fourteen cyclist battalions. 
                                                                                         

British cyclist troops advance through Brie, Somme, 1917

Cyclists of the 36th Division in France, 1918 

A Braveheart

Highest Speed on a Bicycle!

World Speed Record for Cycling 

October 3, 1995, Dutch cyclist Fred Rompelberg pedaled in the slipstream of a dragster at 167.044 mph (268,831 km/h), a World Speed Record for Cycling that still stands. He was 50 years old at the time and still is the world’s eldest professional cyclist.

Rider

Fred Rompelberg,

Maastricht, the Netherlands,

Age 49 (1995), height 6 ft, weight 170 lb;

Eldest professional cyclist in the world,

Current holder of the Absolute Speed World Record Cycling

with 268,831 km/h.

The photo shows Fred during his successful world record attempt on 1995-10-03 on his special bicycle behind a dragster of the Strasburg Drag Racing Team on a dried up salt lake, the so called Salt Flats at Bonneville near Salt Lake City in the federal state of Utah in the USA.

Specifications of bicycle

Design:           Dave Tesch, San Diego, San Marcas CA.

Built by:          Dave Tesch, San Diego, San Marcas CA.

Cost:              US $ 12,000.-.

Gears:            Double reduction gearing,
                       primary built by Cook Brothers,

                       70/13 teeth - 60 / 15 teeth,

                       covering 114,2 ft distance with one pedal system rotation

                       (fourfold of a normal 10-speed gearing).

Wheelbase:    57 in (average of a normal race bike is about 40 in).

Saddle:           Leather, manufactured by Brooks.

Brake:             Shimano "Cantilever" type on rear wheel only.

Fork:               Special Italian racing fork,

                       designed to provide suspension travel at high speeds.

Steering

dampener:      Motorcycle type.

Wheels:          Special aluminium rims, - hubs and - spokes;

                       18 in diameter for lower centre of gravity

                       (average of a normal race bike is 27 in).

Tires:              V-rated motorcycle road racing slicks,

                       capable for more than 150 mph.
Weight:          Total of 43 lb.

How The Paris-Brest-Paris Was Born

First run in 1891, the 1200-kilometer Paris-Brest-Paris, or "PBP" as it is commonly called, is a grueling test of human endurance and cycling ability. Organized every four years by the host Audax Club Parisien, the Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneurs is the oldest bicycling event still run on a regular basis on the open road. A 90-hour time limit ensures that only the hardiest randonneurs earn the prestigious PBP finisher's medal and have their name entered into the event's "Great Book" along with every other finisher going back to the very first PBP. To become a PBP ancien (or ancienne for the ladies) is to join a very elite group of cyclists who have successfully endured this mighty challenge. No longer a contest for professional racing cyclists (whose entry is now forbidden), PBP evolved into a timed randonnée or brevet for hard-riding amateurs during the middle part of the 20th century.

The Racing Years

In 1891 people didn't know what could be done on the bicycle. Some medical experts of the day decried its alleged harm to the human body and soul; some women even boldly insisted on riding bikes, just like men! Racing on velodromes in front of throngs of spectators had begun ten years earlier, and cycling around town by wealthy enthusiasts who could afford a machine was common enough, but the idea of covering long distances on the open road was in its infancy. Early attempts at road racing and touring over hill and dale had started, but weren't at all frequent. The Paris-Brest-Paris was announced for the summer of 1891 by the editor (and devoted cycling enthusiast) of Le Petit Journal, Pierre Griffard. At 1200 kilometers, he intended PBP to be the supreme test of bicycle reliability and the will of its rider. 

Only male French cyclists were allowed to enter. Each rider could have up to ten paid pacers strategically placed along the route to help with drafting and providing mechanical assistance. The race would be monitored by a system of observers connected along the route by train and telegraph. The original route followed the "Great West Road" to Brest, or Route Nationale 12 as it came to be known. Riders were required to stop in each of these contrôle towns and have their route book signed and stamped, a practice still done today. Over 400 riders entered the inaugural PBP, but many apparently came to their senses; 206 brave cyclists eventually set off just before sunrise on September 6th amid great pomp and ceremony. 

The winner, Charles Terront, triumphantly, pedaled into Paris at dawn three days later, after slightly less than 72 sleepless hours on the road. Despite the early hour, over ten thousand cheering spectators were awaiting his arrival! His was an epic ride against his competitors and nature itself, and Terront became a national celebrity. One hundred haggard riders continued to trickle into Paris over the next seven days. Along with prize money to the 17th place, these lion-hearted heroes were all given a handsome commemorative medal inscribed with their name and time, and the legend of Paris-Brest-Paris was born.

©Reference Source Bill Bryant

P.S. The next Paris-Brest-Paris is in August, 2015

The Velominati Rules of Road Cycling

THE VELOMINATI are an online cycling collective dedicated to road cycling. They embrace cycling not as a pastime, but as a way of life, as obsessed with style, heritage, authenticity and wisdom as with performance. They created a set of rules that when followed enable cyclists to adhere the complexities of cycling etiquette. THE RULES is their Bible. It is an essential part of every cyclist's arsenal - whether you're grudgingly cycling to work in the rain or gearing up to be the next Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy or Victoria Pendleton. 

Velominati – The Rules

1. // Obey The Rules.
2. // Lead by example.
3. // Guide the uninitiated.
4. // It’s all about the bike.
5. // Harden The Fuck Up.
6. // Free your mind and your legs will follow.
7. // Tan lines should be cultivated and kept razor sharp.
8. // Saddles, bars, and tires shall be carefully matched.
9. // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
10. // It never gets easier, you just go faster.
11. // Family does not come first. The bike does.
12. // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1. While the minimum number of bikes one should own is three, the correct number is n+1, where n is the number of bikes currently owned. This equation may also be re-written as s-1, where s is the number of bikes owned that would result in separation from your partner.
13. // If you draw race number 13, turn it upside down.
14. // Shorts should be black.
15. // Black shorts should also be worn with leader’s jerseys.
16. // Respect the jersey.
17. // Team kit is for members of the team.
18. // Know what to wear. Don’t suffer kit confusion.
19. // Introduce Yourself.
20. // There are only three remedies for pain.
    • If your quads start to burn, shift forward to use your hamstrings and calves, or
    • If your calves or hamstrings start to burn, shift back to use your quads, or
    • If you feel wimpy and weak, meditate on  Rule #5 and train more!
21. // Cold weather gear is for cold weather.
22. // Cycling caps are for cycling.
23. // Tuck only after reaching Escape Velocity.
24. // Speeds and distances shall be referred to and measured in kilometers.
25. // The bikes on top of your car should be worth more than the car.
26. // Make your bike photogenic.
27. // Shorts and socks should be like Goldilocks.
28. // Socks can be any damn colour you like.
29. // No European Posterior Man-Satchels.
30. // No frame-mounted pumps.
31. // Spare tubes, multi-tools and repair kits should be stored in jersey pockets.
32. // Humps are for camels: no hydration packs.
33. // Shave your guns.
34. // Mountain bike shoes and pedals have their place. On a mountain bike.
35. // No visors on the road.
36. // Eyewear shall be cycling specific.
37. // The arms of the eyewear shall always be placed over the helmet straps.
38. // Don’t Play Leap Frog.
39. // Never ride without your eyewear.
40. // Tires are to be mounted with the label centered over the valve stem.
41. // Quick-release levers are to be carefully positioned.
42. // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
43. // Don’t be a jackass.
44. // Position matters.
45. // Slam your stem.
46. // Keep your bars level.
47. // Drink Tripels, don’t ride triples.
48. // Saddles must be level and pushed back.
49. // Keep the rubber side down.
50. // Facial hair is to be carefully regulated.
51. // Livestrong wristbands are cockrings for your arms.
52. // Drink in Moderation.
53. // Keep your kit clean and new.
54. // No aerobars on road bikes.
55. // Earn your turns.
56. // Espresso or macchiato only.
57. // No stickers.
58. // Support your local bike shop.
59. // Hold your line.
60. // Ditch the washer-nut and valve-stem cap.
61. // Like your guns, saddles should be smooth and hard.
62. // You shall not ride with earphones.
63. // Point in the direction you’re turning.
64. // Cornering confidence increases with time and experience.
65. // Maintain and respect your machine.
66. // No  mirrors.
67. // Do your time in the wind.
68. // Rides are to be measured by quality, not quantity.
69. // Cycling shoes and bicycles are made for riding.
70. // The purpose of competing is to win.
71. // Train Properly..
72. // Legs speak louder than words.
73. // Gear and brake cables should be cut to optimum length.
74. // V Meters or small computers only.
75. // Race numbers are for races.
76. // Helmets are to be hung from your stem. When not worn, helmets are to be clipped to the stem and draped over your handlebars thusly.
77. // Respect the earth; don’t litter.
78. // Remove unnecessary gear.
79. // Fight for your town lines.
80. // Always be Casually Deliberate.
81. // Don’t talk it up.
82. // Close the gap.
83. // Be self-sufficient.
84. // Follow the Code.
85. // Descend like a Pro.
86. // Don’t half-wheel.
87. // The Ride Starts on Time. No exceptions.
88. // Don’t surge.
89. // Pronounce it Correctly.
90. // Never Get Out of the Big Ring.
91. // No Food On Training Rides Under Four Hours.

 

The Patron Saints Of Cyclists

                                            

                                                              Italy: Madonna del Ghisallo

Madonna del Ghisallo is the patroness of cyclists', as proclaimed by Pope Pius XII during the 1949 Giro d'Italia. The greatest riders in the world like Coppi and Bartali have given their bicycles and jerseys to the church by way of thanks for winning races. Giro di Lombardia (Lombardia 's Tour) is the last race of World Cup and even if they change the route, it always includes Ghisallo.

France: Notre Dame des Cyclistes

An 11th-century chapel has been dedicated to the heroes of the Tour de France since 1959. Father Massie had a self-confessed passion for the Tour de France and followed the example of the Italians with La Madonna del Ghisallo. He went to the Vatican to receive the authorisation from Pope Pius XII in person and the official inauguration of the chapel took place on Whit Monday 1959.

                                                            Spain: Our Lady of Dorleta

For Spainish cyclists, Nuestra Señora de Dorleta is considered the patroness of cyclists. On 26 October 1958, the Coronation of the Virgen de Dorleta took place in Arlabán, in Basque country.

The First Tour De France

1903 Tour Quick Facts:

Distance: 2,428 km 

Average speed: 25.68 km/hr

60 Riders 

21 classified finishers

The Tour de France was suggested to Henri Desgrange, editor of L'Auto (ancestor to today's l'Equipe), as a sales promotion to win a circulation war with competing sports newspaper Le Vélo. It was to be a Six-Day race, only on the road, which would have to start in the dark and could take over 17 hours to complete. The race proved to be an instant hit, L'Auto's circulation soared and Desgrange went down in history as the father of the greatest sporting event in the world. 

On Jan 19, 1903, L'Autoannounced the first Tour de France, "the greatest cycling trial in the entire world". The first schedule was for a 5-week race with the winner as the racer with the lowest elapsed time racing after all the stages. This total time is still called the "General Classification". A week before the start only 15 riders had signed up, so Desgrange shortened and re-scheduled the race, promised expense money of 5 francs a day to the first 50 racers who signed up and dangled a 20,000 franc purse of prize money.

At 3:16 PM, July 1, 1903, the first peloton of 60 riders departed from the now famous Cafe au Réveil-Matin in Montgeron on the southern outskirts of Paris, of these 21 were sponsored or professional racers. They were to ride 6 stages totaling a staggering 2,428 kilometers. Desgrange wanted his race to be a superhuman test of an individual's endurance and strength, so pacers were banned except for the final stage. 

The riders get ready to start.
Desgrange's 60-man peloton riding together

Maurice Garin, nicknamed "the Chimney-Sweep", in the red, white and blue tricolor bike of his sponsor, La Française, won the first stage of the first Tour, beating Émile Pagie by 55 seconds and held the lead throughout the Tour. Only 37 riders were able to complete the day's racing. The last rider took more than 20 hours longer than Garin to get to Lyon. 

The first stage finish line in Lyon
Leon Georget finishes third in the first stage, 34 min, 59 sec behind stage winner Garin. Georget would drop out of the Tour in stage 5.

	Maurice Garin, in his trademark white coat and flat cap racing in the '03 Tour
		Best action photo ever seen of Garin

On July 19, only 21 riders of the 60 finished the TDF. The 20,000 spectators at Paris' Parc de Princesvelodrome saw Maurice Garin win the final stage and win the Tour. The final finisher came in over two days later. While the famed "Yellow Jersey" worn by the man leading the Tour would not be adopted until 1919, Garin was given a green armband to signify his lead during the 1903 Tour, and the Lanterne Rouge or Red Lantern was used to designate the rider in last place. Arsène Millocheau has the dubious fame of being the first Lanterne Rouge by coming in at 64 hours, 57 minutes, 8 seconds behind Garin in total time.

Garin is greeted by enthusiastic fans.
		1903 Tour winner Maurice Garin having a smoke. Pictured with him are his son (on right with little bike) and his masseur.

Garin pocketed 6,125 francs for his exploit, about $40,000 in U.S. dollars today. His winning margin of 2 hours and 49 minutes remains the largest in Tour history. The first Tour at 2,428 km remains the second shortest ever. The average speed for the first Tour was 25.679 km per hour. The 50th Anniversary Tour in 1953 averaged 34.593 km per hour and the speed of the Centennial 2003 Tour was 40.94 km per hour. 

Racers at the feed zone, 1903.

The Tour was a fantastic success. Circulation of L'Auto boomed. 130,000 copies were printed for the final stage (an increase of 100,000). Le Vélo went out of business and the Tour de France was born.

Final 1903 Tour de France General Classification:

1. Maurice Garin: 94 hours 33 minutes 14 seconds

2. Lucien Pothier @ 2 hours 59 minutes 2 seconds

3. Fernand Augereau @ 4 hours 29 minutes 24 seconds

4. Rodolphe Muller @ 4 hours 39 minutes 30 seconds

5. Jean Fischer @ 4 hours 58 minutes 44 seconds

Leon Georget signs in under the watchful eye of an official. To minimize cheating riders signed in a stops along each stage.  (Excerpt is from "The Story of the Tour de France", Volume 1)