[4Crawler]

Not sure if this has been posted before, but it is a really good collection of vintage photos:
- 100ème Tour de France, 100 vélos, 100 champions... - Le blog de velosvintage.over-blog.com

Interesting how long single speeds were used and how it wasn't and instant switch to multi-speeds.

And love the bikes with frame pumps on and off up to 1967 :thumbsup:

 

[Dajianshan]

What is really great is how the average speeds have hardly changed in 20 years despite the much touted advancements in materials. There is a slight bump during the Armstrong era, but in the end, the tactics make or break the race for the teams.

 

[Tachycardic]

Nice eye candy! Thanks for the post!

 

[tlg]

Thanks for the post. I've always looked for something like this. It would be even better if they put statisitics along with the photos. Tour distance, elevation, speed, etc.

Regarding speeds of the Tour, this is a chart of ave speeds and distance since 1960. Only a 2mph increase over 52yrs. Whats really interesting is as the distance goes up/down, the speed is directly inverse. And the distance has gotten shorter over time. So is the speed really 2mph faster??

 

[atpjunkie]

crazy how aluminim had such a short window

 

[KenS]

Great collection of shots. Thanks for posting.

 

[jmoryl]

A great blog. I miss the simple, uncluttered design of the old jerseys.

 

[davidka]

Look at the angles they used before 1938. I wonder what drove the change, track riders maybe?

 

[MXL]

Very cool!!

 

[Creakyknees]

Look at the angles they used before 1938. I wonder what drove the change, track riders maybe?

paved roads

 

[asciibaron]

did you see that ludicrous display last night?

 

[Pirx]

Interesting how long single speeds were used and how it wasn't and instant switch to multi-speeds.

Actually it was dual-speeds for quite a while (until Tullio Campagnolo was bummed about losing his race on the Croce D'Aune Pass in the Gran Premio della Vittoria </SPAN sab="1149">because of the "shifting" problems he had, and started inventing shifting systems): There was a cog on either side of the hub, and to "shift" you'd open the wing nut, remove the rear wheel, flip it around, and reinstall...

 

[Pirx]

Regarding speeds of the Tour, this is a chart of ave speeds and distance since 1960. Only a 2mph increase over 52yrs. Whats really interesting is as the distance goes up/down, the speed is directly inverse. And the distance has gotten shorter over time. So is the speed really 2mph faster??

Yeah, that's quite interesting. Once we figure in better roads, better nutrition, better training methods and consequently riders that are presumably quite a bit stronger, one wonders whether there's any effect at all left of the improved equipment. Certainly improved multi-gear shifting must have helped a bit, but the rest? Maybe reduced weight to some degree, but that's probably where it ends. What is entirely clear is that the effect of "frame stiffness" is zero...