Here’s a photo from the podium in the Tour of California, courtesy of Steephill.tv. Whilst Dave Zabriskie gets interviewed, Mark Cavendish is striking a somewhat camp pose. The sprinter is showing off his shoes to Team Type 1’s Dutch rider Thomas Rabou. What’s so special about the shoes? Well look closely and you’ll see they … Read more
Watching today’s stage of the Tour of Romandie, won by an aggressive Simon Spilak, something flashed across my mind: the Lampre kit is very old. Look at the photo above from Maurizio Fondriest’s win in the 1993 Milan – San Remo, observe the details. See how old the Fiat Tempra looks, the motorbikes seem ancient … Read more
As part of the series on the 1980s, here are five items related to bike brands during this decade. So press play and travel back in time once again. Falco – Rock Me Amadeusenvoyé par trashfan. – Regardez d'autres vidéos de musique. The 1980s were a crucial time for frame design. Whereas the choice at … Read more
White socks are the default choice for road riders, although a few riders have used black and other colours. Why? Well in the late 1920s Charles Pélissier decided his legs were so tanned and impressive that he felt a pair of white socks would help him show off. Until then black and brown, yes, were … Read more
As part of the series on the 1980s, here are five items related to technology during this decade. 1. Clipless pedalsAn OEM ski binding company, French company Look realised that the mechanism used to fix a skier’s boot onto a ski could be copied to hold a cyclist’s shoe onto a pedal. Until clipless pedals, … Read more
I wrote this earlier in the week but realised some readers might find it ‘inconvenient’ to read at work. So here’s something for the weekend… For better or worse, we tend to forget most adverts. Now the worst can be so bad they get talked about, the free publicity generated here can be worthwhile, viral … Read more
This might make you say “what the…” out aloud but there is talk in the bunch that Fabian Cancellara has a hidden motor inside his bike, this is what is helping him take such outrageously bold wins. It’s technologically possible… Suspicions were heightened when he changed his bike in the final of both the Tour … Read more
Me? I’d rather have chronic back pain… French squad Ag2r-La Mondiale have signed a sponsorship deal with Swiss shoe company MBT. Famous for their rounded sole which apparently helps the skeletal muscles, the deal is presumably for off-the-bike shoes. Expect to see the likes of Cyril Dessel and Nico Roche rocking and rolling around the … Read more
Soon to be a museum piece? London’s Sunday Times footnotes a piece about Victoria Pendleton’s world title with the following news from the UCI: From the end of this month, bicycles used on the track will have to be sold commercially and ‘at a reasonable price’ to be passed legal for major competitions, including the … Read more
Here are two jerseys from Rapha’s latest collection, the “Country Jersey”. The Rapha Country Jersey celebrates some of Europe’s leading cycling countries; Italy, France, Belgium and Britain. The jersey sports Rapha’s trademark pared down styling and the colours of each nation have been incorporated on the right sleeve. The colours of each nation: only look … Read more