GCN Video: Can We Ride And Survive A Stage Of The 1903 Tour de France?
04-28-20, 10:02 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 981 Post(s)
Liked 1,844 Times
in
609 Posts
GCN Video: Can We Ride And Survive A Stage Of The 1903 Tour de France?
https://www.globalcyclingnetwork.com...tour-de-france
Just watched and enjoyed this little video, and would highly recommend it! Two elite cyclists (I couldn't catch their names, but one has ridden around the world) use turn of the century bikes to complete a grueling 467km stage of the 1903 Tour de France from Paris to Leon, in 25 hours with minimal stops.
Very fun! Obviously as young chaps with little interest in classic bicycles, they were mostly disparaging of the technology (can't say I wouldn't be either if I attempted that ride) but very appreciative of the historic riders!
-Gregory
Just watched and enjoyed this little video, and would highly recommend it! Two elite cyclists (I couldn't catch their names, but one has ridden around the world) use turn of the century bikes to complete a grueling 467km stage of the 1903 Tour de France from Paris to Leon, in 25 hours with minimal stops.
Very fun! Obviously as young chaps with little interest in classic bicycles, they were mostly disparaging of the technology (can't say I wouldn't be either if I attempted that ride) but very appreciative of the historic riders!
-Gregory
Likes For Kilroy1988:
04-28-20, 10:29 PM
#2
ambulatory senior
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Peoria Il
Posts: 5,998
Bikes: Austro Daimler modified by Gugie! Raleigh Professional and lots of other bikes.
Mentioned: 76 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1954 Post(s)
Liked 3,657 Times
in
1,677 Posts
Excellent program. Looked incredibly difficult.
04-28-20, 11:14 PM
#3
Master Parts Rearranger
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Portlandia's Kuiper Belt, OR
Posts: 4,402
Bikes: 1982 Trek 720 - 1985 Trek 620 - 1984 Trek 620 - 1980 Trek 510 - Other luminaries past and present
Mentioned: 221 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1556 Post(s)
Liked 2,024 Times
in
989 Posts
They did a great job with it. "Hank" (James) is the younger guy, Mark Beaumont (the Round the World By Bike record holder, set a couple of years ago) is the older. Beauty in the suffering, eh?
04-29-20, 12:03 AM
#4
Senior Member
Oh those tires look fresh! Hardly a crack on the sidewalls. 
__________________
I.C.
I.C.
04-29-20, 02:23 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NW Burbs, Chicago
Posts: 12,045
Mentioned: 201 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3009 Post(s)
Liked 3,786 Times
in
1,405 Posts
Bowden-type brakes were not available in 1903. The road conditions were so much worse then too.
But in 1903, they rode new bikes, not bikes 100+ years old.
But in 1903, they rode new bikes, not bikes 100+ years old.
Likes For iab:
04-29-20, 02:38 PM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 981 Post(s)
Liked 1,844 Times
in
609 Posts
And it sure seems like Bowden brakes were around by then, unless if this is all wrong:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowden_cable
"The Bowden Brake was launched amidst a flurry of enthusiasm in the cycle press in 1896. It consisted of a stirrup, pulled up by the cable from a handlebar mounted lever, with rubber pads acting against the rear wheel rim. At this date bicycles were fixed wheel, additional braking being offered by a 'plunger' brake pressing on the front tyre."
04-29-20, 02:48 PM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 981 Post(s)
Liked 1,844 Times
in
609 Posts
Everything I've seen in photos suggests that few or no riders of the big road racing events at the turn of the century used brakes, and of course Maurice Garin's original winning bike is still around and doesn't seem to have been equipped with any... But apparently Bowden-cable brakes were available to be used at the time. Neither of the bikes these guys use in the video seem to perfectly resemble the mounts from 1903, but I'm sure they probably performed similarly for the purpose of the experiment!
-Gregory
-Gregory
04-29-20, 03:31 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,305
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3464 Post(s)
Liked 2,827 Times
in
1,995 Posts
There should have been someone to sort the bikes out before.
Likes For repechage:
04-29-20, 04:06 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 981 Post(s)
Liked 1,844 Times
in
609 Posts
I have a feeling there was and that the guys were being rather dramatic about the "picked them up from the museum yesterday" bit. What kind of world-class riders would put up with that nonsense for such a serious endeavor? Obviously the tires were new(ish) and the grease had to be reasonably fresh. I imagine the bearings might have been the same old ones in that BB that froze up, but otherwise a combined 600 miles or so on two antiques could hardly be accomplished in a day's time if the bikes weren't maintained.
04-29-20, 05:19 PM
#10
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 27,844
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 192 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2924 Post(s)
Liked 2,921 Times
in
1,489 Posts
I don’t understand why the bikes weren’t overhauled properly before they began
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
Likes For Bianchigirll:
04-29-20, 05:21 PM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 981 Post(s)
Liked 1,844 Times
in
609 Posts
As I mentioned above, I'm sure they were exaggerating. You can't just take century old bicycles off a museum floor and ride them 470km in a day without some sort of maintenance. Various things would be unbelievably squeaky!
Likes For Kilroy1988:
04-29-20, 05:36 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NW Burbs, Chicago
Posts: 12,045
Mentioned: 201 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3009 Post(s)
Liked 3,786 Times
in
1,405 Posts
Everything I've seen in photos suggests that few or no riders of the big road racing events at the turn of the century used brakes, and of course Maurice Garin's original winning bike is still around and doesn't seem to have been equipped with any... But apparently Bowden-cable brakes were available to be used at the time. Neither of the bikes these guys use in the video seem to perfectly resemble the mounts from 1903, but I'm sure they probably performed similarly for the purpose of the experiment!
-Gregory
-Gregory
But as you also mention, all of the road bikes I have seen from the teens, 10+ years later, either have no brakes or the type that presses down on the fun tire.
04-29-20, 08:21 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,223
Mentioned: 654 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4722 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,036 Times
in
1,874 Posts
As noted, Bowden cable operated brakes existed in the late 1890s. However, it seems there was a lot of national peference when it came to braking systems. Bowden cables were used primarily in England. The USA favoured coaster brakes. The French seemed to prefer spoon/plunger brakes that operated on the front tyre.
There are some 1903 TdF photos showing riders with rod activated spoon/plunger brakes. There's a famous picture of 1905 TdF victor, Trousellier, with a rod activated spoon brake. The earliest TdF photo I've seen showing a Bowden cable brake is from 1909. Bowden cable caliper brakes were standard TdF equipment by the Great War.
There are some 1903 TdF photos showing riders with rod activated spoon/plunger brakes. There's a famous picture of 1905 TdF victor, Trousellier, with a rod activated spoon brake. The earliest TdF photo I've seen showing a Bowden cable brake is from 1909. Bowden cable caliper brakes were standard TdF equipment by the Great War.
Last edited by T-Mar; 04-29-20 at 08:24 PM.
Likes For T-Mar:
04-29-20, 11:54 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,305
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3464 Post(s)
Liked 2,827 Times
in
1,995 Posts
I have a feeling there was and that the guys were being rather dramatic about the "picked them up from the museum yesterday" bit. What kind of world-class riders would put up with that nonsense for such a serious endeavor? Obviously the tires were new(ish) and the grease had to be reasonably fresh. I imagine the bearings might have been the same old ones in that BB that froze up, but otherwise a combined 600 miles or so on two antiques could hardly be accomplished in a day's time if the bikes weren't maintained.
Likes For repechage:
04-30-20, 07:50 AM
#15
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Falmouth, ME
Posts: 139
Bikes: 2010 Cannondale CAAD 5 Potenza 66cm, 1984 Basso Gap Nuovo Record 65cm, 1989 Cannondale ST Racing Triple 27", 1974 Schwinn Paramount Nuovo Record 26", 198? Scapin MKII 66cm Victory, 1994 Havnoonian Chorus 8sp 27"
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 45 Post(s)
Liked 100 Times
in
43 Posts
Awesome! Thanks for sharing it.
