Part 2 of the interview in Cycling with Eddy Merckx, following his 1969 Tour de France win.
With Vinokourov’s “A” sample testing positive for blood doping today, I should point out that Merckx was plagued with doping allegations in 1969, having withdrawn from the Giro d’Italia earlier in the year after strong accusations of drug use.
See the original from the 1986 Bianchi catalog on bulgier.net.
While I usually go from classically-styled bikes, there’s something elegant about the curves of this design that just strikes me. It seems fluid and alive. It’s like the bike is as muscular as the sprinters who ride it.
I don’t believe this was ever really a production model from Bianchi, but that it was mainly in the catalog for upscale value. (Though I imagine they would make one for you if you were willing to pay Whatever They Want.) The only thing I could find about the C-4 Project is from theC4 company’s website:
“The C4 frames made their debut in cycling competitions in May 1987, when the Bianchi racing team took part in the time lap of the Giro d’Italia (Cycling Tour of Italy) equipped with fork frames designed and produced by C4. These frames were a world preview for some characteristic components, such as the entire carbon monocoque construction without joints, the frame without saddle pipe, the adjustable seat pin all dimensions with three unique frame sizes, and the carbon monocoque front fork.”
If anyone has any other info about these bikes, please post in the comments.
I just got a few more recent issues of Cycling, but the format is too wide for my scanner. So, just a few photos. The issue is September 7, 1985, and the article is on Dave LeGrys attempt to break the world cycling speed record. Included are a few photos of past record attempts and holders.
More on cycle speed records here and a complete list of holders here.
Dutch cyclist Fred Rompelberg is the current record holder at 167 mph.
As always, click the image for the full-size version.
Jose Meiffret’s enormous Specialities TA chainwheel (more). He set a record of 127.243 mi/h with this 130 tooth ring in 1962:
Meiffret behind a pace car, though not for his record bid, which was done behind a Mercedes-Benz:
Dr. Allan Abbott, after breaking the world record in 1973. 140.5 mph is fast on a bike.
LeGrys crossover drive:
MOUNTAIN bike enthusiasts will drool over the new Excalibur model from Fisher Mountainbikes[sic] of San Rafael, California — if it ever gets here.
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In preparation for my first proper brevet this weekend, the Covered Bridges 200K/400K, a bit on randonneuring. While the 200km I’ll be doing is just a warm-up for those who will spend nearly an entire day in the saddle, it will be the longest I’ve ever ridden continuously and the first time over 100 miles. Exciting!
From Cycling, December 9, 1967:
I HAVE never taken part in any form of competitive cycling of any kind– not a single tourist trial, reliability trial, time trial or race of any sort whatever.
I hope that the racing men will not hold this against me, but rather will be anxious to read the products of the quill of such an unusual beast.
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From Cycling, Sept 9, 1967:
“FOR the third time in five years a Russian quartet came home victorious in the team pursuit, this time with the most convincing win one could possibly expect.
They smashed the Italians’ morale, rhythm, timing, everything, with a powerhouse display in the final– they even finished all four of their team together, 4-34.89, not the fastest of the series, but they already had had that from the qualifying round anyway.”
The sidebar discusses the disqualification of Ron Baensch (one of the riders in this photo) for using ephedrine. Ah, the days before EPO… One of the other riders disqualifed was Charly Grosskost, who “is the rider who was thrown out of the Tour de l’Avenir after being found in a drugged state by the side of the road in the Tour two years ago.”
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From Cycling, Sept 9, 1967.
“YOSHIKAWA of Japan (right) caused a sensation in the pro sprint first round by beating Ron Baensch.”
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From Cycling, December 9, 1967.
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“NOW RIDING towards his 41st six-day win is big Peter Post, unquestioned king of the big-time Sixes, and a rider whose forceful style has made him a favourite with crowds everywhere on road and track. Beaten by Merckx at Heerlen in the world championship and at Ghent in the Six, Peter still showed how to ride when he happed the world champion three times behind Derny pace. Will he take his record 41st Six at Amsterdam? The whole of Holland hopes and expects him to.”
Peter Post was a Dutch rider, who won the Zesdaagse Vlaanderen-Gent, or Six Days of Ghent, in 1966 (with Swissman Fritz Pfenninger) and 68 (with fellow Dutchman Leo Duyndam), but not in ‘67 to which the text refers. That’s the road world championships which he lost to Eddie in ‘67.
Post won the 1964 Paris-Roubaix, setting what is still the average speed record of 45.129 km/h, or 28 mph (!). I can’t imagine going his speed over pave, but I bet it was a dry day. Post later went on to be manager of several teams, including the infamous TI-Raleigh team during the 1970s.
Unfortunately, Post didn’t win the Six at Amsterdam in 1967, losing to Palle Lykke and Freddy Eugen from Denmark (results), but did win in 1969 with Belgian Romain DeLoof.
From Cycling, September 9, 1967:
“Making good use of Sunday’s strong wind Vic Nicholson regained for Moulton Bicycles the Cardiff to London record. His time for the 151 miles was 6-14-54 seconds, beating Brian Catt’s three-months-old record by nearly 18 minutes.”
Note that this is the Moulton of Sir Alex Moulton, whose “tiny machines” (to quote Kent Peterson) are an icon of British bicycles, rather than one of the many other Moultons across the Pond, including this one, lost to history, or the well-known frame builder (and now blogger!) Dave Moulton.
One thing to notice in the photos is the enormous chainring the bike used. The article states it was 111 gear inches, which would be around 67×12 on a bike with 20 inch wheels, or 51×12 on 700×23 tires.
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From Cycling May 21, 1966.
