European road racers stopped using fixed wheel bikes by about 1905. It just wasn't practical when you might be descending for four or five miles. In Britain time triallists used fixed wheel bikes until the early 60s. But it was a progressive sort of thing. In the 30s many started using gears either Sturmey Archer hub gears or early derailleurs such as the Super Champion Osgear or Simplex Champion du Monde in the longer events 100mile, 12 hour and 24 hour but the 10 mile championship was still won on fixed in 1960. Contintal road racers experimented with derailleur gears in the years immediately prior to WWI, yes WWI. But gears were banned from the Tour de France in 1919 and were not allowed again until 1937. However in other events from the early 30s many started using rear derailleurs of one sort or another. Front derailleurs did not become common until the 1940s. Hilary Stone
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>From: Wornoutguy@aol.com
>To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>Subject: [CR]Re: Classicrendezvous digest, Vol 1 #423 - 16 msgs
>Date: Tue, Mar 27, 2001, 4:03 pm
>
> Since I am new am I allowed to ask questions that most of you know the
> answer. If you want to respond to me specifically on my email that would be
> great. Timelines are scarce on the Internet - At what point did European
> racers stop using fixed gear bikes and switch to gearing? These first gear
> bikes I take it were the rod shifted type in the early 50s? When was the
> front derailleur introduced? What was its form? I also am curious how High
> flange was around early then low flange then high again is there any dates to
> correspond with what was fashionable and when? Thanks
> Wornoutguy@aol.com Sam DiBartolomeo in Southern CA