[CR]Fwd: The Way Things Should Have Been.TdF

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From: <CYCLESTORE@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 00:56:58 EDT
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Fwd: The Way Things Should Have Been.TdF

Hi CR'ers,

Below is a delightful but fictional account of rising star of British cycling Tom Simpson, who died tragically in the mid sixties on Mt. Vent. where a memorial to him is still well maintained.

Author is cycling all around good guy and frequent magazine contributor Tom Shaddox, a grand story teller who got me convinced his reports of overseas events are factual fiction even though he has never visited the country in question.

I hope you enjoy,

Gilbert Anderson Raleigh, NC USA

In a message dated 7/13/02 10:29:23 PM, ljshaddo@gte.net writes:

<< Cycling world stunned: Simpson in Yellow! - Officials rule ride was legal -

Simpson and "Concorde" toast of Tour!

Tu de Lou, France, July 13th, 1969 - The first solo time trial of the Tour

de France, the "race of truth", always sorts the contenders from the

pretenders, but seldom in the 66 year history of the Tour has any single

race so completely changed the face of the event and cycling.

Starting the day in 27th place 1:15 back from the lead, Britain Tom Simpson

rode the 37 mile time trial 1:57 faster than any other competitor today.

Returning to the yellow for the first time since 1963, this also marks

Simpson's first major victory since his collapse in the tour exactly two

years ago.

A late spring addition to the British Aerocraft/Rolls Royce/Raleigh team,

Simpson was supposed to bring a veteran's wisdom to the squad and act as a

mentor to the young stars. He spent some 8 months off the bike after his

withdrawal from the `67 Tour due to a near deadly combination of heat stroke

and stomach virus. His abreviated '68 season was lackluster at best.

Spending the fall of last year training alone in Scotland, he showed he had

returned to competetive form this year with several strong finishes in the

early spring classics. Still, his performance today was unexpected. The

British Aerocraft/Raleigh team director said "We were rather expecting

Barry Hoban to be our team's top contender."

Simpson, like the rest of his team, had until this stage ridden a standard

Raleigh racing bike. However, for today's time trial, he came to the start

house on a special, 531 Moulton MkIII "Speed Twelve". In a post ride

interview, he said British Aerocraft had encouraged the team to showcase the

best of British technology. "I rode a Moulton Speed 6 most of last fall up

in Scotland", he said. "Over the winter I had two of these bikes special

built by Moultons at Bradford on Avon. I had them painted team colours last

month, and lettered "Raleigh Concorde" on the frame. Lauterwasser showed

them to the British Aerocraft men, and they practically insisted I use one

at some point during the Tour."

Jeers and whistles sent Simpson off on his ride, but the fans grew quiet and

then began to cheer as he set the fastest time through each check point. As

he gained the yellow jersey on the road and then his lead continued to

build, the officials committee dug through the rule book, but could find no

reason to disqualify his little bike. By the time he completed the looping

course back into Tu de Lou, fans were chanting his name and cries of

"Concorde! Concorde!" filled the air. His yellow jersey was never seriously

endangered by any of the remaining 26 men.

With Simpson in yellow, what are the teams tactics? "We have two easy days

left before the mountains. We'll mark our main competitors, but we won't

waste energy chasing down anybody out on a long solo breakaway", said the

team director. Will we see more of "Concorde"? Simpson just smiled and

winked. Company officials from Raleigh had a terse "no comment". Dr. Alex

Moulton is reported to be cycle touring in the lake district of Switerland

and could not be reached.

Tom Shaddox

Moulton List page - <A HREF=" http://www.topica.com/lists/moulton "> http://www.topica.com/lists/moulton</A> >>

Side note, Jack Lauterwasser (Lauterwasser above is a 1930 Olympian) from Britain who worked for Raleigh Ltd., Sturmey Archer and was consulting and or building wheels for Moulton till a short while ago. He is now 92 years old and finally retired. As a note Alex Moulton at 82 has just returned from a bike tour in Switzerland. I wonder what brand and model of bike he used?

Regards,

Gilbert Anderson

The North Road Bicycle Company
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Raleigh, NC 27603
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