Peter Post and the TI-Raleigh boys had a victory or two as I recall. Aside from that British bikes didn't win many big races for the same reason American and Japanese bikes didn't. All the big races were and are on the continent, and in those days nearly all the riders and nearly all the teams were European and sponsored by European bike makers. That only began to change for Americans after Lemonde became the world's most celebrated rider for a time. It was American riders and American teams that eventually began to use American bikes, then with their foot in the door, the high volume American manufacturers were able to use their high cash flow to make European teams better sponsorship deals than the European bike makers could match.
What bikes win big races is about money and nationalism, not quality. I'm not sure a major race was ever won on a Singer or Herse, at least not after WWII. Does that mean they weren't as good as the bikes that were under TdF winners? Hardly.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Houston, TX
> some wise-guy wrote:
>
> "But that's ok any event showcasing the best bicycles will always be =
> dominated by British ones Goes without saying"
>
> Rick Gaytan
>
> Riding the CR "opinion rollercoaster" yet again in San Diego, CA
>
> ****
>
> I'm not sure who wrote that...but I'll take the troll, and happily.
>
> I'm going to assume that this is an amusing joke.
>
> Brit bikes the best? Please. That *is* a joke.
> There are lots of them, but that's about all you can say.
>
> Charles "I admire some brit bikes, but I admire more bikes guys
> actually rode to victory...like Masis, colnagos, Pogliagis, and
> DeRosas; can someone tell me the last time someone rode
> a Raleigh International or Pro to victory in any major professional
> race? The odd Hetchins, sure...but most other brit bikes? Not many"
Andrews
> Fastcal