Oops! While I was composing the message about the quiz answer, I managed to write over the most important bit! - Chuck Schmidt had the complete and correct answer!
(I'd planned to type something humorous about being the only other person with a copy of the Fonteyn catalog from Velo-Retro... guess I blew it.)
Sorry, Chuck. I owe you one!
Aldo Ross
BlueBall, Ohio
Okay, to repeat the question sent in by Frank Ellingford of London, UK...
"What piece of equipment is named after four of the stage winners (in the 1935 Tour de France)?"
The answer is: handlebar bends
Maes, Pélissier, Aerts and Leducq each had their own shape of handlebar bend named after them. The 1937-38 Fonteyn catalog lists A.V.A. bends in the Pélissier, Aerts and Leducq pattern, and most of us have ridden a bike with "Maes" bars.
Norris Lockely was first to ring in with the answer "handlebars", though his list of riders (Maes, Pelissier, Bartali and.. and Merckx) Was only half-correct.
Chris Cleveland had three of the four names (Maes, Leducq, Pelissier), and has Reynolds bars in each pattern!
Kim Klakow got the Maes bars correct, but then got sidetracked by "Pelissier Hubs, Vietto shoes, Bergamschi Ladies handbags, and Ambrosio (Morelli) stems/bars. Great list, but "handbags"?
John Barry also guessed Maes bars.
Derek Willburn had all four riders correct, but "hubs" was missing the handlebar connection. Great guess, though!
Dan Artley and Jay Van De Velde reminded me that Pélissier is better known for those spring aluminum thorn catchers, and John Siemsen also mentioned Pélissier hubs.
Thanks to everyone for playing.
Aldo Ross
BlueBall, Ohio