Re: [CR]Paris-Roubaix

In-Reply-To: <773FCCCDD769824588198305178278910CA2D45A@isomailp3.iso.com>
References: <773FCCCDD769824588198305178278910CA2D45A@isomailp3.iso.com>
From: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Paris-Roubaix
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2006 11:21:28 -0700
To: Classic Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>

Mordecai Silver wrote:
> Here are some photos of old Paris-Roubaix winners:
>
> http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/1999/apr99p.shtml

My favorite, 1908 - Cyrille Van Hauwaert - Belgium: http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/1999/apr/1908vanhauw.jpg

Notice the low saddle height and upright position of all these guys? I think the upright position is a holdover from high wheelers, but guys riding high wheelers had plenty of leg extension (rode the largest wheel you could straddle to have the highest "gear" for top speed). Was the low saddle height and lack of leg extension because they could finally lower the saddle on safety bikes so they did?

1896 - Josef Fischer - Germany http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/1999/apr/1896fischer.jpg

1900 - Emile Bouhours - France http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/1999/apr/1900bourhours.jpg

1901 - Luc Lesna - France http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/1999/apr/1901lesna.jpg

1902 - Luc Lesna - France http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/1999/apr/1902lesna.jpg

Any ideas?

Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California

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