Over the past six months (six days in one case), I've finished reading Jan H
eine's Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles and Brett Horton's Cycling's Golden
Age, two books that are wonderful to read, look at the pictures, or just put
on the coffee table to impress your friends when they visit. I picked
up Brett's book at Cirque. It covers the primary riders from WWI
I to 1967, the beginning of the Eddy Merckx era. Including brief discu
ssion of the riders themselves and their accomplishments, the book showcases
many of the pictures, jerseys and objects in the Horton Collection, http://www.the
hortoncollection.com. I've shared it this week with many people who ar
en't cyclists and they were fixated on the wonderful photographs of these me
n of iron who rode on dirt and snow covered roads, over mountains that were
barely passable after the war, and who looked like death warmed over at the
end of the big tours. The enthusiasm of the fans is awesome, some runn
ing beside the riders while wearing business suits, buttoned!! Th
e picture of Jacques Anquetil talking to Eddy Merckx in 1967 is particularly
telling--the passing of the torch so to speak if I recall how Brett caption
ed it. While Brett's book captures the people and the "things" fr
om the racing front, Jan's book captures the French touring bicycle at its b
est. I'm glad I reviewed it again before going to Cirque this yea
r as it helped me appreciate the Herse, Singer, and Dujardin bicycles displa
yed. Thanks to both Jan and Brett for making it possible for all of us
to share in your experiences. Lou Deeter, Orlando FL USA