Lou, Why be surprised? Except for a few afficionados, we have almost completely forgotten our cycling history. That cycling and cycle racing eclipsed all other sports at the end of the 19th century would be not only a surprise to Americans but almost anathema given our present-day love of arena based sports. Major...Who? Even a look at the web site of U.S.A. Cycling, the governing body of bicycle racing in the U.S., reveals an almost total disregard for its own history or any cycling history for that matter. I quess though you are right in thinking that, given the French love of their own history one might expect more. While we are people of the moment and, in some ways, can be forgiven our transgressions. Edward Albert (plodding away on a selective history of mid 20th century NY bicycle racing) in Chappaqua, NY, USA
Edward Albert, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Sociology
>>> <loudeeter@aol.com> 06/19/07 7:27 AM >>>
Norris, I find it interesting that by the 50s and 60s, the French cycling cr owd had largely forgotten the names of Singer and Herse, rarely mentioned in conversation as you related. In the 30s, these same French builders w ere competing at the top in the French technical trials, showing not only Fr ance, but the world, how lightweight bikes could withstand the rigor of hars h roads and riding conditions. I suppose one could say in the interven ing 15-20 years from the trials to the time you were traveling around France that people could have forgotten the trials and the builders who participat ed in them. Some may say, "well, there was WWII", but then, the French weren't exactly fighting in that war, were they? (Oh yes, they h ad the partisans and a few Johnny-come-latelys who jumped in line behind the Allied forces as they marched into Paris, but you know what I mean.) It may be that the French just don't have the same sense of history that som e of the rest of the world have, which is quite surprising. I'm not su rprised that local riders would have supported their local framebuilder.Â
But, I am surprised that the people weren't more knowledgeable about the ir own cycling history. Lou Deeter, Orlando FL
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