At 11:31 AM +0200 4/30/08, Martin Appel wrote:
>I just stumbled across a link pointing to pictures of a certain "Leo
>Moors" bike collection. I have to say, that's the most impressive
>collection of team bikes i've ever seen! Link is
>http://www.flickr.com/photos/pommesking/sets/72157604424320175/
>
>rumours say that Mr. Moors is a metalworker who makes bike racks for
>team cars, hence his good contacts. Don't know if this is true or not.
>
>regards,
>
>Martin Appel
>Munich, Germany
Are those world championship jerseys real, or are they look-alike commemorative "souvenir" jerseys? Almost every jersey is represented, and many pros hold onto their jerseys (and there aren't that many world champions out there). The jerseys look like they are in unworn condition, too. I suspect these are "replicas."
The bikes, too, look like new "commemorative" bikes, not original team bikes that actually have been ridden in competition, with scratches, worn bar tape, etc.
I once visited a similar collection, albeit it smaller, in Germany. They guy collected only current team bikes - that is, bike like those ridden by the pros, not the actual bikes. When the pros changed bikes, he sold the one in his collection and bought the new model. They all were in the size of the collector, though.
So a "collection of team bikes" does not necessarily mean that the bikes actually were ridden in competition.
Jan Heine
Editor
Bicycle Quarterly
140 Lakeside Ave #C
Seattle WA 98122
http://www.bikequarterly.com