On Mon, Feb 9, 2009 at 12:24 PM, Jerome & Elizabeth Moos
<jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> It's hard to prove a particular component was the direct result of the Te
chnical Trials. But the Technical Trials were part of a broader cycletouri
ng environment originating to a large extent with Velicio. There was a ded
icated group of cyclotourists, as keen on their cycling as the racers were
on theirs, except the cyclotourists weren't being paid. These cyclotourist
s were organized in a network of clubs who organized club rides and other e
vents, including the Technical Trials and similar competitions. And there
were national publications aligned with the touring clubs, just as L'Auto a
nd similar publications cataloged the racing side of the sport. There were
reportedly raging debates in the press between Degrange, writing in L'Auto
or L'Equipe, and Velocio writing in Le Cyclist about the best direction fo
r the bicycle and the sport of cycling. And after WWI the cyclotourists fo
und an ally in the alumimum manufacturers, whose trade association
> began to sponsor the Technical Trials as a way to promote the expansion
of their high tech material beyond its early use in aircraft.
>
> So the whole atmosphere in France from the end of the 19th century to sho
rtly after WWII was one that fostered innovation in the design and manufact
ure of bicycles. And most of this innovation was in touring bikes, rather
than racing bikes, as the racers and those controlling the events, includin
g Desgrange, were much less willing to accept innovation, as they thought t
echnical innovations degraded the raw athletic ability required.
>
So, when you speak of the influence of the Technical Trials, you mean the influence of the non-race-oriented cyclists, clubs, and market for about 60 years.
BTW, one of the most attractive things about the Technical Trials is that it's a race. And it's cool that it's a race between bikes and builders as well as between cyclists. Homologated, too, it sounds like.
Mitch Harris
Little Rock Canyon, Utah, USA