How would you change the Tour de France?

[jags]

did you lot notice there was an irish winner today 
dan martin what a result.class.

[Fred A-M]

I watched yesterday Jags - a well earned victory and definitely one to watch from a family with real cycling pedigree!

[jags]

yeah he sure is a good one fred

[Fred A-M]

Just reviewed this year's Tour route in proper detail - it's a monster and will keep the suspense (hopefully, though Froome does look ominously capable of killing it off early in the Alps) going to the end.  Can't ever recall a mountain stage as the penultimate stage!  Certainly wouldn't change anything about this route!

[jags]

don't think we seen the last of contador or cadel evens yet , but yeah froome is a class act .
ah its the best tour i've seen in years men of steel.

[Danneaux]

Hi All!

Apropos this very thread topic, Gizmodo today ran a nice photo-essay showing a hundred years' worth of Tour de France bicycle and comppnent development and innovation. Very interesting to see the older bikes vs the new, and those who rode them:
http://gizmodo.com/100-years-of-tour-de-france-bikes-map-the-evolution-of-709973821

Gizmodo drew their 1903-1976 photos from Emile Arbes over at Le Blog de Velos Vintage: http://velosvintage.over-blog.com/article-100eme-tour-de-france-100-velos-116479381.html
Google-translated from French to English here:
http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fvelosvintage.over-blog.com%2Farticle-100eme-tour-de-france-100-velos-116479381.html&act=url

When you look at the slack frame geometry of older race bikes, it is easy to see why it can be difficult to get a Brooks saddle far enough behind the BB on contemporary frames with modern, uprght geometry. The Brooks saddles haven't really changed much (thanks mostly to some really old equipment that still bends the rails), but long-layback seatposts can put them where they need to be on modern bikes.

Some really nice photos to enjoy, whether you're technically-minded or just like bikes.

Best,

Dan. (...who is both technically-minded *and* likes bikes -- of all sorts!)

[JWestland]

Old steel bikes have made a comeback in the UK with the onset of the fixed-gear cycling scene, some are intentionally left scratched/rusty to stop them from being stolen, while others are lovingly restored. Steel track frames to me look especially mega awesome.

I have a Ciocc 1978 frame with 1980 Super Record, it rides great but as I am not an expert on modern road bikes I've no idea how it compares. Carbon era riders may think it slow/heavy probably...

The old cycling races weren't always done on perfectly nice roads, so a very stiff very steep angles frame may beat you up more than it's worth as it will be more jittery over bumpy roads/sore.

Luis Ocana's bike weighed only 8.6 KG! (It was full of holes he went Drillium to the max)