When comparing cycling to other industries, I assume that the next "innovation" will be some kind of subscription model: You'll get a certain amount of free shifts per month and if you exceed that, you either have to upgrade to a premium subscription or watch an ad on your bike computer
Indeed, my wife, then girlfriend was riding a Peugot, it was a a RR town bike with price to match. Heavy, but very good. I was riding my 1973 Motobecane Grand Record, Brooks swallow, Campagnolo Record that I replaced about 1980 with Super Record. Man that Campag tool box cost as much as the bike, I still ride, & nowadays I have a sensational collection.
@@ianwhitehead3086 eh. Been sold at least once and current owner is Dutch. Pon holdings owns bicycle brands Caloi, Cannondale, Cervélo, Derby Cycle (owner of Focus), GT, Gazelle, IronHorse, Kalkhoff, Mongoose, Santa Cruz, Veloretti, and Schwinn, among others.
I love how the first winning bike with a brake lever has the cable running UNDER the handlebar tape - a cool feature that would not return until about 1985!
Riding my 1972 Peugeot PX10 on a weekly basis I can only say the old steel bicycles are so much more fun to ride than the carbon ones. For me it’s not about speed anymore and my bike and outfit give a lot of spontaneous reactions and nice conversations during my rides. Sold my carbon in april after gathering dust for 4 years and haven’t missed it for a second.
Thanks for providing some very interesting history. I’m 80 and have loved cycling since I was a kid. My first good bike was a Raleigh Superbe. A very pretty bike in all gold. I then moved on to a Trek 2300, a carbon fiber tube bike with aluminum lugs. Next I bought a Trek LeMond Chambery. This is the most attractive bike I own. Last I bought a Trek Lance Armstrong 1999 US Postal Commemorative bike. This hangs on my wall never having been ridden. It’s been a great life and much of this I owe to cycling.
@@1shelbygt07 hi mate. I am also 80, and I have never given up cycling. In fact, I have just done a 20 k ride. Some days I do less. I still have most of my old bikes which all work. My latest squeeze is a Look 765 Optimum roadbike, with Shimano Ultegra Di2 wireless shifters, disc brakes,the lot. It has given me a whole new lease of cycling life! Like riding on a cloud! Try it! It works! It will be a great life again!
@@lesbois53 my 78 year old friend climbs Mt. Diablo in the SF Bay Area every week. And in a month, I will be riding two weeks in Slovenia with my 82 year old neighbor who is also the assistant ride leader. Excellent examples in health and living life to the fullest. A lifelong cyclist, I learned to unicycle just before turning 50. At almost 59, I'm still bunny hopping, trials riding, wheelieing, "shredding the gnar" and keeping the rubber side down. Road, mountain, single, or tandem, it's ALL fun! Hope to keep it up much, much longer! Kudos to you and everyone else who keeps those wheels spinning! PS I'd LOVE to see your old bicycle collection. Hard to let them go, right?
The golden age for me was when Tour bikes resembled those ordinary club riders owned. The difference between an off the peg Reynolds, Tange or Columbus steel tubed bike, and one made for professionals was minimal. It was a cheap sport for working people.
@@sillysmeagma422 Man the car version is $500, maybe $100-$200 would be more realistic for bikes (At least where I live you can find something like a 2000s road bike in working condition for that amount). $1000 would be reasonable if you have to buy new bikes, if that's what you mean
I still have my 1975 Peugeot PX 10, with the gold drilled Mafac brakes, and Simplex/Stronglight drive train. Bernard Thevenet won the Tour du France on this bike in 1975. It was definitely the fastest bike back in the day, and can keep up with my Specialized Tarmac Pro carbon fiber, Dura Ace with Boyds 60mm carbon wheels. I was soooooo much faster in 1975. LOL Time is always the winner.
Well, I go back to toe straps and leather helmets in the early to middle 1970s. I would like to add, NO ONE wore a helmet during training. MASI, was the premier bike. It cost a whopping $750.00 USD. Man, what a bike. Then there was a black frame bike that was suppose to be super light, but very brittle. They had one hanging on the wall of the bike shop here in Corpus Christi. It was called "space age" material. Still riding, but now on a hard tail because it is safer for me, to keep me from falling. Age is 76. When I had my hip replaced even the doctor could not believe how fast I recovered. Biking has more benefits than you might know. The morning of my surgery I was out doing an easy 4 miles just to loosen up. Took about a week to get back on.
I go back to that time too, I've been riding for just over 50 years, I still have some bikes with toe straps on them, but I no longer have the proper shoe with the proper cleat, so I just use freestyle shoes for those. Those cleats are still available but I don't ride them enough to care. I saw those leather helmets on a few riders, but I never got one because I knew they were worthless in a crash so why buy one?! But a few years after I started seriously riding I got a Bell Biker helmet when it came out in the mid-70s, that was actually a good helmet, it just didn't have the airflow that more modern ones had, but the outer plastic covering was tough as nails not like that thin crap we have today, of course, the Biker did weigh more than modern helmets mostly because of the thick outer plastic covering, but I was young, the weight didn't bother me.
Eddy rode Eddy Merckx-labeled bikes from Masi (1969), then Giuseppe Pela (1970), then Colnago, Kessels, and De Rosa. His own bike company started after he retired, in 1980.
Thanks for the video! I’ve got some more information on Greg LeMond’s Tour winning bikes 1986: Bernard Hinault branded steel frame for flat stages, Look/TVT carbon for mountain stages - both using Campagnolo components 1989: Bottechia steel frame using Mavic components 1990: TVT carbon using Campagnolo components
In 1986, on the final stage into Paris, I saw LeMond ride across le Pont de la Concorde. But it all happened so quickly that I could not spot the details of the frame of his bike. I certainly could not see through the paint.
pretty sure that back in the stone ages they did not move their chain over, as you stated, but used a "flip-flop" hub with 2 different cogs on the rear wheel. THey then undid the massive wingnuts holding the wheel on (by hand), turned the wheel around, and put the chain back on. Maybe that last bit is what you were referring to, but to me it sounded like you implied that they moved the chain over to a different gear, which would be on the front chainrings, not on the rear cogs which were, as I mentioned, flip-flopped. Just want folks to have a clear picture of what these folks endured for their sport.
I enjoyed your presentation very much, thank you. I'd like to add something which I hope will be of interest. When we talk about top quality steel frames used for racing, they are actually steel alloys. In 1897, Alfred Milward Reynolds found that increasing the thickness of light gauge steel tubing at stress points overcame the problem of buckling at these points. This is the famous butting process, in which the thickness of the tubing is increased where needed but without increasing the overall tube diameter. In 1935, the famous Reynolds 531 tubing, an alloy of manganese, molybdenum and steel was introduced. Combined with the butting process, this was a highly significant development for lightweight frames. The alloy improves properties of the metal such retention of its properties after brazing. The later Reynolds 753 is also a manganese-molybdenum alloy steel, but with enhanced properties such as strength and torsional rigidity. Many Tour de France winning bike frames have been built using Reynolds 531. It has also been used in aircraft and Jaguar's famous E-type sports car. For those wishing to know more, there's plenty on the internet about Reynolds tubing.
Hi. “It’s the men on the bikes who win, not the bikes.” This statement was not always true in the very long history of the Tour. The perfect example in modern times of the Tour is that of the Tour 1989. The last stage of the Tour 1989 is a time trial, this is rare and this is therefore also the case for the Tour 2024. Before this last stage, two great champions are at the head of the Tour, the US Greg LeMond (1x Tour winner in this time) is second, the French Laurent Fignon (2x Tour winner in this time) is first with 50 seconds ahead of LeMond. During this last stage Fignon uses an almost "classic" bike, two wheels almost full and a little lighter than the bikes in normal stages. But LeMond uses a revolutionary bike for the time! Very light materials (carbon for example), a single solid rear wheel and above all a lightweight streamlined helmet and especially a very long handlebar in the shape of a cow's horn which allows it to run practically lying down with therefore much better aerodynamics than that of Fignon. LeMond won the time trial with 58 seconds ahead of Fignon, second in the stage, and therefore won the Tour with only 8 seconds ahead of Fignon, the smallest gap in the long history of the Tour de France! A great memory for US fans, a nightmare for French fans. That year, these 2 champions were of equal strength. LeMond was perhaps slightly stronger than Fignon in the time trials on flat roads, but throughout the Tour Fignon was superior to LeMond until this last stage (even if, few know it, at the end of the Tour Fignon suffered from severe irritation in his crotch due to excessive friction for 2 weeks, which nevertheless handicapped him a little during this final time trial). And it was LeMond's revolutionary bike for its time that allowed him to win the Tour 1989. To limit the importance of bikes, the following year the Tour organization banned all innovations on bicycles that had not been controlled and authorized by it and by the world cycling authorities. QED Video on this last terrible stage of the Tour 1989 here -> ruclips.net/video/2CAVEqbQzJ0/видео.html
Fascinating! I'm an old fat motorcyclist, but the speeds that some of my friend go on their bicycles is amazing. My bike will do an easy 280kph, but anyone who does over 70kph just, even the thought terrifies me. And they've been down hill at over 110kph. Ahh! Those TdF bicycles are just like science fiction. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
Was descending a pass at Lake Tahoe 20 years ago on our mountain tandem. Had no expectation of going too fast. Then a dude on a motorcycle sidles up beside us and shouts, "Good job guys! You're doing 55!" Nice! (55mph is 88kph) Not.even.trying. I know we've hit over 65mph on the road tandem (104kph) And the Flexy Racer as a kid? Pretty sure I topped 70 on that insane death trap!!!! Not sure I'll be hitting those speeds again though...
I rode my Peugeot 979 with pride, I think dura ace ax was the dogs. Can't work out why it cost me @£750 back in 1986 to have a decent bike with brand new campy group set. Today it appears fashionable only to buy a bike over $10,000. Then stay in the big ring. I don't see the hype, it is the rider.
Started out with alcohol, by the 30's alcohol & antisetics were the buzz. 50's onwards we got the anabolics and amphetamines and they were the standard till the 80's when blood tranfusions and then EPO came along.
Double triangulated bike resembles Egyptian pyramids of torture till your spinal cord forms like a Camel back and a prostate illness. No one beats Francis Fauré on his UCI's world record of 40+ mph in the 1930s using lowracer road Recumbent bicycle. Exodus from Egyptian pyramids bike frame then heading towards the Promised Land of milk and honey laidback on road Recumbent bicycle on pain-free, natural curvature of spinal cord and a prostate cancer-free racing...a win win combination.
I think I observed STI prototypes at the 1987 Tour in Stuttgart. If memory serves, I was mystified by the extra cable housing extending from the brake hoods. But that was a long time ago and I may be mistaken.
1956 Tour De France was won by Roger Walkowiak riding a Riva Sport bicycle built by Alphonse Thomann who built several TDF bicycles. I own a 1956 frame built by Riva Sport Cycles. It has Vitus tubing and Nervex Lugs. I set this frame up as fixed gear with a rim choice that will support large tires. I run 33cm tires. i ride this bicycle regularly and is a great ride. Btw, it was 1965 that Gimondi rode the Bianchi with all the new Campagnolo parts like new hub and brakes. Great video and thanks
Pogacar himself is only 176 cm tall. If you are over 180 cm the "less hip flexion" thing does not apply, any supposed aero benefit is negligible and if you are already used to pedal fast (+90 rpm) there is no need to go any faster. Short cranks are a fad, probably even more than oval chainrings.
I'm 175cm tall and have been mountain biking with 175mm cranks for 35 years. Road riding with 172.5mm. Seems to be working well so far. (I laugh at all the crank strike marks on rocks on the trails - lots yesterday in Tahoe. Apparently people don't know about this thing called "technique" while riding off road.) My 190cm friend has been road & track riding with custom 198mm cranks for the same time to avoid previous injury caused by short (180mm) cranks. Seems to be working well so far.
Brilliant summary. I think the only thing you didn't mention in the innovations was the QR skewer which was the start of Campagnolo as a bike brand, Tullio having found the butterfly nut difficult to undo with cold hands.
The internet and RUclips is rife with duplicates. This is more than interesting and very well researched, written, and produced; it is, insofar as I know, a truly singular exposition of bikes in the history of the Tour. Chapeau! One addition I would make: I think there have been some number of "winning bikes" that were re-decaled to carry a sponsor's name but were built by others. Craig Calfee built LeMond's first winning carbon frame. (John Slawta of Land Shark built Andy Hampsten's re-decaled, Giro "winning" frame.) (And congratulations to you again for stating bikes don't win; riders do. Having created the advertising for Campagnolo, Continental, Basso, et al., it unfailingly galls me to see ads that speak of products winning.)
the BMC you show at 14'04" is - as you said - equipped with Shimano Dura Ace DI2, but the BMC that Cadel Evans rides in the picture before has a Campagnolo group set
Good job with this video. Very entertaining review of this history. Bike tech is a pretty good reminder of how recent the industrial/technological society really is.... The first bike type thing, really like a balance bike for kids made of wood was what 1877? Then the safety bicycle is 1880s... then they're racing the TdF in early 1900s! Then I actually lived and road and raced bikes through late 1980s and 1990s when all the experimenting was going on. My first real road racing bike was a steel frame with downtube shifters and toe clips. I swapped the toe clips for clipless pedals maybe one season later, then STI swept away the downtube shifters in no time too, then much better helmets wiped away the classic hairnets. There were vast dumpsters filled with failed bike junk in those years too, like biopace chainrings. The bike tech of the 80s mirrored the innovation in other industries too. Back then people were really cognizant, I think that they were living in "the future", I remember it, and can recognize that type of thinking when I watch TV shows and movies from back then.
I still have the biopace rings on my Schwinn Voyageur, lol. I've done tens of thousands of miles on them over the last few decades, so hearing they're junk is always news to me because I never had a problem with them. Never bothered upgrading to special fancy shoes either, and I'm still using downtube shifters. Not to critique your post, but I don't think the racer based tech filtering down onto recreational riders has necessarily been a good thing, other than for bike companies. If you're a pro that's one thing, but what has pushing all these chubby, non-athletes into neon spandex and onto bikes with harsh racing geometry really accomplished, aside from the comedic factor? The dumpsters of the future will be fill with carbon fiber bikes because they're too risky to ride used, while any 1970's Raleigh frame will still be safe to ride 100 years from now. Was the 3lbs or whatever difference between a good steel frame and carbon fiber really worth it?
@@jimmyjakes1823 spandex has NOTHING to do with racing. It's function. I've decided that the shunning of Lycra in the mountain bike community is horrible. I've been cycling in Lycra for 45 years. I live in a hot climate. I also "run hot," so riding in "baggies" is stupid. I just spent a week in the Sierra where temps were 85-90. Climbing 1,800 feet of technical Sierra single track baking in the sun? Sorry, won't be wearing gym shorts for ya! Simply too hot for me to wear clothing based on "fashion sense" instead of FUNCTION. So I'm wearing Lyra with pride. This is EXACTLY what American football payers wear - and they don't have a chamois to cover their "bits," so I'm less "out there" than the beloved "studs" on the football field. But that won't stop your average male pickup truck driver from shouting "fag" at cyclists as he passes them dangerously close to get home to watch football! So stop the Lycra bashing. It's not for "racing," but for those cycling long and hard hours on the bike who need FUNCTION over anything else. And I also don't buy into the endless shaming of the male physique. Terrible side-effect of some great strides for gender equality. I'd prefer the latter without the former, thank you.
@@dudeonbike800 I'm shocked you got the f word through moderation. That aside, those truckers are only standing up for good taste and public aesthetics. Imagine driving along, minding your own business until suddenly you see some appalling, fat middle aged man bent all the way over and stuffed into neon spandex, that's covered in obnoxious advertisements. Of course the truck driver will be traumatized. What did they do to deserve that? Is it any wonder people sneer at cyclists when we behave this way? Look, maybe we can find some middle ground here? I do ride with black shorts and a solid colored riding shirt, but only in hot weather and only on randonneur rides or extended multi day tours. Even then, I'll throw on basketball shorts if I'm going to spend time off the bike in civilization, and of course I'm not wearing ridiculous clippy shoes either. This seems reasonable to me. Fundamentally, this idea that you need special riding clothes to go for a 20 mile ride on a nice day is totally absurd. Cycling is a normal activity that normal people should be able to do without dressing up like power rangers.
@@jimmyjakes1823 I'm glad I was able to quote the homophobia RAMPANT in our country. Why censor the truth? Apparently you haven't been any of the THOUSANDS of Walmarts, Dollar Stores or other mass merchant retailers across the country in the last ten years. Endless trauma as far as the eye can see. Obesity is epidemic. Stop playing the victim. Or perhaps you should promulgate legislation that dictates who should be allowed to wear what sort of clothing. Been using "clippy shoes" for 37 years and appreciate them on every ride. After using flats, then toe clips & straps, then toe clips with cleats and then toe clips with double straps, I found the most ideal solution: The Clipless Pedal. They're so good for me I even use them on my urban assault vehicle. Not only tandem riding, but tandem mountain biking. Haven't dropped my partner in 30 years. They aren't for everyone (many get scared riding with them), so I don't fault others who choose alternatives. I wonder why you feel the need to? Been riding in "normal" clothing for 51 years. Yet when I want to ride more than what normal clothing would be conducive to wear, I pick the more appropriate choice. Why would I play soccer in slacks and dance shoes? Your endless moaning is hilarious. Explains a lot of douchery among idiot cyclists I see and hear about. You've obviously forgotten what cycling is and should be all about.
@@jimmyjakes1823 I'll add that it's funny you make the SAME false conclusions that cycling-ignorant members of the public make: "That cyclist MUST be wearing Lycra to 'shove it in our faces,' as that clothing obviously serves no purpose other than to show off and pretend to be a 'racer'." Amazing that you cannot comprehend why cyclists choose appropriate clothing. I've corresponded with a BUNCH of motorcyclists who simply cannot believe we scream down mountains "practically naked." The Lycra skin suit is indeed useless when the worst occurs. They recoil in horror imagining the road rash we'll get if things go wrong. But then I point out that I'd never GET TO THE TOP OF THAT EPIC CLIMB wearing leathers in the first place. So I'd never get the opportunity to UTILIZE the leathers on the screaming descent. Kinda makes 'em moot. Once I explain this, the light bulb comes on. They then get it. I wonder if your light bulb will ever come on?
You showed my Merckx I rode the Eddy for 8 years and 300 races. Couple of different wheel sets. I also had a really nice Frejus from the early '60s. That was one of the best riding bikes I've ever had. But I've owned every kind of bike so I guess I can just keep going.
Great video; you covered a lot of ground in a short time without feeling rushed. I want to point out that all metals used in bike frames are alloy, not just aluminum. Alloy is simply a mix of more than one metal. Steel, aluminum, titanium, magnesium, and any other metals I missed, are all mixed with small amounts of other metals and therefore, are alloys. And I don't know how I have missed videos from 99 Spokes up until now, I will be subscribing!
True! Here in the US many manufacturers refer to their aluminum models as “alloy,” so that’s the vernacular we’ve stuck with, albeit it not the most literally accurate haha
@@99spokes I'll attest to "alloy" being the equivalent of "aluminum" in the US bike scene for a long time. "Alloy nipples" is still the standard term for aluminum.
This is a great and informative video, but I'm slightly confused by your description of "steel" bikes and "alloy" bikes. Steel _is_ an alloy, so what exactly do you mean?
True! In cycling, most manufactures refer to their aluminum frames as "alloy," not really sure when or why this started, but we followed suite in this video. We probably should have used more accurate language though!
My 10 speed custom built Renolds 531 road bike (by Mike Coward of Emperor Sport, South London) weighed 16lb in 1980. So the Lemond carbon bike was no lighter. Many think that the combination of high Young's modulus and tensile strength of alloy steel is still the best all around material.
Hi nice vid, just a bit of info; Merckx's Faema was made by Masi, 1st Molteni Merckx was made by Kessels, then Colnago and finally De Rosa. Fiat Merckx made by De Rosa. In 88 Delgado actually rode a TVT badged Pinarello most of the time. Le Mond won 89 TVT (Badged Bottecchia) and 90 TVT (Badged Le Mond), Indurain on TVT in 91 and maybe 92 (can't recall) badged Pinarello. Indurain's steel bikes by Dario Pegoretti. As a side note, Stephen Roche was the last winner on a LUGGED steel frame with toe clips. Keep up the good work!
To change gears on old pre-war bikes you had to take off the rear wheel and turn it around to use the sprocket on the other side of the hub. I had a couple very old bikes with this feature, threads for gears on both sides of the hub. Some had a freewheel on one side and fixed, track style, gear on the other.
very insightful video, especially the evolution of gear changes was really cool i did expect more pictures of the winnig bikes tho, as if something in the title promised that there would be a list of bikes by year
@@99spokes yea i was guessing this was the case, maybe teh solution could be to have a slide at the end of each era with the pictures you were able to find (like 4-6 different winning bikes) so that we get some visual queues and then the differences in the next era are easier to spot
A fun fact I read was that the Enve bikes used by Total Energies this TDF had mounts for mudshields, contrary to all the other bikes used in the peloton!
What a great video! I know a little about past eras and you managed to cover a lot of ground in a short time whilst also going into some smaller details. The YT algorithm kept on suggesting this vid for weeks... and sure enough 158k views! Well done!!
Thank you for the video. Each year if the tour, bikes are very much the same across the board. If there’s an innovation, you can bet all teams are on it. So, it’s not so much the bike that wins a race, but the rider sitting on it. Let’s not forget that. 😊
I still own my 1981 Team Raleigh copy of Zoetemelks bike . Only difference mine has Campagnolo Record where Zoetemelk used the Super Record group . It weighs 9.1 kilogram !
Indurain didn't use Pinarello when he won his first Tour in 1991; for this year he used Spanish brand Razesa, and TVT for mountains. He's the only cyclist winning Tour with three materials (Steel, carbon and aluminum)
I don’t know for sure, but with some riders using titanium in the 90s / 2000s (think Armstrong’s litespeed), could t there be any riders having used carbon / titanium and a 3rd frame material winning the tour?
Nice work digging out all the old photos and video 🙂 I’m a mt biker but road bikes have gotten neat looking over the last years and always enjoyed TdF. But is there any part left that can really be upgraded or improved?
That’s a great question! Like we mentioned at the end of the video, a lot of companies are merging their aero and climbing bikes; a great example of that is the new Trek Madone, and with it the end of the Emonda
@@LordAus123 Narrow bars and short cranks are just fads, and already proven to work only for tiny riders. 1x on road bikes is complete nonsense. It simply does not provide the same gear range as 2x, you either have to compromise towards climbing gears or sprinting gears.
@@LordAus123 okay thank you for the info. I wonder how long before we can’t tell the difference between an electric assisted and regular bike by looks, will always be heavier I would assume. Can hide motor in crankset/hub area, not sure what it’s called, and then smaller and more powerful batteries in downtube, riders will have a new way to cheat! So I spose there’s always some way to move forward.
Funny thing in that picture of Pedro Delgado and Stephen Roche @10:06 is that Roche has Peugeot branding on his shorts, but he is riding a Battaglin branded frame. Can anyone tell me the story here?
Cervélo is cited as a European company, but began -- and spent its first 16 years as -- a Canadian one. Gerard Vroomen and Phil White founded it, with its initial design coming from Vroomen's work at McGill University in Montréal. I bought my time-trial bike in 1998, when its frame's curving slope over the rear wheel was revolutionary. They weren't able to obtain a patent on it, and it's been copied ever since.
That was excellent. You handled the EPO very well. For me, I would emphasise the change in geometry in the last 15 years ( eg sloping top tube, more compact frame geometry vs high seat, lower attachment points for rear stays etc. ). I remember when carbon wheels came in in the mid 1980's, first as TT wheels ( MAVIC ! ) ... Looks like one bike for all stages, and 11/12 gear cassettes with one chain ring is the way forward now. I really hope there are no hidden motor cheaters in the pack.
The black TVT bike shown then talking about Greg's 1986 win was actually a 1987 spec LaVie Claire bike. When Gret started the 87 season on this bike, it would be the only time he raced on Shimano. The 7 speed Dura Ace with SIS was something he actively fought for the team to get. He would crash on this bike in Tirrano Adriatico at the start of the year and whilst home recovering he was mistaken for a turkey and shot. The light grey/silver bikes LeMond and Hinault road in 86 were a similar frame with Campagnolo C-Record cobalto equipped. The name coming from those super cool "jewels" on the center nut of the sidepull caliper. The Look bikes were really just rebadged TVT bikes, not Look built with TVT tubes. In 1989 LeMond was using Mavic components not Shimano. He rode a Bottechia frame for most of the Tour with the TVT saved for the high mountains. In 1990 Greg was back on Campagnolo and when he lost the Tour in 91 he was on a Calfee.
I loved the caveat about knowing that the athletes, not the bikes win the tour, but let's be honest... throughout long periods of the history you covered it was the doping (mech, pharm, etc.) that pushed select riders and bikes ahead of their peers.
You never mention 531 tubing, or don't you know about it. The bikes might have been made in Italy or France, but they all used it? It was made in UK. And the guy who used it was Reg Harris, the world sprint champion for 14 years!
Reynolds actually made the script, but it was one of several areas we ended cutting while editing to keep the video length a bit shorter. They’ve definitely had an undeniable impact in cycling though!
@@99spokes You shouldn't have cut it because that would have been cool. Also the tech involved in welded, brazed and lugged bikes would have been nice to hear about. No one here is complaining about the video being too long.
TVT was a great brand. Back in the end of the 80's and beginning of the 90's all manufacturers used them for their top frames. Lemond, Pinarello and so on.
Funny I never made the Raleigh/1980 Tour connection. The movie "Breaking Away" cemented my love of cycling by prompting me to get a road bike in 1979. By 1980 I was a road riding fanatic. I took my Raleigh Super Course everywhere! Funny coincidence that Raleigh won its only Tour that year. If it weren't for that frame failing at the rear brake bridge and the WRONG size warranty order, I'd most certainly still have that bike today. Oh well.
Very good job, never seen before I think, bravo !!! I just loved the first 2/3 of the video, too good the performances of the cyclist at that time with "only" cofee and wine as doping substances.
It wasn't a dark time.... These grand tours riders now aren't clean. Should have gone into the trek bikes more. Still a great film though. I really enjoyed it. Thank you 😀👍
Steven Roche, last TDF Winner to use Toe Clips in 1987. Pedro Delgado continued LeMond's Carbon frame breakthrough with a Pinarello equipped Campagnolo C Record Delta brake version built by TVT.
The next revolution in bikes for the TDF will be the 1x drivetrain, going with just one gear in the front will reduce weight, which means they can put that weight someplace where it's needed, and it could improve aerodynamics a tad. After the 1x is introduced, shortly after, an automatic rear derailleur will emerge, promising to be faster than electric derailleurs, and responding automatically to the rider's chosen cadence range.
Two efficient designs have survived the test of time: 1) The triangle truss 2) The tension wheel Hard to improve upon these two, despite their 120 plus year tenure. Try as it might, the industry hasn't.
I think all your pronunciations were great and you have a solid knowledge of the Tour. The only thing I found lacking was more pictures of the bikes especially during the Hinault, Fignon, Lemond era of the 1980s which for me was the real golden era of cycling. It’s been said that the Gitane ridden on hilly stages by these riders, was far heavier than Sean Kelly’s TT bike that wasn’t made to be light. Renault had access to the F1 wind tunnel where they made lots of innovations with bladed cow horn handlebars etc.. Why is it only in the last few years we see aero road suits when they had been using them in TT since the early 80’s? In my opinion the UCI shouldn’t allow the Peleton to look like avatars with all aero on road stages. I’m all for looking like an astronaut in the TT. Another interesting point is in professional racing we have seen a rise in death since compulsory helmets. Are the riders taking more risks thinking they are protected from such tragedy?
The book "Butcher, Blacksmith, Acrobat, Sweep" is a great read documenting the first Tour de France. It is incomprehensible to us now how the riders completed such a test. Oh, did I mention they rode at night a good deal of the time?
Love the old pix. FYI, elliptical ("oval") chain wheels had been used and found wanting back in the '70s, if not earlier. Bad things forgotten always creep back. Elliptical chain rings are cycling metaphor for the history of the human race.
What a great historical survey. Q? Where did GT road bikes fit in? I saw a photo of a GTzr in a 2001? or 2002?? TDF. Not sure which. It was the only photo I saw of one. Thanks...
Cervelo was founded in Canada and still a Canadian company in 2008 during their 1st tour win. IIRC, they were bought by a dutch company in 2012 and since then are now HQ'd in California.
@@michaelhanley7564 Ok, Michael, I maybe got it wrong! It’s just that I feel sorry for Vingo somehow. That crash has reduced his ability a lot, but Poggie is the best I have ever seen. I am 80, and living in France as I do is the only way to really experience the majesty and magic of the Tour. TV is not even close. I have seen every tour for real ever since Indurain won it. Including many very exciting Armstrong tours. Say what you like about him, he created massive excitement in his battles with the equally doped German Ullrich. I have watched Fab Cav win many stages. I have climbed a lot of the routes of the Tour, as living down here in the Massif Centrale, I am amongst some great climbs! I can still do a few on my Look 756 roadbike. Barring any accidents or bloody covid ffs ( who knew?) Poggie will ace the tour this year. However, Vingo, like Arnie, will be back! Watch this space!
That era of high-end carbon bikes, are just brutal riding, but so fast and pretty 😂 Had a Focus Izalco Extreme from 2009, with the integrated seatpost. That thing beats you up, like you owe it money.
2025 - depending on who doesn't fall off in spring: My vote goes for Pogi. Innovations: even wider rims and tires. Bigger front brake rotors. 13 speed rear cassette on the road - not in attempt to fine a wider range of gears but to provide even more reduced jump when between the 19 and 25 sprockets. Deep rims used as rider speeds in the mountains continue to increase. Anything less than 50mm deep will be saved for mythically steep climbs like Alto de L'Angliru. More emphasis on rider comfort with 3d printed rider/event specific saddle becoming the norm. Embedded elastomer "suspension" tech used by Trek and Look may become more common. Automated shifting based upon terrain/gps data and power output.
10:15 Before the STI there was simply indexing on the down tube begining around '84 which was in itself a big improvement on the friction systems of until then. Your forgot some system too , like bar end gripShift ...yes those big yellow barrel of the post disco era .
AFAIK Cervelo isn’t a European brand (although it sounds like it) it’s a Canadian one. Actually now they’re headquartered out of Southern California in Alisa Viejo, so if anything they’re an American/Californian brand.
Great video 👍 Next innovation? With electronic shifting now so common , how about auto shifting gears based on a preset cadence threshold, especially for regular cycling nerds like myself 🤷🏻♂️
@@99spokes 'doping' actually started with the domestiques. Their jobs were HARD as HELL. They started off with alcohol . . . then the Team Leaders realized that they too can 'cash in' on the vibes. Before you know it . . . EVERYONE is doping!
Look up the history of doping. It’s pretty interesting! In the ‘30s, the TdF invitations specifically warned teams that the organizers would _not_ be providing any! 😂
Really good, informative video. One correction: Greg LeMond rode Campy C-Record in 1990, not Shimano. (His 1990 Campy-equipped Tour-winning bike is on display at the US Bicycling Hall of Fame in Davis, CA.) In fact, I don't think LeMond ever rode Shimano in his pro career.
He did not. He rode Campagnolo except for 1989 when Mavic was a sponsor of his ADR team. A Shimano bike had never won the tour until Lance Armstrong in 1999.
![KSI - Dirty [Official Visualiser]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VoDh1h1dPUE/mqdefault.jpg)
When comparing cycling to other industries, I assume that the next "innovation" will be some kind of subscription model: You'll get a certain amount of free shifts per month and if you exceed that, you either have to upgrade to a premium subscription or watch an ad on your bike computer
lol nice 😂😂
Shhhhhhh, don't get them thinking!
I quess you'll still be able to shift manually but for the AI enhanced auto smart shift you have to pay a monthly subscription fee.
You tried too hard to be funny
Piracy becomes rampant in the cycling industry suddenly.
I think the tour should have a retro stage where they ride single speed bikes for the day.
That would be gnarly!!
Yeah the kind where you stop and flip the rear tire around to change to a slightly different gear.
RAD idea!!!!😎
I like it! Plus wool jerseys!
@@larchman4327 gears?, ride it fixed gear and brakeless like the first years! jk
How this hasn’t absolutely popped off is criminal. Well done dudes
Haha thank you, glad you like it!
Because cutting to a face talking all the time is obnoxious.
@@RHelenius haha okay bro I dunno what else you expect from RUclips but these videos often have a face. Jog on.
@@burgess_and_his_bike Not liking the truth, bro?
@@RHelenius it literally does not impact me at all. I do not care what you think, like, at all chief.
Peugeot was actually a relatively well-known bike brand back in the 70’s.
I rode a PX-10
And 80's.
Indeed, my wife, then girlfriend was riding a Peugot, it was a a RR town bike with price to match. Heavy, but very good. I was riding my 1973 Motobecane Grand Record, Brooks swallow, Campagnolo Record that I replaced about 1980 with Super Record. Man that Campag tool box cost as much as the bike,
I still ride, & nowadays I have a sensational collection.
Plenty of old chromoly steel Peugeot frames are still on the roads in Europe
As a kid starting to love bicycles in the early 70's I lusted after the Schwinn Paramounts in the bike store rack.
No R in Peugeot. Cervelo is Canadian not European. 13:40
And 7:20 Mercier is French, not Italian
Good catch, thank you!
“Was” Canadian
@@aemediainceh?
@@ianwhitehead3086 eh. Been sold at least once and current owner is Dutch. Pon holdings owns bicycle brands Caloi, Cannondale, Cervélo, Derby Cycle (owner of Focus), GT, Gazelle, IronHorse, Kalkhoff, Mongoose, Santa Cruz, Veloretti, and Schwinn, among others.
The weight of the first Tour de France winning bike is the equivalent of riding a modern bike with two more modern bikes strapped to your back.
Haha for real, that’s a crazy way to think about it!
And on fixed drivetrain no less!
@@yukiko_5051 Superior fix gear
I think the biggest weight difference could be on some riders ;)
I love how the first winning bike with a brake lever has the cable running UNDER the handlebar tape - a cool feature that would not return until about 1985!
Riding my 1972 Peugeot PX10 on a weekly basis I can only say the old steel bicycles are so much more fun to ride than the carbon ones. For me it’s not about speed anymore and my bike and outfit give a lot of spontaneous reactions and nice conversations during my rides. Sold my carbon in april after gathering dust for 4 years and haven’t missed it for a second.
Love those old pictures of the riders having a cigarette....crazy
Nutty!!
Ha ha ha. You used to see that in World Motocross too.
They would also stop in to a restaurant and pick up a few bottles of wine and share them.
It was believed that smoking helped "expand your lungs" so you could breathe more easily.
Yes, you must open your lungs before you get to higher altitude.
Thanks for providing some very interesting history. I’m 80 and have loved cycling since I was a kid. My first good bike was a Raleigh Superbe. A very pretty bike in all gold. I then moved on to a Trek 2300, a carbon fiber tube bike with aluminum lugs. Next I bought a Trek LeMond Chambery. This is the most attractive bike I own. Last I bought a Trek Lance Armstrong 1999 US Postal Commemorative bike. This hangs on my wall never having been ridden. It’s been a great life and much of this I owe to cycling.
Read The Midlife Cyclist by Phil Cavell and you'll be taking that bike off the wall and riding it again.
@@1shelbygt07 hi mate. I am also 80, and I have never given up cycling. In fact, I have just done a 20 k ride. Some days I do less. I still have most of my old bikes which all work. My latest squeeze is a Look 765 Optimum roadbike, with Shimano Ultegra Di2 wireless shifters, disc brakes,the lot. It has given me a whole new lease of cycling life! Like riding on a cloud! Try it! It works! It will be a great life again!
Kudos to you 80 year olds from a 72 year old with 40+ years of cycling. You guys are my heroes.
@@lfdavis keep on treading! It never ends!
@@lesbois53 my 78 year old friend climbs Mt. Diablo in the SF Bay Area every week. And in a month, I will be riding two weeks in Slovenia with my 82 year old neighbor who is also the assistant ride leader. Excellent examples in health and living life to the fullest.
A lifelong cyclist, I learned to unicycle just before turning 50. At almost 59, I'm still bunny hopping, trials riding, wheelieing, "shredding the gnar" and keeping the rubber side down. Road, mountain, single, or tandem, it's ALL fun! Hope to keep it up much, much longer!
Kudos to you and everyone else who keeps those wheels spinning!
PS I'd LOVE to see your old bicycle collection. Hard to let them go, right?
The golden age for me was when Tour bikes resembled those ordinary club riders owned. The difference between an off the peg Reynolds, Tange or Columbus steel tubed bike, and one made for professionals was minimal. It was a cheap sport for working people.
we now need the 24h lemons but with bikes... you can spend at maximum 50€ on your race bike
(lemons, not le mans nor le monds)
@@CharlesG-d7q id say $1000
@@sillysmeagma422 Man the car version is $500, maybe $100-$200 would be more realistic for bikes (At least where I live you can find something like a 2000s road bike in working condition for that amount). $1000 would be reasonable if you have to buy new bikes, if that's what you mean
@CharlesG-d7q for the car version you can sell of extra parts and dont have to include cost of safety features which makes it easier to get that price
I’m sure you spent many hours researching this so you deserve a Hearty Well Done!
Hey I appreciate it, thank you!
I still have my 1975 Peugeot PX 10, with the gold drilled Mafac brakes, and Simplex/Stronglight drive train. Bernard Thevenet won the Tour du France on this bike in 1975. It was definitely the fastest bike back in the day, and can keep up with my Specialized Tarmac Pro carbon fiber, Dura Ace with Boyds 60mm carbon wheels. I was soooooo much faster in 1975. LOL Time is always the winner.
Well, I go back to toe straps and leather helmets in the early to middle 1970s. I would like to add, NO ONE wore a helmet during training. MASI, was the premier bike. It cost a whopping $750.00 USD. Man, what a bike. Then there was a black frame bike that was suppose to be super light, but very brittle. They had one hanging on the wall of the bike shop here in Corpus Christi. It was called "space age" material. Still riding, but now on a hard tail because it is safer for me, to keep me from falling. Age is 76. When I had my hip replaced even the doctor could not believe how fast I recovered. Biking has more benefits than you might know. The morning of my surgery I was out doing an easy 4 miles just to loosen up. Took about a week to get back on.
I go back to that time too, I've been riding for just over 50 years, I still have some bikes with toe straps on them, but I no longer have the proper shoe with the proper cleat, so I just use freestyle shoes for those. Those cleats are still available but I don't ride them enough to care.
I saw those leather helmets on a few riders, but I never got one because I knew they were worthless in a crash so why buy one?! But a few years after I started seriously riding I got a Bell Biker helmet when it came out in the mid-70s, that was actually a good helmet, it just didn't have the airflow that more modern ones had, but the outer plastic covering was tough as nails not like that thin crap we have today, of course, the Biker did weigh more than modern helmets mostly because of the thick outer plastic covering, but I was young, the weight didn't bother me.
Eddy rode Eddy Merckx-labeled bikes from Masi (1969), then Giuseppe Pela (1970), then Colnago, Kessels, and De Rosa. His own bike company started after he retired, in 1980.
Thanks for the video! I’ve got some more information on Greg LeMond’s Tour winning bikes
1986: Bernard Hinault branded steel frame for flat stages, Look/TVT carbon for mountain stages - both using Campagnolo components
1989: Bottechia steel frame using Mavic components
1990: TVT carbon using Campagnolo components
Great insights, thanks for sharing!
Was the 1986 bike a Roland Della Santa under the paint?
In 1986, on the final stage into Paris, I saw LeMond ride across le Pont de la Concorde. But it all happened so quickly that I could not spot the details of the frame of his bike. I certainly could not see through the paint.
pretty sure that back in the stone ages they did not move their chain over, as you stated, but used a "flip-flop" hub with 2 different cogs on the rear wheel. THey then undid the massive wingnuts holding the wheel on (by hand), turned the wheel around, and put the chain back on. Maybe that last bit is what you were referring to, but to me it sounded like you implied that they moved the chain over to a different gear, which would be on the front chainrings, not on the rear cogs which were, as I mentioned, flip-flopped. Just want folks to have a clear picture of what these folks endured for their sport.
Good catch, thank you!
I enjoyed your presentation very much, thank you. I'd like to add something which I hope will be of interest.
When we talk about top quality steel frames used for racing, they are actually steel alloys.
In 1897, Alfred Milward Reynolds found that increasing the thickness of light gauge steel tubing at stress points overcame the problem of buckling at these points. This is the famous butting process, in which the thickness of the tubing is increased where needed but without increasing the overall tube diameter. In 1935, the famous Reynolds 531 tubing, an alloy of manganese, molybdenum and steel was introduced. Combined with the butting process, this was a highly significant development for lightweight frames. The alloy improves properties of the metal such retention of its properties after brazing. The later Reynolds 753 is also a manganese-molybdenum alloy steel, but with enhanced properties such as strength and torsional rigidity.
Many Tour de France winning bike frames have been built using Reynolds 531. It has also been used in aircraft and Jaguar's famous E-type sports car.
For those wishing to know more, there's plenty on the internet about Reynolds tubing.
Chrome molobiium was extremely strong and light and used on frames in the 80s and 90s
Hi.
“It’s the men on the bikes who win, not the bikes.”
This statement was not always true in the very long history of the Tour.
The perfect example in modern times of the Tour is that of the Tour 1989.
The last stage of the Tour 1989 is a time trial, this is rare and this is therefore also the case for the Tour 2024.
Before this last stage, two great champions are at the head of the Tour, the US Greg LeMond (1x Tour winner in this time) is second, the French Laurent Fignon (2x Tour winner in this time) is first with 50 seconds ahead of LeMond.
During this last stage Fignon uses an almost "classic" bike, two wheels almost full and a little lighter than the bikes in normal stages.
But LeMond uses a revolutionary bike for the time! Very light materials (carbon for example), a single solid rear wheel and above all a lightweight streamlined helmet and especially a very long handlebar in the shape of a cow's horn which allows it to run practically lying down with therefore much better aerodynamics than that of Fignon.
LeMond won the time trial with 58 seconds ahead of Fignon, second in the stage, and therefore won the Tour with only 8 seconds ahead of Fignon, the smallest gap in the long history of the Tour de France! A great memory for US fans, a nightmare for French fans.
That year, these 2 champions were of equal strength. LeMond was perhaps slightly stronger than Fignon in the time trials on flat roads, but throughout the Tour Fignon was superior to LeMond until this last stage (even if, few know it, at the end of the Tour Fignon suffered from severe irritation in his crotch due to excessive friction for 2 weeks, which nevertheless handicapped him a little during this final time trial).
And it was LeMond's revolutionary bike for its time that allowed him to win the Tour 1989.
To limit the importance of bikes, the following year the Tour organization banned all innovations on bicycles that had not been controlled and authorized by it and by the world cycling authorities.
QED
Video on this last terrible stage of the Tour 1989 here -> ruclips.net/video/2CAVEqbQzJ0/видео.html
Fascinating! I'm an old fat motorcyclist, but the speeds that some of my friend go on their bicycles is amazing. My bike will do an easy 280kph, but anyone who does over 70kph just, even the thought terrifies me. And they've been down hill at over 110kph. Ahh! Those TdF bicycles are just like science fiction. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
Was descending a pass at Lake Tahoe 20 years ago on our mountain tandem. Had no expectation of going too fast. Then a dude on a motorcycle sidles up beside us and shouts, "Good job guys! You're doing 55!" Nice! (55mph is 88kph)
Not.even.trying.
I know we've hit over 65mph on the road tandem (104kph)
And the Flexy Racer as a kid? Pretty sure I topped 70 on that insane death trap!!!!
Not sure I'll be hitting those speeds again though...
I rode my Peugeot 979 with pride, I think dura ace ax was the dogs. Can't work out why it cost me @£750 back in 1986 to have a decent bike with brand new campy group set. Today it appears fashionable only to buy a bike over $10,000. Then stay in the big ring. I don't see the hype, it is the rider.
I feel the need to complement the presenter on his clear precise articulate expressions. Good job.
Haha thank you! It was a fun one to work on, I learned a lot!
I agree. He did an excellent job!
At 14:16 it's stated that the Tour was won on a Pinarello bike from 2012 to 2019, however the Tour of 2014 was won on a Specialized bike.
Good catch, thank you!
Can you do : Tour de France winning drugs: 1903-2023 ?
.....and the best trains to catch!!
Started out with alcohol, by the 30's alcohol & antisetics were the buzz. 50's onwards we got the anabolics and amphetamines and they were the standard till the 80's when blood tranfusions and then EPO came along.
😂😂
@@DavidStacey-tx7on If you ain't cheating, you ain't trying!
Double triangulated bike resembles Egyptian pyramids of torture till your spinal cord forms like a Camel back and a prostate illness.
No one beats Francis Fauré on his UCI's world record of 40+ mph in the 1930s using lowracer road Recumbent bicycle.
Exodus from Egyptian pyramids bike frame then heading towards the Promised Land of milk and honey laidback on road Recumbent bicycle on pain-free, natural curvature of spinal cord and a prostate cancer-free racing...a win win combination.
I think I observed STI prototypes at the 1987 Tour in Stuttgart. If memory serves, I was mystified by the extra cable housing extending from the brake hoods. But that was a long time ago and I may be mistaken.
1956 Tour De France was won by Roger Walkowiak riding a Riva Sport bicycle built by Alphonse Thomann who built several TDF bicycles.
I own a 1956 frame built by Riva Sport Cycles. It has Vitus tubing and Nervex Lugs. I set this frame up as fixed gear with a rim choice that will support large tires. I run 33cm tires.
i ride this bicycle regularly and is a great ride.
Btw, it was 1965 that Gimondi rode the Bianchi with all the new Campagnolo parts like new hub and brakes.
Great video and thanks
Nice, thanks for sharing!!
Pogacar is riding 165mm cranks this tour. More aero, less hip flexion, higher cadence. Seems to be working well so far.
Pogacar himself is only 176 cm tall. If you are over 180 cm the "less hip flexion" thing does not apply, any supposed aero benefit is negligible and if you are already used to pedal fast (+90 rpm) there is no need to go any faster. Short cranks are a fad, probably even more than oval chainrings.
until next year
@einundsiebenziger5488 Yes, of course, you know more than tadej and his entire team tasked with giving him every benefit possible. Zzz
@@roadcyclist1Vingegaard uses 172,5 in the 2 tours he won. Goes to show it’s all relative and rider - dependent.
I'm 175cm tall and have been mountain biking with 175mm cranks for 35 years. Road riding with 172.5mm. Seems to be working well so far. (I laugh at all the crank strike marks on rocks on the trails - lots yesterday in Tahoe. Apparently people don't know about this thing called "technique" while riding off road.) My 190cm friend has been road & track riding with custom 198mm cranks for the same time to avoid previous injury caused by short (180mm) cranks. Seems to be working well so far.
Brilliant summary. I think the only thing you didn't mention in the innovations was the QR skewer which was the start of Campagnolo as a bike brand, Tullio having found the butterfly nut difficult to undo with cold hands.
Good call, thanks for adding that!
The internet and RUclips is rife with duplicates. This is more than interesting and very well researched, written, and produced; it is, insofar as I know, a truly singular exposition of bikes in the history of the Tour. Chapeau! One addition I would make: I think there have been some number of "winning bikes" that were re-decaled to carry a sponsor's name but were built by others. Craig Calfee built LeMond's first winning carbon frame. (John Slawta of Land Shark built Andy Hampsten's re-decaled, Giro "winning" frame.) (And congratulations to you again for stating bikes don't win; riders do. Having created the advertising for Campagnolo, Continental, Basso, et al., it unfailingly galls me to see ads that speak of products winning.)
Glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for the feedback!
the BMC you show at 14'04" is - as you said - equipped with Shimano Dura Ace DI2, but the BMC that Cadel Evans rides in the picture before has a Campagnolo group set
Whoops! Tricky finding the correct photos, thanks for the correction!
11:05 that Bianchi bike... So many memories, rest in peace Pirate
Good job with this video. Very entertaining review of this history. Bike tech is a pretty good reminder of how recent the industrial/technological society really is.... The first bike type thing, really like a balance bike for kids made of wood was what 1877? Then the safety bicycle is 1880s... then they're racing the TdF in early 1900s! Then I actually lived and road and raced bikes through late 1980s and 1990s when all the experimenting was going on. My first real road racing bike was a steel frame with downtube shifters and toe clips. I swapped the toe clips for clipless pedals maybe one season later, then STI swept away the downtube shifters in no time too, then much better helmets wiped away the classic hairnets. There were vast dumpsters filled with failed bike junk in those years too, like biopace chainrings. The bike tech of the 80s mirrored the innovation in other industries too. Back then people were really cognizant, I think that they were living in "the future", I remember it, and can recognize that type of thinking when I watch TV shows and movies from back then.
I still have the biopace rings on my Schwinn Voyageur, lol. I've done tens of thousands of miles on them over the last few decades, so hearing they're junk is always news to me because I never had a problem with them. Never bothered upgrading to special fancy shoes either, and I'm still using downtube shifters. Not to critique your post, but I don't think the racer based tech filtering down onto recreational riders has necessarily been a good thing, other than for bike companies. If you're a pro that's one thing, but what has pushing all these chubby, non-athletes into neon spandex and onto bikes with harsh racing geometry really accomplished, aside from the comedic factor? The dumpsters of the future will be fill with carbon fiber bikes because they're too risky to ride used, while any 1970's Raleigh frame will still be safe to ride 100 years from now. Was the 3lbs or whatever difference between a good steel frame and carbon fiber really worth it?
@@jimmyjakes1823 spandex has NOTHING to do with racing. It's function. I've decided that the shunning of Lycra in the mountain bike community is horrible. I've been cycling in Lycra for 45 years. I live in a hot climate. I also "run hot," so riding in "baggies" is stupid. I just spent a week in the Sierra where temps were 85-90. Climbing 1,800 feet of technical Sierra single track baking in the sun? Sorry, won't be wearing gym shorts for ya! Simply too hot for me to wear clothing based on "fashion sense" instead of FUNCTION. So I'm wearing Lyra with pride. This is EXACTLY what American football payers wear - and they don't have a chamois to cover their "bits," so I'm less "out there" than the beloved "studs" on the football field. But that won't stop your average male pickup truck driver from shouting "fag" at cyclists as he passes them dangerously close to get home to watch football!
So stop the Lycra bashing. It's not for "racing," but for those cycling long and hard hours on the bike who need FUNCTION over anything else. And I also don't buy into the endless shaming of the male physique. Terrible side-effect of some great strides for gender equality. I'd prefer the latter without the former, thank you.
@@dudeonbike800 I'm shocked you got the f word through moderation. That aside, those truckers are only standing up for good taste and public aesthetics. Imagine driving along, minding your own business until suddenly you see some appalling, fat middle aged man bent all the way over and stuffed into neon spandex, that's covered in obnoxious advertisements. Of course the truck driver will be traumatized. What did they do to deserve that? Is it any wonder people sneer at cyclists when we behave this way?
Look, maybe we can find some middle ground here? I do ride with black shorts and a solid colored riding shirt, but only in hot weather and only on randonneur rides or extended multi day tours. Even then, I'll throw on basketball shorts if I'm going to spend time off the bike in civilization, and of course I'm not wearing ridiculous clippy shoes either. This seems reasonable to me. Fundamentally, this idea that you need special riding clothes to go for a 20 mile ride on a nice day is totally absurd. Cycling is a normal activity that normal people should be able to do without dressing up like power rangers.
@@jimmyjakes1823 I'm glad I was able to quote the homophobia RAMPANT in our country. Why censor the truth? Apparently you haven't been any of the THOUSANDS of Walmarts, Dollar Stores or other mass merchant retailers across the country in the last ten years. Endless trauma as far as the eye can see. Obesity is epidemic. Stop playing the victim. Or perhaps you should promulgate legislation that dictates who should be allowed to wear what sort of clothing.
Been using "clippy shoes" for 37 years and appreciate them on every ride. After using flats, then toe clips & straps, then toe clips with cleats and then toe clips with double straps, I found the most ideal solution: The Clipless Pedal. They're so good for me I even use them on my urban assault vehicle. Not only tandem riding, but tandem mountain biking. Haven't dropped my partner in 30 years. They aren't for everyone (many get scared riding with them), so I don't fault others who choose alternatives. I wonder why you feel the need to?
Been riding in "normal" clothing for 51 years. Yet when I want to ride more than what normal clothing would be conducive to wear, I pick the more appropriate choice. Why would I play soccer in slacks and dance shoes?
Your endless moaning is hilarious. Explains a lot of douchery among idiot cyclists I see and hear about. You've obviously forgotten what cycling is and should be all about.
@@jimmyjakes1823 I'll add that it's funny you make the SAME false conclusions that cycling-ignorant members of the public make: "That cyclist MUST be wearing Lycra to 'shove it in our faces,' as that clothing obviously serves no purpose other than to show off and pretend to be a 'racer'."
Amazing that you cannot comprehend why cyclists choose appropriate clothing.
I've corresponded with a BUNCH of motorcyclists who simply cannot believe we scream down mountains "practically naked." The Lycra skin suit is indeed useless when the worst occurs. They recoil in horror imagining the road rash we'll get if things go wrong.
But then I point out that I'd never GET TO THE TOP OF THAT EPIC CLIMB wearing leathers in the first place. So I'd never get the opportunity to UTILIZE the leathers on the screaming descent. Kinda makes 'em moot.
Once I explain this, the light bulb comes on. They then get it. I wonder if your light bulb will ever come on?
You showed my Merckx
I rode the Eddy for 8 years and 300 races.
Couple of different wheel sets.
I also had a really nice Frejus from the early '60s. That was one of the best riding bikes I've ever had.
But I've owned every kind of bike so I guess I can just keep going.
That’s awesome!!
Great video; you covered a lot of ground in a short time without feeling rushed. I want to point out that all metals used in bike frames are alloy, not just aluminum. Alloy is simply a mix of more than one metal. Steel, aluminum, titanium, magnesium, and any other metals I missed, are all mixed with small amounts of other metals and therefore, are alloys. And I don't know how I have missed videos from 99 Spokes up until now, I will be subscribing!
True! Here in the US many manufacturers refer to their aluminum models as “alloy,” so that’s the vernacular we’ve stuck with, albeit it not the most literally accurate haha
@@99spokes I'll attest to "alloy" being the equivalent of "aluminum" in the US bike scene for a long time. "Alloy nipples" is still the standard term for aluminum.
Fascinating history lesson gents! Really enjoyed it, well done 👍🚴🏽♂️
Glad you enjoyed it
Great information. It's the old adage, "A rider can't ride without a bike and a bike can't move without a rider.
This is a great and informative video, but I'm slightly confused by your description of "steel" bikes and "alloy" bikes. Steel _is_ an alloy, so what exactly do you mean?
True! In cycling, most manufactures refer to their aluminum frames as "alloy," not really sure when or why this started, but we followed suite in this video. We probably should have used more accurate language though!
My 10 speed custom built Renolds 531 road bike (by Mike Coward of Emperor Sport, South London) weighed 16lb in 1980. So the Lemond carbon bike was no lighter. Many think that the combination of high Young's modulus and tensile strength of alloy steel is still the best all around material.
Thank you for making this video. It was fascinating, and it must have taken a long time to do the research.
Glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
Hi nice vid, just a bit of info; Merckx's Faema was made by Masi, 1st Molteni Merckx was made by Kessels, then Colnago and finally De Rosa. Fiat Merckx made by De Rosa. In 88 Delgado actually rode a TVT badged Pinarello most of the time. Le Mond won 89 TVT (Badged Bottecchia) and 90 TVT (Badged Le Mond), Indurain on TVT in 91 and maybe 92 (can't recall) badged Pinarello. Indurain's steel bikes by Dario Pegoretti. As a side note, Stephen Roche was the last winner on a LUGGED steel frame with toe clips. Keep up the good work!
Right on, thank you for sharing!!
To change gears on old pre-war bikes you had to take off the rear wheel and turn it around to use the sprocket on the other side of the hub. I had a couple very old bikes with this feature, threads for gears on both sides of the hub. Some had a freewheel on one side and fixed, track style, gear on the other.
very insightful video, especially the evolution of gear changes was really cool
i did expect more pictures of the winnig bikes tho, as if something in the title promised that there would be a list of bikes by year
Gal you enjoyed it! That was the initial plan, but ended up being a bit tough to track down, so went with more of the overview approach
@@99spokes yea i was guessing this was the case, maybe teh solution could be to have a slide at the end of each era with the pictures you were able to find (like 4-6 different winning bikes) so that we get some visual queues and then the differences in the next era are easier to spot
@@mihaelverk9507 Just trying to be helpful, it is "visual CUES".
@@gerryc3112 hahahaha fair enough, thx
A fun fact I read was that the Enve bikes used by Total Energies this TDF had mounts for mudshields, contrary to all the other bikes used in the peloton!
Sorry to hear that, thanks for sharing your expereince!
What a great video! I know a little about past eras and you managed to cover a lot of ground in a short time whilst also going into some smaller details. The YT algorithm kept on suggesting this vid for weeks... and sure enough 158k views! Well done!!
Thank you for the video. Each year if the tour, bikes are very much the same across the board. If there’s an innovation, you can bet all teams are on it. So, it’s not so much the bike that wins a race, but the rider sitting on it. Let’s not forget that. 😊
Absolutely!! Hence 00:38 haha
I've always been looking for a video like this.
I still own my 1981 Team Raleigh copy of Zoetemelks bike .
Only difference mine has Campagnolo Record where Zoetemelk used the Super Record group .
It weighs 9.1 kilogram !
I have one from the late 1970s I’ve had it since new and love it
Indurain didn't use Pinarello when he won his first Tour in 1991; for this year he used Spanish brand Razesa, and TVT for mountains. He's the only cyclist winning Tour with three materials (Steel, carbon and aluminum)
Thanks for that catch, and a cool stat at that!!
Four materials: steel, carbon, aluminium and EPO 😁
@@ToddBrittain1963EPO isn't a material used in bike construction
@@roadcyclist1 you don't say LOL
I don’t know for sure, but with some riders using titanium in the 90s / 2000s (think Armstrong’s litespeed), could t there be any riders having used carbon / titanium and a 3rd frame material winning the tour?
Thanks for sharing such amazing video bicycles in Colombia 🇨🇴 are like our girlfriends. We go with them everywhere
Haha awesome, thanks for chiming in!
噢啊呦 ，環法大賽 ！真是 PRO 級的職業戰 ，To de France ,平常我就四處遊走超低空飛行自由車 。
Nibali was on a specialized tarmac in 2014.
Nice work digging out all the old photos and video 🙂 I’m a mt biker but road bikes have gotten neat looking over the last years and always enjoyed TdF. But is there any part left that can really be upgraded or improved?
That’s a great question! Like we mentioned at the end of the video, a lot of companies are merging their aero and climbing bikes; a great example of that is the new Trek Madone, and with it the end of the Emonda
@@99spokes okay thanks, Madone is neat looking, looks smaller than the road bikes I remember riding years ago
Road will probably go 1x mainstream. Full wireless electronic shifting is starting to go mainstream. Narrower bars (
@@LordAus123 Narrow bars and short cranks are just fads, and already proven to work only for tiny riders. 1x on road bikes is complete nonsense. It simply does not provide the same gear range as 2x, you either have to compromise towards climbing gears or sprinting gears.
@@LordAus123 okay thank you for the info. I wonder how long before we can’t tell the difference between an electric assisted and regular bike by looks, will always be heavier I would assume. Can hide motor in crankset/hub area, not sure what it’s called, and then smaller and more powerful batteries in downtube, riders will have a new way to cheat! So I spose there’s always some way to move forward.
Funny thing in that picture of Pedro Delgado and Stephen Roche @10:06 is that Roche has Peugeot branding on his shorts, but he is riding a Battaglin branded frame. Can anyone tell me the story here?
They really have!!
Cervélo is cited as a European company, but began -- and spent its first 16 years as -- a Canadian one. Gerard Vroomen and Phil White founded it, with its initial design coming from Vroomen's work at McGill University in Montréal. I bought my time-trial bike in 1998, when its frame's curving slope over the rear wheel was revolutionary. They weren't able to obtain a patent on it, and it's been copied ever since.
That was excellent. You handled the EPO very well. For me, I would emphasise the change in geometry in the last 15 years ( eg sloping top tube, more compact frame geometry vs high seat, lower attachment points for rear stays etc. ). I remember when carbon wheels came in in the mid 1980's, first as TT wheels ( MAVIC ! ) ... Looks like one bike for all stages, and 11/12 gear cassettes with one chain ring is the way forward now. I really hope there are no hidden motor cheaters in the pack.
Good points, thanks for chiming in!
13:45 isn’t Cervelo a Canadian brand? Or at least back then?
Good catch, thank you!
The black TVT bike shown then talking about Greg's 1986 win was actually a 1987 spec LaVie Claire bike. When Gret started the 87 season on this bike, it would be the only time he raced on Shimano. The 7 speed Dura Ace with SIS was something he actively fought for the team to get. He would crash on this bike in Tirrano Adriatico at the start of the year and whilst home recovering he was mistaken for a turkey and shot.
The light grey/silver bikes LeMond and Hinault road in 86 were a similar frame with Campagnolo C-Record cobalto equipped. The name coming from those super cool "jewels" on the center nut of the sidepull caliper. The Look bikes were really just rebadged TVT bikes, not Look built with TVT tubes.
In 1989 LeMond was using Mavic components not Shimano. He rode a Bottechia frame for most of the Tour with the TVT saved for the high mountains. In 1990 Greg was back on Campagnolo and when he lost the Tour in 91 he was on a Calfee.
Lots of knowledge there, thank you for sharing!
at 01:26 a bike with foot brakes is shown, which is evidenced by the lever that goes from the hub to the frame.
I loved the caveat about knowing that the athletes, not the bikes win the tour, but let's be honest... throughout long periods of the history you covered it was the doping (mech, pharm, etc.) that pushed select riders and bikes ahead of their peers.
You never mention 531 tubing, or don't you know about it. The bikes might have been made in Italy or France, but they all used it? It was made in UK. And the guy who used it was Reg Harris, the world sprint champion for 14 years!
Ah yes - Reynolds 531 double butted steel tubes - the sign of a great, hand made, racing bike.
Reynolds actually made the script, but it was one of several areas we ended cutting while editing to keep the video length a bit shorter. They’ve definitely had an undeniable impact in cycling though!
@@99spokes You shouldn't have cut it because that would have been cool. Also the tech involved in welded, brazed and lugged bikes would have been nice to hear about. No one here is complaining about the video being too long.
TVT was a great brand. Back in the end of the 80's and beginning of the 90's all manufacturers used them for their top frames. Lemond, Pinarello and so on.
I think Indurains road race bikes were steel up to '94. He made the switch to alloy in '95.
Correct, I believe the Keral Lite didn’t come out until ‘95
Excellent presentation. Fascinating!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Funny I never made the Raleigh/1980 Tour connection. The movie "Breaking Away" cemented my love of cycling by prompting me to get a road bike in 1979. By 1980 I was a road riding fanatic. I took my Raleigh Super Course everywhere! Funny coincidence that Raleigh won its only Tour that year. If it weren't for that frame failing at the rear brake bridge and the WRONG size warranty order, I'd most certainly still have that bike today. Oh well.
Tour de France on a fixie, wood wheels and no brakes, my god!
Crazy huh!!
Very good job, never seen before I think, bravo !!!
I just loved the first 2/3 of the video, too good the performances of the cyclist at that time with "only" cofee and wine as doping substances.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it! Definitely simpler times back then haha
It wasn't a dark time.... These grand tours riders now aren't clean. Should have gone into the trek bikes more. Still a great film though. I really enjoyed it. Thank you 😀👍
Fair enough! We were definitely torn on how to handle that. Glad you still enjoyed it though 🤙
How is it the same as now? You mean they are still doping? That's a very unfounded conspiracy with no evidence to back it up, pipe down flat earther.
I agree. Ignore the rider but could have covered the bikes still from that era. Seems silly not to.
Excellent vid! 👏🏻👏🏻
Glad you enjoyed it!
Steven Roche, last TDF Winner to use Toe Clips in 1987. Pedro Delgado continued LeMond's Carbon frame breakthrough with a Pinarello equipped Campagnolo C Record Delta brake version built by TVT.
Why the pic of the consumer-level Peugeot Tourmalet to illustrate the steel bike era? No similar pics of actual Tour-winning bikes available?
It was definitely tricky tracking down high-res photos! But you’re right, I probably should have used something else there
Absolutely superb job - thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
The next revolution in bikes for the TDF will be the 1x drivetrain, going with just one gear in the front will reduce weight, which means they can put that weight someplace where it's needed, and it could improve aerodynamics a tad.
After the 1x is introduced, shortly after, an automatic rear derailleur will emerge, promising to be faster than electric derailleurs, and responding automatically to the rider's chosen cadence range.
True, it was crazy seeing some of the SRAM riders on 1x setups this year, even on some climbing stages!
It is striking to me how little over a century bikes have changed. You still have drop bars diamond frame and a funny appendage to change gears
this is because the UCI ruled in 1934 that a racing bike must have a diamond frame -> ban of recumbent bikes.
Two efficient designs have survived the test of time:
1) The triangle truss
2) The tension wheel
Hard to improve upon these two, despite their 120 plus year tenure. Try as it might, the industry hasn't.
I think all your pronunciations were great and you have a solid knowledge of the Tour. The only thing I found lacking was more pictures of the bikes especially during the Hinault, Fignon, Lemond era of the 1980s which for me was the real golden era of cycling. It’s been said that the Gitane ridden on hilly stages by these riders, was far heavier than Sean Kelly’s TT bike that wasn’t made to be light. Renault had access to the F1 wind tunnel where they made lots of innovations with bladed cow horn handlebars etc.. Why is it only in the last few years we see aero road suits when they had been using them in TT since the early 80’s? In my opinion the UCI shouldn’t allow the Peleton to look like avatars with all aero on road stages. I’m all for looking like an astronaut in the TT. Another interesting point is in professional racing we have seen a rise in death since compulsory helmets. Are the riders taking more risks thinking they are protected from such tragedy?
Right on, thank you for sharing! Those are really cool details!
Awesome video,i thought you were Dylan Johnson at first.🙈💯✌🏻🚴♂️
I echo the gentleman's sentiments. Well done and so very interesting!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Believe it or not Peugeot actually made bikes back in the 70s and they were honestly amazing
The book "Butcher, Blacksmith, Acrobat, Sweep" is a great read documenting the first Tour de France. It is incomprehensible to us now how the riders completed such a test. Oh, did I mention they rode at night a good deal of the time?
Nice, I’ll check it out!
Love the old pix. FYI, elliptical ("oval") chain wheels had been used and found wanting back in the '70s, if not earlier. Bad things forgotten always creep back. Elliptical chain rings are cycling metaphor for the history of the human race.
What a great historical survey. Q? Where did GT road bikes fit in? I saw a photo of a GTzr in a 2001? or 2002?? TDF. Not sure which. It was the only photo I saw of one. Thanks...
Cool! I’m actually not sure on that, I’ll have to look into it!
@@99spokes Thanks.
Good job, nice presentation. 😀
Cervelo was founded in Canada and still a Canadian company in 2008 during their 1st tour win. IIRC, they were bought by a dutch company in 2012 and since then are now HQ'd in California.
Good catch, thank you!
Vingo will ace this tour in the mountains! Made for him!
lesbois53 said hopefully
@@michaelhanley7564 Ok, Michael, I maybe got it wrong! It’s just that I feel sorry for Vingo somehow. That crash has reduced his ability a lot, but Poggie is the best I have ever seen. I am 80, and living in France as I do is the only way to really experience the majesty and magic of the Tour. TV is not even close. I have seen every tour for real ever since Indurain won it. Including many very exciting Armstrong tours. Say what you like about him, he created massive excitement in his battles with the equally doped German Ullrich. I have watched Fab Cav win many stages. I have climbed a lot of the routes of the Tour, as living down here in the Massif Centrale, I am amongst some great climbs! I can still do a few on my Look 756 roadbike. Barring any accidents or bloody covid ffs ( who knew?) Poggie will ace the tour this year. However, Vingo, like Arnie, will be back! Watch this space!
You flipped me out.... I ride a 1948 Legnano Grand Prix to work every day, bought the frame and turned it into a single speed...
I still ride a 2010 BMC SLX01, thing beats me up but I'm too cheap to upgrade.
That era of high-end carbon bikes, are just brutal riding, but so fast and pretty 😂 Had a Focus Izalco Extreme from 2009, with the integrated seatpost. That thing beats you up, like you owe it money.
2025 - depending on who doesn't fall off in spring: My vote goes for Pogi.
Innovations: even wider rims and tires. Bigger front brake rotors. 13 speed rear cassette on the road - not in attempt to fine a wider range of gears but to provide even more reduced jump when between the 19 and 25 sprockets. Deep rims used as rider speeds in the mountains continue to increase. Anything less than 50mm deep will be saved for mythically steep climbs like Alto de L'Angliru. More emphasis on rider comfort with 3d printed rider/event specific saddle becoming the norm. Embedded elastomer "suspension" tech used by Trek and Look may become more common.
Automated shifting based upon terrain/gps data and power output.
Nice, thanks for chiming in!
10:15 Before the STI there was simply indexing on the down tube begining around '84 which was in itself a big improvement on the friction systems of until then. Your forgot some system too , like bar end gripShift ...yes those big yellow barrel of the post disco era .
True! There were definitely some innovations we skipped over to keep the video from running an hour long haha!
Interesting infos. Thank you!!
AFAIK Cervelo isn’t a European brand (although it sounds like it) it’s a Canadian one. Actually now they’re headquartered out of Southern California in Alisa Viejo, so if anything they’re an American/Californian brand.
Montreal.
Good catch, thanks!
Was a really good video 👍
Glad you enjoyed it
Weren't some of Merckx's bikes from DeRosa rather than Colnago?
Yes. Hugo De Rosa built Eddy's later bikes.
I think Merckx fell out with Colnago after Merckx set the hour record in 1972, so he won the 1974 Tour on frames built by DeRosa.
Good to know, thank you!
Wonderful photos!
Glad you liked them!
Great video 👍 Next innovation? With electronic shifting now so common , how about auto shifting gears based on a preset cadence threshold, especially for regular cycling nerds like myself 🤷🏻♂️
Wonderful program
An interesting follow-up video: How Doping has Evolved since 1903! Cheers!
Oh boy, that would be an interesting one for sure!
@@99spokes 'doping' actually started with the domestiques. Their jobs were HARD as HELL. They started off with alcohol . . . then the Team Leaders realized that they too can 'cash in' on the vibes. Before you know it . . . EVERYONE is doping!
Look up the history of doping. It’s pretty interesting! In the ‘30s, the TdF invitations specifically warned teams that the organizers would _not_ be providing any! 😂
I was looking for this a month ago lol. probably an amazin video. I havent watched it yet
It was good yeah
Haha glad we made it then, hope you enjoy!
Loved this video! Period.
Glad you liked it, thanks!
Really good, informative video. One correction: Greg LeMond rode Campy C-Record in 1990, not Shimano. (His 1990 Campy-equipped Tour-winning bike is on display at the US Bicycling Hall of Fame in Davis, CA.) In fact, I don't think LeMond ever rode Shimano in his pro career.
Good catch, thank you! And glad you enjoyed it!
He did not. He rode Campagnolo except for 1989 when Mavic was a sponsor of his ADR team. A Shimano bike had never won the tour until Lance Armstrong in 1999.
A great video! Thank you!
Glad you liked it!
How about making a video on the bikes that were outlawed?
There's been a number of those.
That would definitely be cool!!