Sunday 17 February 2013

The Triumph of Design

Having just returned from the amazing Velorama bicycle museum in Nijmegen, Netherlands, I thought I had seen pretty much every weird idea in cycling. Apparently not as up until now I have never come across deer antlers turned into bicycle handlebars.  These come from Taylor Simpson, a designer in New York and you can check out his M-O-N-I-K-E-R handlebars here, although there is not much information about them.

For several reasons, I can imagine as dramatic as they look there are some drawbacks to this idea.  I am sure the first pedestrian you pierce will point these out but I also think in the event of an accident you are going to risk getting pierced yourself as the rider if they shatter.  They do look cool, though.


Saturday 9 February 2013

1959 Tour de France


On July 14, 1959, a helicopter was used for the first time to provide television coverage of the Tour de France.  Wobbly live images were broadcast to nine different countries.  The Franco-German broadcaster ARTE has been digging out old television treasures and here is a preview of their program of the Tour from fifty-four years ago.  Although covered by journalists since its inception in 1903, from this date the Tour moved from being a national event to one reaching across borders and eventually around the world.

There is a DVD of the complete program available.  Narration is available in either German or French but just looking at the black-and-white images is rewarding