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Tour de France technology
The Tour de France is starting a little late this year (so as not to compete for viewers with the World Cup). It’s running from July 7th through the 29th.
We recently acquired a few new bikes for the museum, so we have a special display for you in the store.
If you can’t make it to the shop to take a look, we’ll give you an abbreviated display here with our collection of Tour de France technology over the decades:
2018 Trek team bike
1998 GT
First up is Kiel Reijnen’s recently retired 2018 Trek-Segafredo team Madone. This bike is all about aerodynamics with the frame, wheels and component shapes. There’s component integration with the frame, a power meter, 22 speeds with electronic shifting. The bike weighs 15 pounds. Legal performance advantage in 2018: aerodynamic socks.
Next up is a GT from 1998. In 1998, hi-tech at the Tour was all about materials. Titanium, aluminum, steel & carbon fiber. Cinelli Spinacci aero handlebar extensions for flat stages. Heart rate monitors. 18 speeds with integrated brake/shift levers. 17 pound bikes. Legal performance advantage in 1998: ADA brand carbon wheels.
1988 Eddy Merckx
1978 Graftek
Go back to 1988 and the bike world is flirting with modern materials, but most of the Tour tech was from an earlier era. In 1988, the best technology was Look “clipless” ski-binding type pedals, indexed shifters on the downtube and Lycra clothing. 16 speeds. 20 pound bikes. Legal performance advantage in 1988: brake cables under the handlebar tape.
In 1978, Tour de France tech was steel frames, Campagnolo Nuovo Record parts, toe clips & straps. Clothing was still made out of wool and helmets (if used) were made out of leather. 12 speeds. 22 pound bikes. Legal performance advantage in 1978: Chocolate cake with dinner.
1948 Claud Butler
1938 Stucci
Our example from 1948 shows that Tour de France tech meant reliability. Sturdy steel frames that didn’t break, aluminum rims (with wood filling the core) and shifters that worked. 3 to 6 usable gears. 26 pound bikes. Legal performance advantage in 1948: Gears!
Way back in 1938 the Tour de France first allowed shifting systems on the bikes. Cutting edge technology meant wooden rims and a shift lever attached to one of the frame tubes. 3 gears. 26 pound bikes. Legal performance advantage in 1938: Wine.