In 1993, before the UCI put a stranglehold on the means by which riders sought to go faster, innovation flowed through the peloton. Training methods evolved rapidly (apparently in tandem with the potency of the drugs available at the time) and bicycle design was in a period of exciting change spurred on by Greg LeMond’s win in the 1989 Tour de France after using aerobars to overturn a 50-second deficit on Laurent Fignon.
Paris-Roubaix, more than any other event on the calendar, would see some of the most dramatic experimentation, as riders lost themselves in their pursuit to smooth out the race’s brutal terrain. In a five year span, we went from LeMond fitting Rock Shox to his bike to Johan Museeuw showing up aboard a full-suspension Bianchi. The Rock Shox were at first met with raised eyebrows and thinly-veiled snickers until Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle used them to roll over the finish line as the victor at age 37 in 1992. Not surprisingly, 1993 saw many more machines sheepishly toeing the start line with products borrowed from Mountain Bikes, including the GB Team’s custom-built Bianchi’s decorated with Softride suspension stems.
Balance is a critical component in cycling. Balance between rider and machine, of course, but also between comfort and rigidity. As anyone who has ridden with font-suspension will tell you, what is good over the cobbles may not be as good in a closely-contested finish. Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle, the defending champion, and Franco Ballerini, the upstart Italian, broke away together and, with their front-ends quivering like plates of over-cooked pasta, made their way to the velodrome.
The Italian’s confidence in his sprint was matched only by Duclos-Lassalle’s experience on the track. The two wobbled their way to the line, sprinting as hard as their soggy forks would allow and threw their bikes with a synchronization that would be the envy of any Olympic swim-dancing team.
Ballerini was certain he’d won. Duclos-Lassalle wasn’t so sure he’d lost. The referees went to the photo and served Franco a juicy slice of humble pie, in what was one of the closest finishes in Paris-Roubaix ever. Ballerini swore he’d never ride Roubaix again, but nevertheless won it in 1995 and 1998. Solo. On a bike without suspension.
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@frank
Whilst your services to road cycling are peerless, your thinking on mountain bikes is slight misguided but as far as music goes WTF, mate?! I'm a little concerned about meeting you in Belgium now.
On the basis that the guy is wearing budgie smugglers and appears to have helmet vent hair, that isn't one of the antipodean Velominati is it?
I am very thankful for this site and the other cycling aficionados in this world. Each article is a welcome escape for me from the working world, especially on days I don't get to ride. In my next lifetime I will be a famous classics rider. In this lifetime I'm just a working stiff who must settle for beating other weekend warriors up short climbs in Florida. :)
@Chris
As for my mountain biking, just think "1991-1993" and channel that logic. You know - when people still rode their bikes uphill rather than only down, and when "technical riding" still meant going around things rather than hopping on boulders...
As for Electric Six, mate, they are the only band from Detroit that Jack White has not only not gotten into a fist fight with, but has actually collaborated with. They do take a certain subtle sense of humor to appreciate, though...kind of like...hm?
@frank
It's actually not that fucking hard to...
Another great write-up on the '93 Roubaix over at Tears for Gears:
http://www.tearsforgears.com/2010/02/road-bike-action-august-1993-paris.html
@brett
Maybe I will be. Take THAT.
@Chris
The voice of the lady is actually Jack White. Chris, this one's for you, baby.
just to tempt @frank
Dump the Ritchey and think about this
Or some Dutch Ti love,
@frank
Wow, are you actually an orangutan? I'm pretty jealous of the amount of drop you can get, I have short arms.
If you get a new MTB with sloping TT, you're going to need one unbelievably long seatpost.
In a similar vein, do you guys have any preference for fit systems? I am going to see if I can start a build up, and was wondering the best way to go about fit.
@frank
People still do ride their bikes uphill and technical doesn't mean trials riding. Sheesh, haven't you even heard the phrase All Mountain?