Categories: NostalgiaUnforgettable Rides

Unforgettable Rides: 1993 Paris-Roubaix

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.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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scaler911 says:

Dec 22 2011 at 7:17 am

@Oli

@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?

I've never heard of All Mountain except for downhill skis. I think that was sarcasm from Frank. You're kinda grumpy this holiday season, no?
Speaking of skiing:

Sorry (not really), I do love my downhillers, and I'm absolutely certain thats a girl.
Marko says:

Dec 22 2011 at 7:25 am

@RedRanger
I like this one too.
McTyke says:

Dec 22 2011 at 7:25 am

@wiscot
I think that's a chain tensioner, not a derailleur
RedRanger says:

Dec 22 2011 at 7:34 am

@Marko
very nice indeed. certainly easier to come by than the Van Nicholas Astraeus bike.
Mikel Pearce says:

Dec 22 2011 at 9:11 am

@scaler911
It helps that she's the best skier in the world at the moment ...
sgt says:

Dec 22 2011 at 10:01 am

@Marko

FTW Especially now that I've flipped the stem and gone tubeless...
Oli says:

Dec 22 2011 at 12:35 pm

@scaler911
It was a joke! I was taking a swipe at the arbitrary classification of various MTB riding types, but obviously my ascerbic wit doesn't translate well into dry text...
paolo says:

Dec 22 2011 at 1:59 pm

@frank

@ChrisAs for my mountain biking, just think "1991-1993"³ 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?

I'm a day late and a dollar short (this site wouldnt let me log in yesterday) but if people are posting electric Six then we need to have this. Scaler 11...don't look. You will be confused.
minion says:

Dec 22 2011 at 2:11 pm

@sgt

@Marko

FTW Especially now that I've flipped the stem and gone tubeless...

Where are the nuts? Was that your bike?
Chris says:

Dec 22 2011 at 3:05 pm

@frank

@Chris
As for my mountain biking, just think "1991-1993"³ 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...

Also been struggling to log in. Was going say I quite liked the last Electric Six clip but I'll rephrase that as I've not had a chance to watch the Gay Bar clip (internet is too slow this time of night, 256k slow. Danger High, Voltage is a damn sight better than the Euro synth offering. Is that where some of you chaps got your obsession with tweed?

1991 - 1993, wasn't that the point when everyone else realised that suspension was the way forward and that it had to be between the wheels and the frame rather than between the frame and rider. As for "technical riding" didn't that mean that you had to go around everything rather than having the choice and being able to find your flow, the mountain biking equivalent of La Volupte. Does Michelle have to wait for ages at the top and bottom of the hills when you go mountain biking together?

I understand the reason for the oversize epms now, to carry spares for your suspension tech.