They don’t call it the race of truth for nothing, and Ferdi ain’t no liar. There’s no hiding when your specialist chrono machine is also your specialist road racing machine, and aero headwear is achieved through flipping your leather cap around to face the Jeep loaded with drunk French truffle hunters that’s been tailing you for the last 27km. You want electrolytes? Lick your lips and get on with it. This guy was Swiss TT badassness long before Faboo was even a twinkle in his old man’s eye.
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@Xyverz
He looks darker because the film stock wasn't truly panchromatic - older B&W film was sensitive to some colours in ways that made them look lighter or darker than they actually were - skin tones seem to be particularly affected by this.
This: http://rouleurmagazine.wordpress.com/2013/07/16/platzregen-a-true-story/
"..drunk French Truffle hunters.." Love it.
Brett, outrageously cool photo pick. His whole form on the bike is aero: narrow, curved not flat back, socks-perfect. These guys were tough as nails. Their legs always look more awesome than today's racers.
@the Engine
Confirmation of photo. Great link. The cycling world needs more characters like Ferdi.
Do we need a International Toe-Clip Day? Where everyone has to set up with old pedals and some old shoes with slot cleats and fall over at stop signs? Maybe someone already makes 3 hole retro-fit cleats so new shoes can be used. I'm going to bring this up at the International Velominati Useless Day Designation Committee, and bang my shoe in the podium.
@Gianni
The were way more awesome than todays racers, look at the bikes, the roads, the drugs, way, way more Badass!
The leather cycling cap blows my tiny little brain into V different pieces.
@Gianni
No, I put toe clips on the TSX and then promptly took them off. I am the prime candidate for "Aimeless Nostalgia Day" but my investigative research proved that there are limits even to what I'm willing to fuck with to get old school. Tubulars around the shoulders are right up there with those candidates, along with flipflop hubs and wing nuts.
All that said, I miss the sight of the peloton coming over the hill with a myriad glinting toe clips. Possibly the most beautiful sight in the world.
What I love most about Ferdi was his penchant for speaking about himself in the third person. That's the way you really dig yourself into the pain cave - you pretend like you're a different person who lives outside yourself.
Some more old school awesome.
Koblet
Lucien Petit-Breton
Great quote, "Jeep loaded with drunk French truffle hunters that's been tailing you for the last 27km". So that's how you make TT's entertaining, drinking and truffle hunting....I've only tried drinking and it hasn't worked, maybe that's where I went wrong.
Gianni, "Do we need a International Toe-Clip Day?" Yes, I have the old bike with the old pedals but not old shoes for them, just wear indoor footy shoes when ride this stead. Would like getting a killer old set of cycling shoes. Just wish there were more races/rides with the focus of riding vintage bikes with vintage gear, l'eroica style.