Takao Noda wrote:
>
> I am asking about the front part of front fender of Geminiani's
> bike. In those days if it began raining , did the racers put the
> fenders on the way ? Did Geminiani expect rain and leave the
> front part?
> I once heard that they put the fenders in training and took
> them off on races . If so , why Geminiani left that part ? The
> reason of Bobet's victory was the aerodynamic advantage??
> Takao Noda
The reason you see the small front fender in photos of 1950s and earlier race bikes is because it is the front part of a two piece fender. The front part of the fender is usually mounted on the brake caliper bolt, under the lock nut, so it requires adjusting the caliper's tolerance every time it is removed. It was just easier to leave it in place for a race and remove the rest of the fenders. Incidently, even team racing bikes had fender eyelets up through the sixties.
Chuck Schmidt
South Pasadena, California
http://www.velo-retro.com (NEW list of reprints and T-shirts)