Forty-Nine Years Ago - Roger Rivière's Hour Record Bike
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Vigorelli Track, Milano, Italy, 1959. Close-up view of one of two bikes Roger Rivière's used to set a new Hour Record of 47.347 kph, breaking his own two-year-old record by 0.424 km. This bike, unmarked except for dark ovals on each side of the fork crown, has Bianchi-style integrated head set/lugs, Ambrosio "Champion" stem, road-bend bars, track pedals "con dente", 3-piece hubs (look like FB), 28 spokes front, 32 spokes rear, 54x15 gearing, and specially-profiled 175mm cranks. Rivière flatted a rear tire, and had to switch bikes, loosing about 22 seconds in the process. His second bike, also unmarked, appeared to have Reynolds decals on the fork blades and seattube. From "But et Club - Le Miroir des Sports" No.709, 29 September 1959.
The full size image is really big, so be sure to check it out.
Aldo Ross
Middletown, Ohio, USA