[CR] was: messengers, now Porteurs

Follow-up on Jan's comments about Paris newspaper courier (porteur) races. There's some interesting stuff here: http://www.blackbirdsf.org/courierracing/ with good links to specific race results and some line drawings & pics of the bikes. No satchels here, but big slab platforms on the front for piling les journeaux high. Also additional photos of racers and crowd (sepia, as from old newsprint) and a link to archival newsreel footage here: http://www.blackbirdsf.org/courierracing/journaux1930.html

CONTENT WARNING! (ok -- relax now) The video links to a French site, http://www.ina.fr (http://www.ina.fr/economie-et-societe/vie-sociale/video/AFE00001070/course-des-porteurs-de-journaux-au-palais-de-chaillot.fr.html) which is really Alice's rabbit hole for anyone interested in period Euro history: Bikes, races, people, economy, WWI, between & pre-WWII, WWII (fascinating, esp. considering the Occupation) including some war years runnings of Paris-Roubaix !, etc.

The content warning is because you should have plenty of free time before wandering down that road ... and you'll want to book mark it.

;-)

a bientot, mes amis!

Bob Hillery
Stratham, NH, USA ...