A Le Mans start, knee-deep water, thick muddy fields, a pile of tangled one-gear bikes and a second place finisher in Belgian colors. Sure sounds a lot like the recent 2016 Singlespeed Cyclocross World Championships, right?
The 1960 SSCXWC for some racers. 1960 Tyneside Vagabonds cyclocross race.
For today’s Throwback Thursday, we’re taking a look at how history repeats itself, with a look way back to 1960 to watch the amazing Tyneside Vagabonds cyclocross race in Great Britain.
Back then, cyclists pedaling singlespeeds or one-chainring machines navigated the deep mud of farm fields, threw their bikes into deep water, and finished with smiles, food and brew.
1960 Tyneside Vagabonds cyclocross racers faced several deep water crossings, without a shark jump.
Doesn’t seem all that different to the racing we saw last weekend in Portland.
A 1960 SSCXer at the 1960 Tyneside Vagabonds cyclocross race.
Even the top two looked familiar, with a second place finisher in Belgian colors:
The top two at the 1960 Tyneside Vagabonds cyclocross race. The guy in Belgian colors got second. Was it a gift?
The biggest difference besides equipment and helmets? Today we have a lot more women competing, and now most racers climb into cars after the race. Back then, most washed up, climbed back on their bikes, and rode 30k home.
Have a look in the awesome film (literally) below:
