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Road cycling history is not just a collection of names, dates, and results, but also all the deeply human stories beyond statictics. A rich, multifaceted narrative of perseverance, human spirit, and cultural significance, that numbers alone cannot capture.
Read more about my interpretation of the beauty of road cycling history (free post)
In the early days of road cycling, a fascinating tension arose between two competing narratives: the practical, everyday promotion of the bicycle as a reliable mode of transport, and the heroic, almost mythic portrayal of cyclists as warriors in battle. This friction lies at the heart of how the bicycle was marketed and how road cycling races were framed in the public imagination. While manufacturers sought to convince people that bicycles were useful, efficient, and suitable for everyday life, the imagery and narratives surrounding early races focused on the extreme endurance and suffering of the riders, casting them as figures of almost legendary grit and resilience.
About the odd friction between practicality and heroism in the early road cycling
The two world wars during the first half of the 20th century serve a natural watershed in the history of road cycling. Therefore the two decades between these two events (nonetheless, there are some opinion out there, that the two wars were basically one big conflict, the second part comes from the unfinished businesses of the first one) seem naturally parts of the same category for the first, superficial glimpse.
Read my thoughts on the uniqueness of the 1920s in Tour de France history
Also, read some great Tour de France stories from the 1920 on Vintage Road Cycling Stories blog (another member of the PelotonTales blogfamily) like
The toughest Tour de France stage ever
Learn about some lesser known cyclists with intriguing stories from the time period: