Another image from Pic of the Day, this time Critérium National d'Hiver de Demi-Fond, Vel' d'Hiv', Paris, 1933. Start of the 1st heat of the Critérium National d'Hiver de Demi-Fond. From left to right: Auguste Wambst, (Georges?) Paillard, et (Jean?) Maréchal. Paillard would go on to win this heat, but a rider from the 2nd heat, Lacquehay, would win the four-rider finale. Note the variations in helmet designs, and the beautiful and BIG chainrings. From "Match l'Intran" No.337, 21 February 1933.

From my "Pic of the Day" album...

Cyclocross Under the Aqueduct

Nice scenery for the 1936 Cross Cyclo-Pedestre d'Arcueil, the "Prix Camille Foucaux", named for the multiple winner of the French National Cyclocross Championships and the Critérium International (cross). The original Roman aqueduct in Arcueil was demolished in the middle ages, but when this replacement was built in the nineteenth century it included a few fragments of the original structure.From "Match l'Intran" No.502, 25th February 1936.

High Dollar Luxor Combo

Another Luxor front rack / twin headlights combination, this one with overall hammered finish. This one sold on eBay-France for over $430, despite cloudy lenses and missing hardware.

Compare to this rack with mixture of hammered and ribs: http://aldoblog2008.blogspot.com/2008/11/new-pieces-en-route-from-belgium.html

Luxor Deluxe Grilled Moto Headlight

Rivetted badge, red indicator light, front grill, toggle switch for battery/dynamo - high beam/low beam... this Luxor headlight has everything! Probably for a motorcycle, but what fun it could be, mounted on the right bicycle. Found on eBay-France.

Radios Taillight - What's It Worth?

How much for this very lovely Radios taillight/reflector combo? Sold for $46.60 "Buy It Now" on eBay France. No, I didn't buy this one either....

JOS Taillight - What's It Worth?

How much for this shapely JOS taillight/reflector combo with lens over the reflector? This one sold for $101.01 (plus $32.00 shipping to the USA!) on eBay. No, I wasn't the bidder...

Artist Kathy Stark of Jacksonville, FL, has posted a blog of her recent works, including a nice painting of a bike racer negotiating a corner. Click this link for more info:

http://kathystark.blogspot.com/

Mixed Lot of Taillights

Even more taillights and reflectors, found on eBay France... #1 Vitalux reflector, 5.1 cm diameter. #2 Lens for Luxor taillight (unfortunately heat damaged). #3 Unmarked taillight in aluminum with plastic lens. #4 Radios taillight with plastic lens and indicator lens in the top. #5 Vitalux taillight in potmetal with plastic lens and glass reflector. #6 Unmarked taillight in chrome and glass, 4.5 cm diameter. #7 Pinecone-shaped Vitalux aluminum taillight with plastic lens.

Radios taillight (#4) is similar a battery-operated light I already have, but this one has a shorter tube (no room for batteries).

1953 Learco Guerra

This is my favorite "old" bike, a 1953 Learco Guerra with Campagnolo "Paris-Roubaix" shifter.

More Rarities from France

Seller "rhclassics" recently offered these items on eBay.

The Luxor taillight at the top has had the lens dislocated - it should fit inside the rolled-over section of the bezel.

The Comodo reflector is an interesting piece, with green-anodized aluminum and white (plastic? Nylon?) outer disk. Not sure why you'd need a reflector mounted on springs... perhaps to bounce back-n-forth for more visibility? Maybe so it can be bumped without breaking?

The JOS taillight has a broken lens, but replacements show up NOS from time to time. Beautiful design, very curvy and nicely proportioned. A high-dollar item.

The final unidentified egg-shaped taillight looks well-made. The screw mounting reminds me of Radios or PYB... perhaps I'll know more when it arrives and I can look inside.

My Faithful Friend

The green Assenmacher and I got 2009 off to a good start with our first long ride of the new year. 36° F, damp, and mostly cloudy, but it felt good to put in a few hours on the bike. Found these bales of hay along the Great Miami River bikeway between Franklin and Miamisburg, Ohio.























Plenty of evidence of September's violent wind storms, as displayed by this splintered tree.




















Stopped for lunch in this burned-out tree stump, which provided good shelter from the wind.



















Someone else has been dining here, probably a bird gathering these flowers atop a fallen tree trunk.