While on the subject of cycling.
- Thread starter smudger1956
- Start date
This is a wonderful photograph on many levels. First, look at the telephone wires on the left of the photo. These type of wires were already being phased out in 1962 when I started by apprenticeship as a telecommunications technician. We called these "open wires". They were bare uninsulated cadmium copper wires, carried on porcelain insulators mounted on the arms of the pole.Note that these French poles have insulators mounted both above and below the arms, as opposed to the UK where they were above only. They were replaced with plastic insulated multi core cables. We had reliability issues with these due to strong winds on the fens.
The guy at the front [officer?] appears to have his handlebars mounted back to front. So either this is a badge of rank, or he is into stunt riding. I remember reading that when military bicycles were first introduced, the top brass insisted on synchronised pedalling in the ranks. "By the left, medium cadence, Pedal! This was later abandoned as impractical. Thoroughly enjoyed the photo. By the way these guys would not have got far, as French roads always seemed to have loads of tin tacks strewn on them during the war. Don`t they say that old habits die hard?
The guy at the front [officer?] appears to have his handlebars mounted back to front. So either this is a badge of rank, or he is into stunt riding. I remember reading that when military bicycles were first introduced, the top brass insisted on synchronised pedalling in the ranks. "By the left, medium cadence, Pedal! This was later abandoned as impractical. Thoroughly enjoyed the photo. By the way these guys would not have got far, as French roads always seemed to have loads of tin tacks strewn on them during the war. Don`t they say that old habits die hard?
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