1977 WCH Sprint Champions: Nakano, Nicholson, Sugata

Whenever I hit a flea market, junk sale, or antique faire, I often pretend I am 9 years old again and head straight for the collectors cards and comics tables.  It is a nice attempt at going back in time. Last weekend at the wonderful Alameda Antiques Faire, I happened across these Cycling Sports Cards. I know, they were already featured all across the web on many different bicycle blogs. There is even an online resource where all of them are collected!

6 Day Bike Racing - The Great Treadmill!

This one is nice. Why not have 7 day races and party all week long? Well, the Church says that we all need our rest on the 7th day, just like Christ. Although, I am sure if he knew the kind of parties that they threw in Gent (with all the techno, dancing, and spandex) he would be obliged to lift that little rule and allow the world some fun on the Sabbath for once!

Knut Knudsen - the Emigrant Worker

“…bulldog faced Scandinavian.” Who writes this stuff, and how do I get the job? I suppose I need to construct the old Time Machine, first.  Once built, I can fulfil the dream of successfully going back in time – just like Huey Lewis and the News sang about.

Track Racing - Merckx and Sercu

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p>A real favorite of mine, here is the fabulous Eddy Merckx giving a teammate' a propelling push in what I assume is a form of Madison Racing! What I find splendid: Sercu is atop the Pista version of the Team Brooklyn Gios Torino – a rare sight on the track while Eddy is on his famous “Merckx/Molteni Orange” Colnago, complete with his glorious portrait on the headbadge if you look incredibly close. Also, upon magnified inspection, both Belgians are using tied and soldered spokes. PS: Sercu is one of the most widely unrecognized Cyclists around, as far as I'm concerned — dude won something like 88 6-day races, countless world champion stripes, and was quite a looker.

Bicycle Touring - the freemasonry of the road

Last up – a subject a bit closer to our own hearts here at CZ – bicycle touring. See that strange double-obilisk rising out of the swelling sea? See the tiny city dotted along the hills in the distance? Yes! A real taste of home, as it was in the 1970s — that there is our fair city of San Francisco, and across the bridge in Marin County. Even better – a weirdly placed Dark Side of the Moon reference to make the entire picture come full circle: psychadelic drugs, clickity drive trains, and fun long rides – That was what life was all about back then, I s'pose. What is refreshing, though, is the spirit conveyed in the copy on the verso of this card reminding us that things have changed a lot in 30 years: “Many riders derive most satisfaction from club or family rides — excursions to places of interest, mystery trips, blackberry outings, etc.” Are we all taking things a bit too seriously now? I haven't been on a mystery trip ever, let alone a blackberry outing. I think it is time to make that Time Machine.

Also, this card became part of my collection 5 or so years ago but I forget when/where/how I actually received it.

Merckx and the Pope