spoke sniffer's photostream  

Welcome to my coffee table. This digital archive is a personal collection of what interests me in the world of cycling. For the most part I am drawn to the period marking the rise of the derailleur with a focus on the remarkable burst of creativity coming out of post war France when cars were unaffordable and bicycles considered a practical solution for a wide range of transportation needs.

Some of these images are things that have passed through my hands or belong to friends, but the vast majority simply come from walking the aisles of Ebay around the world. The worlds biggest flea market has proven to be the single best way to explore the history of cycling and see first hand cycling equipment that previously existed only in some dusty catalog or in a Rebour drawing. The best part of this exploration has been the surprises, moments of cycling creativity that I had no idea existed or for me were only dimly lit stories told by friends.

This is a shared, open resource for anyone interested in the craftsmanship of slower times & the beauty and care that seems to have been lost in the pursuit of ever cheaper products. I only ask that you credit the source if you do re-post and that you do not use these images on any commercial site or re-post on Flickr without prior written permission.


Enjoy!