The First Tour de France

Maurice Garin, winner of the first Tour de France in 1903, proudly displays his Tour-winning bike. Back then the Tour was a fixed gear race because nothing else much existed. It was grueling and insanely long (1500 miles) and was basically so exhausting to be damn near impossible to finish. Although Garin finished the race in 94 hours and 33 minutes, the following year his first place finish was taken away from him after he was discovered to have taken the train. The founder of the Tour de France, Henri Desgrange didn't want to allow freewheels when they were invented, but finally grudgingly caved. But when it came to the derailleur, he put his foot down. "I applaud this test, but still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft. Come on fellows. Let's say this test was a fine demonstration - for our grandparents! As for me, give me a fixed gear!"