From The Competition Bicycle, photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Pradères, © Vintage Bicycle Press
This 1890s Humber was one of the first bikes with pneumatic tires. The improved speed and comfort made long-distance bicycle races feasible.
From The Competition Bicycle, photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Pradères, © Vintage Bicycle Press
The Dursley-Pedersen was a radical departure from the traditional diamond frame. This rare 1900s racing machine was one of the lightest bicycles of its time.
From The Competition Bicycle, photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Pradères, © Vintage Bicycle Press
The 1900 Labor "Tour de France" tried to be different from traditional bikes, but it was not a success.
From The Competition Bicycle, photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Pradères, © Vintage Bicycle Press
Six-day racer Frank Bartell set a motorpaced world speed record on his Appelhans track bike in 1935. Riding behind a souped-up Auburn, he reached 80.5 mph on Lincoln Boulevard in Los Angeles.
From The Competition Bicycle, photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Pradères, © Vintage Bicycle Press
Gino Bartali rode this bike to a second place in the 1949 Tour de France. The "Cervino" derailleur uses a simple fork to derail the chain, with a separate chain tensioner under the bottom bracket.
From The Competition Bicycle, photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Pradères, © Vintage Bicycle Press
Fausto Coppi won the 1949 Tour de France on this thoroughly modern Bianchi with Simplex derailleurs.
From The Competition Bicycle, photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Pradères, © Vintage Bicycle Press
This 1965 Cinelli Supercorsa belonged to an amateur racer from Seattle.
From The Competition Bicycle, photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Pradères, © Vintage Bicycle Press
Eddy Merckx won the 1974 World Championships on this classic machine with Campagnolo Nuovo Record components.
From The Competition Bicycle, photo courtesy Jean-Pierre Pradères, © Vintage Bicycle Press
American racer Andy Hampsten rode this Landshark-built Huffy to victory in the 1988 Giro d'Italia through a snowstorm on Gavia Pass.
