Frame and Wheel spent the holiday weekend in the Hudson Valley and had some time to root around in the attic where some crumbs of Frame and Wheel's cycling past still linger. This series is from a contact sheet that shows Frame and Wheel on his way to winning the 1985 New England Road Championships "B" Category Road Race. Frame and Wheel cannot remember where the race was held. New Hampshire or Western Connecticut perhaps. The date on the contact sheet says May 19, 1985. The sun was out, but it was still cool. Note that no one is wearing sunglasses or tinted lenses. No one seems to have road computers either.
Frame and Wheel believes that this is the start. Frame and Wheel is in the center wearing a white Brancale helmet and riding an Austro-Daimler Superleicht. My team mate is on the right. His name is George. The field looks pretty big for a group of juniors (18 year olds). The rider in the foreground, who is adjusting his toe clip, rode for a school in New Hampshire and was very strong. He caused Frame and Wheel a lot of pain and anxiety.
It was a circuit race. George is still with me and appears to be saying something to me. It looks like it is still early on. Frame and Wheel recalls that there was a turn at the bottom of this descent, a flat, and then an uphill finish.
Frame and Wheel (No. 160) is followed by another rider into a turn. Frame and Wheel is tapping the brake (Campagnola Record). It could be the bottom of the final climb to the finish. Frame and Wheel appears to be shifting out of the big ring. The other rider is vaguely familiar; he is wearing a Bell Helmet. These helmets had just been introduced, and despite their cumbersome appearance, they were certainly more effective than the Brancales. The Brancale's had no lip and no Styrofoam lining; they were just plastic receptacles for the skull. Frame and Wheel is wearing Detto shoes. Frame and Wheel did not obtain Look clip less pedals until a few years later. Note the brake cables run outside the handlebars. Only one water bottle cage holder. Frame and Wheel is in the big ring (it was a 54). Fitting gurus would have a lot to say about this image.
This is the final sprint. Frame and Wheel vaguely remembers catching a rider on this climb and passing him. The chase group (the entire peleton) was not too far back either. Frame and Wheel is quite certain that there was no big break away. Frame and Wheel is in the small ring and out of the saddle. The expression has not changed much.
Frame and Wheel salutes with one hand. The spectator in the background is non-plussed. This race was perhaps the first victory for Frame and Wheel after three or four years of racing. It was certainly the first victory that rewarded a jersey and a trophy. The logo of the Austro-Daimler is visible. The "Champagne" finish on the frame is noticeable only because the frame appears to be white (it is really a cream or light yellow color). The wheels might have been the original tubular wheel set.
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