Audouard riders did seem to love their checkered suiting, checkered millinery and checkered hosiery! By Gad, I would last about 20 seconds in clothing like that before lightly poaching myself in my own sweat.

I am sure that the 21K milestone also had some deep significance - but I have no idea what it was. Le Chemineau used a milestone as their head badge - so perhaps Audouard is rolling regally past Le Chemineau - but if this is the meaning there is no obvious explanation for the ‘21K’.

Perhaps it was simply 21km from St-Étienne to the finest gentleman’s outfitter in the département of the Loire.

(Source gallica.bnf.fr/ Bibliothèque nationale de France)

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• Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
• Country: France
• Date: April 1920
• Derailleur brands: Audouard
• Derailleurs: Audouard