Gaston Clément and Pierre Maillard report on La Semaine du Dauphiné, a week of reliability trials held around Grenoble. The route maps may look harmless, but it’s worth remembering that day three passes through Le Bourg d’Oisans - the village at the base of the famous climb to Alpe d’Huez. This is not flat terrain.

The week ran to the 22nd of June 1924 and included 4 stages for bicycles and one for motorcycles. It ended with the obligatory banquet in Grenoble. The total distance for cyclists was 616km with a total height climbed of a mere 11,055m. Stage 4 involved 3,700m of climbing. Wikipedia says that the climb from Everest south base camp to the summit is 3,484m.

Finishing machines included:

• An Audouard model with a 2 X 5 speed Audouard derailleur transmission.
• An Audouard model with a 2 X 2 speed Audouard Le Crack derailleur transmission.
• Several Le Chemineau models with 2 X 3 speed Le Chemineau derailleur transmissions.
• Several RPF models with 2 X 2 speed Le Cyclo derailleur transmissions.
• Several RPF models with 2 X 3 speed Le Cyclo derailleur transmissions.
• A Hirondelle model with a 2 X 2 X 3 speed transmission combining a retro-direct system, a double chainwheel and a 3 speed hub gear giving 12 gears in total - if you could possibly work out the order to use them in.
• Several Hirondelle models with 2 X 2 speed transmissions combining a retro-direct system and a double chainwheel
• An Intégral model with a 3 X 1 speed transmission with a triple chainset and a single rear sprocket.
• An RPF model with a 1 X 5 speed transmission with five rear sprockets and a floating chain.

Two of the three participating Audouard models were ridden by François and Antoine Audouard. Antoine did not finish, unlike the 17 year old François. The riders of RPF models included Albert Raimond, Claudius Bouillier and a Mme. Dalibert. The Chemineau L’Izoard derailleur was designed by Jean-Marie Dalibert, who is very possibly a relation. Albert Raimond and Claudius Bouillier fell off on stage 2, while Mme. Dalibert won the prize for the first woman rider. It seems that, in 1924, women weren’t allowed to have forenames but at least they were allowed to win prizes.

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

• Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
• Country: France
• Date: August 1924
• Derailleur brands: Audouard, Chemineau, Cyclo, Peugeot
• Derailleurs: Audouard, Audouard Le Crack, Le Chemineau, Le Cyclo 2 speed, Le Cyclo 3 speed