M. Fauveau reports on the fourth Championnat de la Bicyclette Polymultipliée, held on the 23rd of April 1922. There seemed to have been 19 finishers, 17 of whom won prizes! The leading prizes are described as ‘un objet d’art’, which reminds me of a colleague of mine who once won a second-hand table lamp as a prize in a Scottish 25 mile time trial... who can forget the 1970s?
The finishing machines were:
- Four Desvages models fitted with a 3 speed Le Chemineau derailleur transmission (one of a team of five crashed out gruesomely).
- One Erpelding model fitted with a 3 speed Le Chemineau derailleur transmission.
- One Erpelding model fitted with a 2 X 3 speed Le Chemineau derailleur transmission.
- One Levallois-Perret model fitted with a 2 speed L’As derailleur transmission.
- One Macocq model (possibly a Matocq) fitted with a 3 speed Matocq transmission.
- One RPF model fitted with a 2 X 2 speed L’As derailleur transmission.
- One RPF model fitted with a 2 speed L’As derailleur transmission (this bike was ridden by ‘Bouiller’ which is possibly Claudius Bouillier).
- One Tracol model fitted with a 4 speed Boizot derailleur transmision.
- Four Alleluia models (excellent brand name) fitted with a 3 speed BSA hub gear.
- One Philippe model (possibly, or possibly not, a Phillips) fitted with a 3 speed BSA hub gear.
- One Saturne model fitted with a 3 speed BSA hub gear.
- One Toutain model fitted with a 3 speed Hirondelle hub gear.
- One Aumon model fitted with a multi-chain gear system that involves driven intermediate sprockets between the chainwheel and the rear hub, somewhat similar to the 1930s Villiers system.
The notable change in the derailleur scene from the previous year is the total absence of Audouard and the increased presence of L’As.
(Source gallica.bnf.fr/ Bibliothèque nationale de France)
