Retro Cycling Vintage

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From: Martyn
Subject: Duffieldisms

Another one of his favourites is "a great rate of knots" used in "and the bunch will come thundering down the finishing straight at a great rate of knots".
Remember last year on the Ventoux when there was about 3 kms to go and Armstrong is at the front and suddenly in the distance Pantani is coming up at ( see above ) and he starts chatting to Greg Lemond about the Mercury team for next year ... not a mention of Pantani at all.
My wife often comes in when I'm watching and says "What on earth is he waffling about ....".
He is a bit mad, but in the right way .....

It becomes ever more apparent that there is a fine line between genius and nutcase!

From: Keith, USA
Subject: OLN--the American version of the TDF

As an American who has suffered through the dearth of cycling coverage in the US I was thrilled that OLN covered the TDF and the Giro. Phil and Paul do a creditable job of commentary. The glaring problems with the coverage, however, are two: first, OLN has "Americanized" its coverage by including Bob Roll, Kathleen Murphy, and the talking head winner of the year, host Bob "Big Hair" Varsha. Roll raced bikes but is a foolish boob; Murphy is an incredibly incompetent pretty face; Bob Varsha is a race car and motorcycle announcer for God's sake whose efforts at profundity are laughably inept. ("The Tour de France is the most spectacular sporting event I have ever witnessed." Yep, it beats watching motorcycles going around dirt tracks doesn't it Bob!)
These people show the lack of respect OLN has for the American viewer. We obviously can't appreciate cycling coverage unless it is presented with the "American touch."
Problem 2: the advertising breaks are mind-numbingly frequent, repetitive, and a video cassette recorder's best friend. Again, it is television as usual in the US. And God forbid if Lance doesn't win or contend! I suspect OLN would exit quickly. Ultimately, I fear cycling coverage will go the way of (European) football coverage in the US. If there's an American angle (World Cup, or, please, Women's World Cup) there will be a spike in imterest and coverage that soon levels to nothing. In the meantime we are given the American version of a sport whose cultural roots are not American, with a loss of genuineness the result. Still, bravo Phil and Paul!! They did a wonderful job. As for the rest of the OLN coverage, it was distressingly business as usual in the US. But as for DD! I have been in France during the coverage of the Giro d'Italia and have had the pleasure of DD's on-air commentary for Eurosport. Superb! Needless to say, he'd never make it in the US. His commentary could never be accommodated with all the advertising. A pity, that.
Keith, USA

You're absolutely right - he would never make it in the US. Thats probably why he is so popular over here as things are less commercialised and not so smoothly polished. Glad you had the opportunity to watch Eurosport in France and one day - if Lance keeps on winning you might be lucky and get more sustained coverage of all cycling events back home. Thanks for the email Keith.

From: Shaun
Subject: Duffield

on one of the mountains a rider looking tired was described as "trying to breath through he's ears"
stood underneath you noisey lot in bologne at least you could get out the cold
cheers Shaun

I like the ears description. Yes we were all over the place in Northern France for the first 3 stages. It was a lot of fun and some of our lot were lucky enough to be taken into a local's house and invited onto his balcony where he had a telly and a lot of nice food. It cost them an Addiscombe jersey and a years free membership but was worth every penny. What a result!

From: Pete, Slovenia
Subject: Duffers

I am an ex-pat Yank living in Slovenia (not far from Trieste, where Dave and Mike first got their Bianchis), and a full-fledged Duffield addict! What a pleasure to find all my favorite Duffieldisms collected and codified in one place! Great stuff!
Wonderful to be reminded of that immortal comment about his rabbit, Sixpence. Anyone who complains about David's commentating style should get the stick out!
It's also nice to see some Yanks putting in their two cents about terms like "going like stink", which I remember was used all the time in my old sailing days in the States.
Like Ellen, I also went bananas at David's pronunciation of Vinokourov, which I heard as "Voonerkroff". I can help with that one - phonetically it's Vee KNOCK 'er off, which is more fun to say anyway. Mike Smith had it right!

Cheers,
Pete, Ljubljana, Slo

Thanks Pete. One of the great things about cycling is how it knows no boundaires and is enjoyed by people of all nationalities. Keep up the spotting and keep in touch.

From: Pete, Slovenia
Subject: More Duffers

P.S. - "penny numbers" was the term he used when talking about the number of riders in the TdF from the various countries: "four from country X, three from country Y, and the rest is penny numbers" (i.e. ones and twos).

As long as Lance is in yellow and David's in the box, I'm a happy man!

Cheers again, Pete

Thanks Pete. Do you think DD is happy when Lance is in yellow as well? He does seem to have a penchant for a lot of the English speaking riders doesn't he?

From: Jonathon
Subject: Duffer

Here is an article on the great man from the Guardian in 2000 : http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4035269,00.html
One of my favorite Duffieldisms is "Bear with me", which he says before embarking on a particularly tangential tale all about his national service on the Adriatic coast 50 years before.
One of the greatest parts of being a Duffield fan is introducing others to him. this year I sat my (non-cycling) girlfriend down and said "Listen to this guy". Within minutes she was open mouthed with incredulity. "I can't believe what he's going on about" "Remember", I said proudly, "these are just the HIGHLIGHTS".

She will be won over soon. It always happens with the girlfriends. You'll be coming home from work soon and she will be sat there telling you all the action you missed. And then she will suggest that you both take a holiday in the Alps when the Tour goes through and that you should both go and watch Alpe d'Huez because "This is what bike racing is all about". And she will enjoy it but don't take the bikes with you to ride up the mountain because that will be pushing it a bit too far.

From: Bengt, Sweeden
Subject: Duffieldisms

Hi,

I really enjoyed your site. If you need translations Duffield to English imaging the trouble we have had! I am sorry to say that we have lost DD on our Eurosport as they have started to comment cycling in Swedish. He is not bad but he is no DD! I have thougt about buing an extra satellite dish just to be able get Eurosport UK.

Do you have any background on the expression "have to see a man about a dog"?

Yours Bengt ,Stockholm, Sweden

Heja, Heja. Thanks Bengt. I was in Stockholm recently for the Stockholm marathon but thats another story as DD would say. We had Eurosport in the hotel but alas no DD. Still, its better than nothing. "By the way" you could always move your analogue dish slightly to the side to tune into to the Astra satellite that carries English Language Eurosport although this will require a ladder and a trip outside into the rain whenever you want to change channels back to Swedish TV!

From: Andy
Subject: Duffer

I have entered Phil Liggets CTC challenge ride in the Peak District and having just read the latest Comic I am delighted to report that Duffer is taking part. What a Bonus!!

Andy, if you get a chance please print out these pages and give them to him if you see him or maybe drop them into his ttricycle saddlebag secretly. If you get to chat with him please report back for all his thoudands of fans who regularly tune in!

From: podofdanny
Subject: David Duffield

i think this site > is what cycling is all about < its obvious you guys are like Fausto Coppi > go out and ride your bike and ride your bike< and can > reach speeds of 45kph thats a sniff under 30mph< >tell us about the showers Sean-is the water always cold<
Must admit i find Duffers obssesion with the Paris Roubaix showers a bit spooky-come to think of i find DD a bit spooky.
regards podofdonny

Thanks podofdanny. The whole DD Paris Roubaix thing is thrilling and we always have an Addiscombe party round my house when it comes around.

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Post Tour de France 2001

The interest in David Duffield reached fever pitch toward the end of the Tour de France 2001. Emails were received and the best ones are below for your enjoyment.

From: Agreeable Richard
Subject: Duffers

Well here he is, Duffers. A really nice bloke actually although quite difficult to get a word in. Now I know how Sean Kelly feels. El Presidente wants me to write something for the web/gazette so I'll include other photos with that when I actually get around to doing it.

Richard

Nice one Richard. For all our readers out there it was Richard and his wife Jenny who provided the initial spark for this website. Speaking to them I realised that it wasn't just me that was a big Duffield fan. For all these years I kept my obsession quiet thinking it was just me that was a bit strange and then after meeting these two I realised that there were loads of us out there. It was only fitting therefore that the two of them finally got to meet DD in the Pyrenees in 2001.

From: Neil
Subject:

Great site, I reckon old Duffers is the natural successor to Murray Walker never mind what some of the “po faced” ones say.
Here’s one from this year’s tour. After David Millar Crashed in the early stages Duffers spoke to him and made the comment “I can’t say he was pissed off, but he was”.
More power to your knees.

Neil Smith

Blunt and to the point. Unusually so in fact! Thanks Neil - we missed that one as we were still in France and missed a fair bit of commentary.

From: Trevor
Subject: Duffieldisms

A couple more for the collection:
"No threat overall on general classification" (usually pronounced "general classificashe") - i.e., this rider is unlikely to trouble the scorers at the end of the race.
"Sean Kelly alongside me, 5 times green jersey winner in the Tour de France"

Trevor

Thanks Trevor. Have you noticed how a lot of the longer words in the commentary get trunca...

From: Tim
Subject: Duffers

"...Sean Kelly, four times winner of the green jersey, winner of the Tour of Spain, winner of Paris Nice no less than seven times in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 twice winner of the Paris Roubaix in 1984 and 1986 twice winner of Milan San Remo in 1986 and 1992 twice winner of the Tour of Lombardy in 1983, 1985, 1991..."

means...

"You are on your own, dear Listener, I've got my head buried in my reference books and I've no way of knowing, or indeed ever finding out, what's happening in the race at the moment"

I also noticed a bit of  latin football style commentary (Goooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!) sneaking in at the end of one of the later stages.

Tim.

Blimey Tim You were fast to be able to write that lot down.

From: Lance
Subject: Duffield

David is a living re-creation of that other great sports commentator, John Arlott, who used to fill in the time when the batsmen had 'put up the shutters' at Lords (Or was it the Oval?) talking about the gasometer next to the ground!
A couple of post tour classics. David talking about Paris:- "There's a few works of art in this city." and, "The Bastille where they had a bit of a revolution a few years back." He is brilliant and those cyclists who think he should have been burnt at the stake only confirms my belief that subtlety is not one of most cyclists strong points.

Lance (Northumbrian RC)

We should send DD a cake, for when its a bit quiet. Lance, I noticed the description of Paris at the end of the Tour as well. Their was quite a gap between crossing the line and the presentation and you could almost hear the producer shouting down David's earpiece "15 minutes to go - Give 'em some flannel to keep 'em there". At least we got a tourist guide to the city even if it was a bit sketchy!

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Ringle, along with Paul's components and Syncros have been making high quality components for discerning riders since the late 80's / early 90s. Known for their smooth running, exotic and durable boutique components the only drawback was their more expensive cost than the cheaper more widely available Shimano and Suntour kit available at the time.

Ringle stems, hubs and skewers were all highly desirable items and the ethos that made them such revered components is still present in Ringle's newer wheelsets.

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Bianchi Steel bikes have been a mainstay of Italian and global cycling for many many years carrying many champions to success in both the one day classics and the Grand Tours. Typically available in Bianchi Celeste colour Bianchi steel frames stand out as a mark of history and quality in cycling. For the most part Bianchi utilize Columbus steel and still sell steel frames amongst a range that seems to be dominated, as most manufacturers are, of carbon and aluminium, which while nice for the modern cyclist don't have quite the same qualities as a steel frame does for a more discerning cyclist.

Remember to check frame spacing if you want to run 9 or 10 speed as some of the older frames would have been made for 7 or 8 speed (or even fewer) and while steel stays can be coerced (or bent as we call it in technical terms!) outwards there may be a limit to how far you can prise old frames apart to fit newer hubs in.

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I managed to keep within earshot as his fans came up to him and these were the snippets that I caught:

I don't commentate for the cycling expert - they know what's going on in a race. I commentate for everyone else and try to point out what's going on.

Lance is very friendly with me but now has so much security around him that he's hard to get to. He still waves or says hello as he passes and I often ask him how his cat Chemo is!

Sean Kelly is absolutely amazing at reading a race and points things out you would never notice.

My cat isn't very well and is on its last legs. I'll try and spend as much time with it as possible.

I have a dachshund so getting a new cat might be problematic (he said the dog's name and it was on a par with Sixpence the Rabbit but I forget what it was exactly!)

I was ill last Christmas and thought I had DVT but in the end it was ....

Russell Williams nearly fell off his chair when Hoy beat Tournant by one thousandth of a second at the World Champs!
When I was 8 years old I can remember constantly chatting in class and getting hit with a ruler by the master who shouted at me "Duffield, you are an old washerwoman!"

Pictures from the day

DD Left and new bloke from Eurosport (Sorry I forget your name, especially after we said hello during the great comentary you did at the Herne Hill Good Friday track meet!). Before anyone emails in suggestions I already know it is not Phil/Paul/Gary. Its not Adonis Russell Williams and it doesn't look like he parts his hair with a chamois leather so its not Mike 'Dungeon' Smith.

And its not Christy Anderson either!

DD with one of his many female fans. He was genuinely keen to find out about everyone and in this case offered all sorts of advice about Sustrans paths and the national byeway scheme to get people out enjoying riding their bikes away from main roads.

A veritable feast of cycling heros! Sean kelly being interviewed

I managed to say hello to Sean and also give him a poster with the web address on as well as telling him a little about the Duffield appreciation site. Who knows, maybe he will email in with a couple of stories for us!?

Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen were also there and seemed equally friendly. Paul even rolled his trousers up to show some of his fans the scabs and scars on his leg that accompany being a racing cyclist!

DD had a pretty good long chat with top bike designer Mike Burrows (Boardman superbike, Giant etc). Suspension, Minis, Moultons, strong cheese? Who knows what they were talking about????!

At this point you realise just how lucky we are in the UK and Ireland to have so much cycling talent around. Mike Burrows the top designer, Sean Kelly the hardman of the 80s and Phil, Paul and Dave... the three top English speaking cyclesport commentators in the world.

DD and Phil Liggett discussing the commentary plans for the penultimate day of the Vuelta.

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Sun Ringle have been making off road components for discerning mtb riders since the late 80's / early 90s. Known for their exotic bulletproof smooth running components the only drawback was their higher cost than the cheaper more widely available Shimano kit available at the time.

Although most of these wheels aren't strictly speaking 'retro' the fact that they are made by a company firmly rooted in quality production techniques to such a high standard makes them worthy of inclusion on this website.

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My dream finally came true! At the London bike show Cycle2002 I finally met David Duffield and thankfully he was exactly how I expected him to be!

I managed to get to the show in Islington at 10.30am on the Saturday as I had heard David would be there along with some other cycling commentators before shooting off to his London studio to provide the commentary for that afternoon's Tour of Spain. I found the Eurosport Cafe just in time to see DD being interviewed by one of the newer Eurosport commentators who does a bit of track commentary and in the corner I noticed Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen who provide the terrestrial Tour de France commentary as well as the newer OLN commentary for the emerging US viewers. After a quick "Hello", handshake and a "I really like all the work you do" type chat with Phil and Paul I noticed DDs interview had ended and I was able to get straight in:

"Hi I do the web pages about you though. I hope you don't mind!"

At this point the excitement was making me dizzy so I forget the exact words of our conversation but it was something like:

No I really like them thanks for all the work you put in

Not at all its my pleasure, thanks for all the commentary you do, we really love it, it makes it so much more interesting and you wouldn't believe how many fans you have got out there who are prepared to write in extolling your virtues. Infact I don't really have to do anything except put all their great contributions together.

Oh Thanks, I understand you have some pictures from a friend of mine in Australia?

Yes Nisa sent some great shots in and I also get a lot of emails from lots of your friends all over the world including a recent one from Shaun Wallace (great British trackie) and also a 70s World Champion Sprinter from Australia.

If ever you have any problems with anything we write about you please don't hesitate to get in touch with Eddy M (RRA boss who it turns out is a mutual friend) and we'll amend it for you...

No, No don't worry.

We've also got some stuff from when you were racing up on the site now - a picture of you being different in the National Cyclo Cross Championships and also two accounts of your tricycle record breaking rides including 'the wrong way to end to ender'. We got them from old Sporting Cyclist magazines and I'm not sure about copyright issues.

Well Sporting Cyclist isn't around anymore and all of those were done by Jock Wadley who unfortunately isn't here either. I'm sure wherever he is he would be pleased they were being read again!

Do you think you'll do anything more on the trike?

No those days are long gone! You know the village where I live had a scarecrow competition! I made one up using my old trike that I used to race on, a Greg Lemond jersey and pair of black tights! You know, made the scarecrow and everything. IT WON FIRST PRIZE!!! Out of 47 scarecrows it won first prize!

You'll probably be getting an invite to our club dinner this January, do you think you can you make it?

Unfortunately I'll be in Australia for the Tour Down Under before heading off to Malaysia for the Tour of Langkawi. Thanks for the signed menu from last year though, sorry I couldn't make it (DD was ill last year so the hundred or so people at our dinner wrote happy messages on the menu and another card which got sent to him. Its a club tradition to do that for friends who miss a dinner through ill health).

One other thing...You aren't planning on retiring soon are you?

Well, I'm going to keep going to Athens 2004 if I can then I'll cut it down a bit. I'll still do the big races like the major tours and the classics but I'll knock some of the other smaller ones on the head. Some months I'm hardly ever at home...

Are you going to Zolder (for the World Road Championships)?

Ooh yes I'll definitely be there for those.

Do you think Cipo can do it or will the Italians self implode?

Well I don't think he will be able to do it. I think they'll self implode!

Do you ever chat much with Cipo? I reckon he'd be a real character? (I imagine both he and DD are quite eccentric and would appreciate each others wit)

Unfortunately he only speaks Italian and French and I don't speak Italian and my French is very rusty. He says hello but I'm afraid that's about as far as we get. I'd love to see him win though.

Did you see much of the recent track champs (Britain won 3 golds)?

Yes its been great. Russell's been doing a great job with Mike Smith. When I was commentating at the Olympics I nearly fell off my chair when Queally won the Gold. You know I carry a union jack around with me and get it out whenever a Brit wins. The other commentators think I'm mad but when Queally won I was waving it all around!

Ok thanks very much, remember if there's anything you don't like please get in touch. Oh and by the way here is one of our posters - it has the new web address on it which is a bit easier to remember.

Check Part2 for more...
Oh good that last one was a bit of a mouthful. Thanks for doing it all and keep up the good work!

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Adidas have been making tracksuits for many many years. Amongst retro collectors Adidas tracksuits are highly prized with many changing hands for a lot of money. The classic trefoil designs are now timeless and are favoured by breakdancers, hiphop fans and the style conscious alike. Vintage designs from the 1970s and 1980s claim the highest style points and wow factor.

Check sizing before you buy and remember the fashion is slimfit rather than baggy in these classic Adidas tracksuit designs

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With the recent appreciation of fixed gear 'fixie' bicycles various handlebar designs have come back into regular use. As well as the classic Pista track shape riders are adopting cut down straight bars and retro style lo profile bullhorn handlebars. Originally made popular during the 1980s on time trial bikes pre triathlon bars they never really went out of fashion. Their stylish looks and lightweight make them popular with both time trialers and fixie riders. Offering 3 different hand positions (plus another on the hoods depeneding on how you run your braking setup) they are extremely comfortable.

Bullhorn handlebars are also a good option if you are running a frame that is too short for you and want a more stretched out position when you combine them with a longer stem

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Campagnolo disc wheels have been popular with time trial and track riders since the 1980s. Looking back at the photos from classic era Tours at that time you'll see riders of the day such as Fignon, Delgado, Roche and Indurain riding early Campagnolo disc wheels. With their stiff construction and aerodynamic properties they give an instant advantage as soon as they are put on your bike.

Remember to use caution when riding in crosswinds with Campagnolo disc wheels and dont use a track front disc on the open road as the crosswinds can seriously affect steering.