Thanks to flickr contact Paris-Roubaix for posting these photos of Nancy Neiman, the U.S. National Cycling Champion in 1953, 1954, 1956 and 1957. Neiman was the first American woman to ride a stage race in Europe. I don’t follow contemporary cycling because the athletic garb and bikes are so alien to me. I much prefer the era of amateur cycling in the 1950s documented in these photographs. I love how Neiman looks like an everyday person (the girl next door!) and her steel track bike resembles something I would ride today.
Here’s a 1957 photograph of Nancy in her U.S. National Champion’s jersey. She’s riding a French Rochet Special bike fitted with a Stronglight cottered steel chainset and Lyotard Marcel Berthet pista platform pedals.
Great archival photos. Don’t let modern cycling apparel and techno bikes put you off. There is compelling cycling culture in many forms. For example –
http://lovelybike.blogspot.com/
Surely she was not an amateur if she was a national champion? Regardless, I think she is amazing.
Indeed, women and men competing at that time were amateurs, i,e., Amateur Bicycle League of America. No monies were involved. Nancy was a credit to the sport for decades. Am proud to have known here and rode with her.