brianinc-ville

Hey, all. I seem to remember learning once about a sporting competition that still happens in France, which is based on the skills of a bike courier in the French army during the First World War -- it involves crossing open fields, throwing your bike over fences, riding through ditches, etc. Googling is not helping me, in French or English. Does anyone remember the name of this sport?

Amani576

Cyclocross?
-Gene-

spry

Run for your life across Semmes

nwmtnbkr

No, but bikes were used strategically by the military in many countries beginning in the 19th century. Even the US Army used bikes to travel roadless areas. Here's a photo showing the bicycle corp at Ft. Missoula in 1897.



I know many today can't image how difficult travel across the US was before the interstate system was built. A big part of the reason that President Eisenhower was such a supporter of the development of the interstate highway system in the US was his experiences as a young officer in the Army responsible for getting vehicles across country--took many, many months with break downs due to bad or no roads.

EjustE

Critérium des Porteurs de Journaux

Amani576

Actually... I may know something of what you're talking about. In "The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles" Jan Heine mentions races that took place in and around France with local porteurs. They would load a stack of newspapers (equivalent to 50 pounds or so) on their front racks and race through the streets of whatever city it was. I know it's not as dirty as what you suggest, but perhaps you're not thinking of a sport and instead military actions like nwmtnbkr mentioned.
Sorry about my first response, it was slightly in jest, but what you describe is an awful lot like cyclocross. Probably a lot like what it was like in those days.
-Gene-

stronglight

Could it have been called "Cyclo-Pedestre" ?

Below is a photo showing the French racer Foucaux in the 1929 Cyclo-Pedestre Championship.

It looks like Cyclo-Cross to me. However the "Official" World Cyclo-Cross Championships were first held in 1950 (with 1947 Tour de France Champion Jean Robic taking the first title). By the way, I just read that at first, the C-C races were open to both Professional and Amateur racers, then finally splitting into separate categories in 1967 with titles given for winners of both classifications. As far as I know, Robic was the only racer to date who ever won both the Tour de France and the Cyclo-Cross World Championship race.

jtgotsjets

Don't apologize, I was going to suggest cyclocross too. Modern CX is a lot different but sometimes people in that forum post pictures of old old CX events that sound like what the OP described.

Check out the photos here. Lots of riding through forests, ravines, cliff faces... Today's riders would **** themselves.

brianinc-ville

Sorry I sort of forgot about this thread for a while, but: yes, I think that's it! Cross Cyclo-Pédestre. Thanks!

jtgotsjets, thanks for the info. I seem to remember hearing something about a revival of this kind of racing in France, lately.

ilikebikes

Heres a link showing that they were actually a black platoon. https://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...n%26safe%3Doff

Maanster

Aren't you talking about "Critérium des Porteurs de Journaux"? It was a 30km race for bike messengers, run with 15kg's of newspapers on your cargo rack. Apparently the first race was held in 1895 with the last events ending in the mid 60's.

You can find some more info on this site: https://www.blackbirdsf.org/courierra...rnaux1929.html

Although it does not have that much in common with CX.