Originally Posted by
indyfabz
I was only 12 in the summer of '76, but I know a guy who lives in my old 'hood here in Philly who was on one of the original rides. Several years ago a LBS had a "touring day." The guy brought in some cool slides from the trip. Crazy to see what today many would call "low tech" gear and bikes. And I don't think anyone had front panniers.
Pretty funny to think how things have changed. I wore no helmet (like 98% of the other participants) cut-off jeans and running shoes -(many others did have cycling shorts and shoes - but the pad in the shorts was chamis and the shoes leather). No one had GPS, a cell phone or even that I can remember -a bike computer. Sometimes while descending in the Rockies someone in a car riding beside you would yell how fast you were going.