Shorts shrift

Design and technology over recent decades have given us carbon bikes, electronic gears, disc brakes, power meters and shorts in pastel colours (ugh!). Look at the picture of Felice Gimondi in his maglia rosa in 1967 (CW May 18) and you will see what we have lost — elegance, restraint and beautiful bikes.

We also have bibshorts, which almost caused Tom Dumoulin to lose the Giro. His ‘bathroom break’ cost him dear, having to fully disrobe and get dressed again. A pair of shorts with detachable braces (remember those?) and he would have been on his way in half the time.

Tom Plowman, email