Luis Ocaña’s Speedwell Titalite
Eddy Merckx’s arch-rival turned to titanium for a competitive edge
In the early 1970s aerodynamics was for aeroplanes, not bikes. It was low weight that made racing cyclists go faster no matter the terrain. Even though his 1972 Hour record attempt took place on a completely flat velodrome, Eddy Merckx’s specially built track bike was pared and drilled until it weighed 5.75 kilos; it had a space-age titanium stem from the USA and the tyres were pumped up with helium.
This titanium did not escape the notice of Luis Ocaña, the prodigiously talented Spaniard who had the misfortune to be exactly the same age as Merckx — the two were born within eight days of each other in June 1945. In any other era Ocaña would have been the great champion, but instead he simply could not beat Merckx.
Ocaña crashed out of the 1971 Tour de France while wearing the yellow jersey chasing Merckx down the Col de Menté and in 1972 he abandoned with bronchitis. Merckx had won every edition of the race since 1969.
So in 1973 when British bike trade legend Ron Kitching offered Ocaña not just a titanium stem but a whole bike made from the wonder metal, he grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
The Speedwell Gear Case Company of Birmingham had originally used titanium to manufacture equipment for the chemical industry – ideal since it doesn’t contaminate or corrode. Next it made motocross motorcycle frames out of titanium. After they were banned by the sport’s international federation, it turned to bicycles.
The first Speedwell titanium frame was delivered to Ocaña in the middle of the 1973 Dauphiné Libéré, which he was riding as his Tour de France warm-up race.
Ocaña’s mechanic built it up overnight; the Spaniard went on to take the overall win.
He was in the form of his life and ready to do battle with Merckx. However, Merckx had done the Vuelta-giro double and did not start the Tour de France, leaving Ocaña the pre-race favourite and denying the fans what might have been the most spectacular duel yet.
Ocaña dominated, riding the Speedwell for the 10 most mountainous stages, holding the yellow jersey from stage eight through to the end and beating Bernard Thévenet by over 15 minutes.
The Titalite frame cost £160 to buy – around £1,700 in today’s money. With Britain going into recession in 1973, the Speedwell mirrored Ocaña’s own career: it was unique and exotic but its timing was unfortunate. Production ceased in 1977, the same year that Ocaña retired.