Hanhart and the Race of Truth

This past Friday, the Tour of California made its way to Solvang and the time trial stage was held.

Of course these days everything is computerized, electronic, digital... soulless. And with the breaking news of another possible scandal involving doping, I found myself longing for the time of the Badger - Bernard Hinault, and the Cannibal - Eddie Merckx. The idea of focusing on a single race - such as the Tour de France would have been laughable to these legends. They rode cyclocross and track in the winter, rode the Spring Classics, and would often compete for at least two if not all three of the Grand Tours in a given year - the Giro, the Vuelta and the Tour.

In thinking back on the Cannibal's hour record, I think this must have been the ultimate Race of Truth. No aero bars, no special aerodynamic helmets - just him, his bike and the clock. There is a certain purity, a certain magic in this.

And in reflecting back on the ultimate time trial - the hour record in Mexico City, I found myself reaching for this Hanhart stop watch. 

Single button, sixty-second 30 minute. Simple, elegant, timeless. Truly designed to measure time.


Come back Merckx and Hinault - we miss you!