MACHINE’S CONTEST 2016 IN AMBERT
CDM 2016 - Départ de la montée du Béal - 2e jour de concours - Photo Nicolas Joly
THE REVIVAL OF THE COMPETITION
After several decades of absence and in keeping with the spirit of the original competition, the 1st "modern" machinery competition took place in Ambert (63) between 30 June and 3 July 2016. It was under the impulse of Cycles Victoire and the magazine 200 - le vélo de route autrement. To do this, it was necessary to write the rules and propose them to the French cameramen. Ambert and its surroundings were already at that time the scene of numerous machine competitions. The event took place at the same time as the cyclo-sportive les copains - CYFAC. This edition allowed 18 professionals and amateurs craftsmen over 3 days of races.
The theme and the events :
Following the spirit of the original competition, the competitors' creations had to prove their performance and reliability during 3 days of tests. The theme was simple, to build a light hiker according to a specification with points. Additional points were awarded for the weight of the machine or the components used. It was up to the manufacturer to build the machine that would give an optimal number of points. The bikes were ridden by a "champion" chosen by the brand. The courses were made up of circuits or parts of circuits :
Day 1: Circuit de la Borne Occidentale - 235 km and 4323 m of gradient. Departure at dawn to test the lighting.
Day 2: Ascent of the Béal - 55 km hike with a package of 10 issues of the magazine 200.
Day 3: Circuit Gravel - 73 km and 1153 m of elevation with tracks and paths.
The machines presented will be put to the test over a total of 363km and 6541m of elevation gain.
In order to push the riders to spare the machines and to reward the fastest without penalising the slowest, a bonus/malus system has been applied from average speeds: 22,5 km/h for the long distance event, 15 km/h for the ascent of the Béal, and 20 km/h for the gravel event.
PECHTREGON lors de la montée du Béal - Photo Nicolas Joly
The Technical Commission
Upon arrival on site the day before the competition, all bikes were inspected, photographed and then locked up for the night. The aim was to analyse every detail and technical elements provided by the manufacturer. The latter also provided a manufacturing file to the jury, detailing his work. At the end of each race, the bikes were checked by a technical commission to detect any incidents that might call into question their reliability. During and at the end of the tests, the bikes are graded according to :
The various technical elements provided by the manufacturer (according to the points count in the specifications).
Technical incidents that occur during the events
The average speed achieved during each of the events, with penalties and bonuses according to the deviations from the average.
The weight, noted according to a bonus-malus system, in 100 g increments, starting from a reference weight of 10.5 kg in running order.
Finally, the jury, as well as the builders and the public, gave a note of appreciation. The innovative character of the bike, as well as the origin of the components used, were important elements in the final judgement.
FRAMERS
RESULTS
1er PRIX - CYCLES VICTOIRE - Photo Nicolas Joly
2e PRIX - MILC by Goblin bikes - Photo Nicolas Joly
3e PRIX - PECHTREGON - Photo Nicolas Joly
PRIX SPECIAL DU JURY - JULIE RACING DESIGN - Photo Nicolas Joly
PRIX DES ROOKIES - SEBASTIEN KLEIN (BREVET CYCLES) - Photo Nicolas Joly
Press Review
Do you want to relive the 2016 Concours de Machines? Find the media who talked about it:
Cyclodonia : sans doute le reportage le plus complet disponible sur le web, divisé en 5 épisodes
Vélo Acier est revenu en détails sur une grande partie des machines présentée au Concours de Machines 2016 :
Vélo de Route : Nicolas Joly, photographe officiel de l'événement, revient dessus en texte et en image
Cyclotourisme Mag : le récit de notre partenaire, la FFCT
Le Concours de Machines 2016 a aussi eu un retentissement à l'international :
Handbuilt Bicycle News : trois épisodes dédiés à l'événement
Jan Heine, jury du Concours 2016, donne sa vision de l'intérieur sur son blog :
The Headset Press
Far Ride
The Concours de Machines was also well represented in magazines: 200 - le vélo de route autrement, co-organiser of the event and represented on the jury by Alain Puiseux, devoted 40 pages to this first edition in its autumn issue, including a presentation of each of the 18 machines in contention.
The American magazine Bicycle Quarterly was represented by Jan Heine, also a member of the jury, who devoted 24 pages to the event in its autumn 2016 edition.
