The story so far. Cycling historian Claude B Dawes has been summoned to meet the mysterious Dr Rudolph Moeller at M7’s underground bike testing facility in the Netherlands after a very important (and dangerous) bike part goes missing. Dawes and M7’s top bike designer, Lucyna Langlijne head for CycleQuest The World’s Largest Bike Fair where the component is believed to be hidden. Last chapter a famous motoring personality awoke after being drugged to find the mark of ‘The Brotherhood’ was branded onto his bottom. Meanwhile at the Union Cycliste Internationale Headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland, late afternoon sun streamed into a wood lined auditorium. On the mountains behind, patches of snow shone freshly.

“In doing so, the UCI wishes to recall that the real meaning of cycle sport is to bring riders together to compete on an equal footing and thereby decide which of them is physically the best. The features which have contributed to the world-wide development and spread of the bicycle are its extraordinary simplicity, cost-effectiveness and ease of use. From a sociological point of view, as a utilitarian and recreational means of transport, the bicycle has given its users a sense of freedom and helped create
a movement which has led to the considerable renown and popular success which cycle sport enjoys. The bicycle serves to express the effort of the cyclist, but there is more to it than that. The bicycle is also a historical phenomenon, and it is this history which underpins the whole culture behind the technical object.”

The conference delegates were getting restless. They had heard all this before. UCI President Victor O’Malley paused and looked out over his audience. Despite all the changes of technology the UCI was still the church to which all manufacturers paid most attention to. If they were serious about racing of course.

Clearing his throat he continued to deliver his lecture.