Unicycle Bunch Racing? It could work

Imagine the winning celebration....

Celebrations: not the sweets

Only a few days into the road season and those contesting this years Tour De France green jersey have put down their markers...

This week Peter Sagan has shown his hand at the Tour of Oman. We know that boy can celebrate a win in style and with more wit than any number of naff premier league footballers, but some footy pundits have suggested a need to restrict celebrations showing respect to opponents and fans.

They may have a point, but I as a cycling fan would like to actually encourage more and unique celebration. To illustrate this point I have attached a link to the Japanese world artistic cycling champion Rina Tachibana and would be pleased to see Peter perform part or indeed a whole routine to celebrate his next win.

Short film: Roller Race - Now And Then

Shame there's not more on Eddie talking but he does give some nice insights. Sadly he's no longer with us. Everyone in the cycling world down south knew Eddie, he was one of those stalwart officials who keep racing going and seemed to be present at every race. From a rider point of view he could be a bit on the grumpy side and was known for disqualifying people for taking their hands off the bars in the sprint... so you had to stay on his good side.

British Cycling President, Brian Cookson OBE said: “Eddie Wingrave was a wonderful servant of the sport at so many levels and epitomised the qualities of dedication and selflessness upon which the sport is so reliant. His career in cycling, cycle racing and officiating at many levels spanned almost 80 years and his passing truly marks the end of an era for London cycling in particular and for British cycling as a whole.” 

Read more at British Cycling

London Rollers Racing: Part 2 - Marginal gains of the rear triangle ‘The Bike’

I recently got chatting about the old roller racing scene with George, my 91 year old Eltham Paragon club mate. His razor sharp memory is packed with fascinating facts and one of the things that came up in the conversation was the special bike he once borrowed…

‘The Bike’ belonged to Eddie Wingrave who I’m told by George used it before World War II when riding in professional roller events. As far as I remember the bike had a longer than usual rear triangle with the sole purpose of making it extremely stable. This would enable the rider to produce a full on sprint with the added bonus of remaining upright. Considering most sprint roller events had two holders, one each side to keep the rider stable, it seems like a small detail, but to be able to ‘spin’ freely with relaxed legs is essential. Technique and style is all important... those marginal gains are not such a new phenomenon!

Flying start 440 yard time trial. Love Yellow.

George told me that at this particular event (using ‘the bike’) he was an early leader in the 440-yard flying start… until I borrowed it. I got the feeling that to this day he regrets letting me use his secret weapon.

Scratch race - 1957. Love Yellow.

Still, I was to get my comeuppance when in later life I rode a few interclub events, one of them being held by the San Fairy Ann C C. Half way through I was put up against a relative novice, and as I had already beaten several others I decided to Showboat by starting slow and roaring through to win from behind (all in the name of thrilling the spectators of course!). In the event I was soundly beaten and only learned afterwards that my opponent, despite his inexperience, had beaten most of his own club riders on his first attempt at riding rollers.

Theo Bos vs Jason Kenny

Filmed on a phone - incredible.

Great crowd participation.

Can you take a horse to water?

Post Armstrong, commentators seem to agree a need for cycling to move on.  "Hallelujah" we cry!  Let's not continue with the endless finger pointing, anyone can make a mistake, and it would seem so many have. Furthermore, in the wake of the British beef-burger/horse meat scandal, I am prepared to fully accept Contador's tall tale of contaminated meat and hope for some sort of cleansing movement myself.

I had expected some insight into what's really going on now that Operacion Peurto has commenced in the Spanish courts but it would seem that one week on there is a near total media blackout - nothing.  Good news for all the non cycling sports involved!

"That was not the true depth of the scandal, though, with Fuentes admitting that he had clients from a range of professional sports.

Manzano backed this up, while International Cycling Union (UCI) president Pat McQuaid said in 2008 that he was told Fuentes had clients from football, tennis, athletics and swimming.

Allegations soon emerged of links to Spanish football giants Barcelona and Real Madrid and tennis superstar Rafael Nadal - all vehemently denied - but Fuentes refused to reveal the identities behind the remaining codenames. Which brings us back to today." (Sky Sports Report January 31, 2013)

So I've learnt; you can take a horse to water but don't make it into a contaminated beef burger, it shouldn't enhance performance, but if it does don't shout about it.

Isle Of Wight Cycling Weekend

This is the time of year when we look forward to the weather improving. In my youth this time of year also meant getting ready for the Easter Weekend.

The Isle of Wight Easter was always a big part of my cycling calendar We either set out after work on the Thursday night or sometimes leave directly after the Good Friday Track Meeting.

Our club always stayed in a small family hotel in Sandown, it was just known to us as Mrs Blacketts. Old Charlie (the club President who must have been all of Forty years old) would have been collecting our cash weekly starting after Christmas in order to make a block booking. We took over all the rooms along with the Watford Road Club in what was really quite a respectable Bed and Breakfast establishment.

Club group outside "Mrs Blacketts"

Most rode at least one time trial (promoted by the Vectis C.C.) and one road race but the main object of the weekend was the social scene. This included having informal Club Dinners in a local restaurant/cafe and the Saturday night dance at the Atlantic Ballroom.

The dance usually ended up as an almighty "knees-up". On one occasion the knees-up got slightly out of hand and the proprietors started to get a bit panicky (probably thinking that the building would collapse) and after a great effort managed to quieten the possibly tipsy mob by asking for a volunteer to go onto the stage to lead a sing song. I was on the stage in a flash but to the horror of the management I led the whole audience in a stirring version of "Knees Up Mother Brown". I was bundled off the stage but it took a long time for the building to stop shaking such was the enthusiasm of the dancers.

There were many other memorable events like the spontaneous show we did out of a bus shelter on the sea front, the boat race we had on the mini golf course and the infamous Inter club Knicker Bocker Glory Ice Cream Race. I could explain the details of this last event but It might make you nauseous.

Golf corse boat race

Looking back it seems that the Weekend was all about having a good time with very good friends and acquaintances.

1965 beghetto iridato nella velocità

The music's not too dramatic is it?

Racing Tales: False Teeth or not False Teeth..

It is not in my nature to be controversial but I want to know why there is no mention in any training manual or racing advice books where older riders are told to remove their dentures before riding.

Whilst the weight saving is not great, in these days of marginal gains every little counts and this could provide the aged veteran with just that little extra edge.

One other point that must be made is that when making a full effort with mouth wide open it is possible that the said teeth could shoot out and  time could be lost in a stop and search exercise.

Having said that I can recall back in the late 1970's that a rider from the Folkestone and District Wheelers who lost his teeth on the climb up from Chilham to Ashford carried on regardless and then enlisted the help of his club mates after the event to return to the scene of his loss to effect their successful recovery.

So remember my motto "If in doubt, take them out".

London Roller Racing in 1050's: Part 1

Roller equipment for club contests was hired from Dunlop and most contests were a 660 yard sprint, where with a standing jump-start you were held for the first 220 yards and then released to ride free for the last quarter of a mile. This was the more skillful event as tiring riders tended to lose control and often came off the rollers and out of the race. The 440 yard race was a flying start. You were held for the duration of the ride, which was a pure test of speed.

My one claim to fame was that I could do this event in 15 seconds dead (average speed 60 miles per hour) never faster and rarely slower. My maths is not good enough but I am sure that there is somebody out there that could calculate how many revolutions per minute had to be maintained to record that time, all I know from memory is that at that rate it felt as though my whole body was about to explode.

Years ago there were no Roller Leagues but several of the local clubs ran contests in their club rooms in addition to the open contests that took place at local venues like cinemas and Town Halls. The open events were more or less a closed shop to us lesser mortals so we transferred our attention to the local club events that were run on a level playing field.

There were a few specialist riders that used to travel to the bigger events and usually won all the prizes. Whilst these were all amateur events with the usual non cash prizes I did see cash change hands at a couple of the bigger events.

It was an event at  Greenwich Town Hall that I realised why the same few riders were successful. Whilst the bikes were all checked to ensure that the gearing did not exceed 101 inches once the bike had a pass sticker put on the top tube, chain rings and wheels were secretly changed and by the time you got onto the stage to ride you found your opponent had a chain ring the size of a dustbin lid and travelled at twice your speed whilst pedalling slower than your own gut wrenching rate.

Teeny Tiny Track

Teeny tiny track… with some people who look like they've never been on a bike before.

Nicole Cooke's Retirement

I remember when Nicole Cooke was out on the continent battling, virtually on her own, in the very obstreperous world of professional cycling. That she survived and rose to the top is a tremendous achievement - not for the faint hearted.

It's a shame she has retired fairly early by all accounts, but completely understandable. The statement she released outlines her struggle from age 12, with the total backing of her father, to be simply included in what was then BCF races and championships.  One shocking revelation is that as she prepared to defend her title at the Olympics her wages were not being paid! All this after a few difficult years... (Always good to remember that as mere onlookers we see only a small part of the iceberg!)

It's a long well written statement that touches on many pertinent areas of the sport. She's a courageous person who has definitely paved the way for the British women out there now (and suffered personally for it). The very best of luck to her.

Read the whole thing here on her website.....

Posted by Love Yellow

Garage Shots: Retired Cyclist (1994 was a good year)

It's real Satin you know. Love Yellow 2012.

Only Fools and Cycles

Looking at recent posts on this site, it appears that Love Yellow has smuggled a camera into my inner sanctum where my valuable collection or even priceless cycle accessories are stored.

Whilst I am happy to share the sight of these jewels with the world I do not want to create the impression that I am a cycling Equipment Nerd who over the years has spent a vast fortune on bikes and bits.

The truth is that in sixty odd years of riding I have only ever bought one bike that I have always cared for and treasured! Unfortunately like the broom that won an award for careful use over 25 years by road sweeper “Trigger” in “Only Fools and Horses”, my bike has had about six new frames, 30 wheels, innumerable tyres and inner tubes, several sets of brakes and gear mechs and one pair of brake blocks (stopping was never a problem unlike starting)

The latest incarnation. By Eltham John.

More Garage Shots: Retired Cyclist

Early Low pro bars. Love Yellow 2012

Haven't seen action for a while. Love Yellow 2012

garage shots MORE here...

More Garage Shots: Retired Cyclist... Wheels

Active Cobwebs. Love Yellow 2012

Loads Of Old Wheels. Love Yellow 2012

Remeber These? Love Yellow 2012

More garage shots..

More Garage Shots: Retired Cyclist

'Borrowed' from the side of the road at the women's Tour of the EU

'Borrowed' from the side of the road at the Tour De France one year

Every cycling garage needs a few of these.

What's in a name? (and other RTTC related business)

One of the more obvious changes that have occurred in British cycling in the last 50 years is in the style of the names of the clubs appearing on start and result sheets.

Please note this document is Private and Confidential. Love Yellow

In the fifties it was nearly always clear from the name of his club of the area or district  where any rider came from, e.g. Notts Wheelers, Barnet C.C., North Lancs. Wheelers, Norwich Amateur B.C. and so on.

There were of course the few exceptions like 34 Nomads, San Fairy Ann C.C. but as the 1959 RTTC Men’s Twenty Five Miles National Championship result shows these were a very small minority  

A few famous names from many parts of the Country. Love Yellow

It was always interesting to look at a result sheet and see which areas of the country were producing the best riders.

Having reached the stage when I no longer get start or result sheets, (because I no longer  enter events) I can only suppose from looking at the few results published in the Cycling Weekly that either all riders are now professional or choose only to ride for clubs with exotic names like Kinesis Morvelo Project, Scott-Contessa-Epic, or Biketreks RT. These club or team names give no indication of the area from which they attract their members.

Has anyone any thoughts on how this lack of local attachment has affected club loyalty and pride?

The above event was in the days before we had access to motorised transport so the day before the event my team mates I rode most of the way to Thrapston and after the event we arranged to meet up with about 20 to 25 other London clubmen, including Ken Craven and the other Crescent Wheelers,  Roy Savery  and Roger Wilkins of the Gravesend C.C. to ride  the 90 odd miles back down the A.1 Trunk road to London.

The group set out with bikes loaded with saddlebags and carrying racing wheels and despite being loaded up were soon exceeding 20 m.p.h.   After about an hour of purgatory we decided enough was enough so we said goodbye, turned off and went to Cambridge where we had a pleasant day out on the river before proceeding home by train.

Garage Shots: Retired Cyclist

Garage Shots: 'the odd sprocket' Copyright Love Yellow 2012

That spider's seen better days...

Garage Shots: 'Campag hubs' Copyright Love Yellow 2012

Can't beat Campag quality… an old'n but good'n

Guess What This Cycling Item Is?

Clue: Generates a lot of static

Clue: Static electricity.

The Answer:   TAT

Of course they were state of the art rollers in their day but now have lost their sheen and gained a few paint streaks. Shown here in all their retired glory at the back of Eltham John's garage.

Rollers (not the sort for your hair)

Grass Roots Racing: John Clarey - Tour De France Rider

On looking through some old photos of grass track racing at Avery Hill Park, I spotted a future Tour de France rider.

Grass track  - Devil take the hindmost - Avery Hill Park

He is not easy to spot as he is near the rear of the bunch. This was not unusual as he had very early in his career developed the annoying habit of making his way to the front only when the finish line appeared.

To make him easier to spot here is another pic of a young John Clarey picking up his first place prize at the Eltham Paragon Road Race that was held on the tough North Downs circuit in Kent.

Prize Presentation by Eltham Paragon club president Charlie Almond 

In the background on the left is Sid Phillips of the Kent Road Club another prizewinner and who was, I believe an early inspiration in Mick Ballard’s development as a prolific short distance time trial winner. This event was filmed the the Eltham Amateur Film Society but unfortunately I have been unable to trace any copies of the film.

More Memorable Racing Digs

In the same year that our Farnham adventure occurred we made several trips to the South Coast to ride courses in Sussex and Hampshire. One such place that we booked through our tried and trusted NCU Handbook in Bognor turned out to be rooms above a Funeral Parlour. This gave us another uneasy nights sleep and in fact in the morning we all overslept and missed the intended event.

Cycling digs in Christchurch - Eltham 'Paragon' John

The above picture is one of the better addresses we stayed at. It was in Christchurch and belonged to a retired actress. The place was full of the ladies stage costumes and great fun was had with the various outfits. I suppose you could say that this was our first contact with a “Dragstrip’. The ghostly figures at the upstairs window are my Eltham Paragon Colleagues.

Exciting Cycling Photography: That's a Nice Telegraph Pole

Exciting race photography - racing in Yorkshire

It has to be said that is a fabulous example of a bollard and telegraph pole. The Telegraph Appreciation Society would give it full appreciation. It might be in with a chance of 'telegraph pole of the month'. Further reading The Telegraph Pole Appreciation Society

Posted by Love Yellow

Weekends Away… a Cyclist's Tale

In the days when only a few cyclists had the use of motorised transport, in order to ride at least one event a week meant that when any event was more than 30 or more miles away from home we incurred a weekend away.

The way to get “digs” was to refer to either the NCU or CTC handbooks, which listed cheap bed and breakfast establishments. The accommodation (like those used by the entertainment fraternity) ranged from very good to bloody awful, and some just made a long lasting impression.

On one well remembered weekend two Eltham Paragon team mates and myself had ridden a Saturday afternoon track meeting at Herne Hill with the intention of going on to Farnham in Surrey to ride a Sunday morning 25 mile time trial. Our belief was that the speed from the track would still be in our legs for the following time trial.

During the afternoon a friend who belonged to the Sydenham Wheelers decided on the spot that he would come with us. He said that he would have to go home first to pick up a few things but would be back by the time that the track meeting finished.

When he returned we asked what were the things he had gone home for as he had no saddlebag or other visible luggage. He pointed to his cape roll, which was attached to the rear of his saddle, and we saw that he had stuck his toothbrush under the strap so it was obvious that he intended to travel light.

For reasons not now remembered we had not bothered to book any digs thinking that we would find somewhere to stay using our trusted NCU Handbook. Well we quickly exhausted the listed B & B’s, all were full, with not a spare bed between them. However being hungry from out track efforts we thought we would have a meal and look for digs later.

After eating we went along to the local Salvation Hostel but even there we had no luck. The Sally Army man was however very helpful and suggested that the Police station might be able to come up with something. The station sergeant came up trumps and gave us an address which turned out to be a tiny terraced cottage, and the lady said as her son was away for the weekend she had two rooms available.

By now it was getting late so we quickly prepared our bikes for the next days event and then went to the Local pub for a quick pint before turning in. We had about three or four pints and then returned to the digs which were now in complete darkness. There was no one about but we knew which two rooms had be allocated to us so we decided to get off to bed in view of our early morning start

The room that I shared with our Sydenham friend had just one double bed. I was about to drop off to sleep when my companion for the night nudged me and asked if I had seen where the toilet was when we had first arrived. As we had come to the room in total darkness I told him I had no idea. He then climbed out of bed and fished around on the floor emerging in triumph with a large china pot, which he immediately started to use. Once started because of the beer we had consumed we could not stop. To cut a long story short very soon the pot was filled to the brim and we were still in need of its use.

There was only one thing to do we opened the window and emptied the pots contents onto the front garden hoping that no one had seen us and returned to bed stifling our laughter.

Next morning we told my two team mates of our traumatic night and they said that we had been lucky. The room that they occupied belonged to the absent son, and that when they had opened a cupboard in the corner they had been frightened out of their lives when confronted by a full sized skeleton so they had spent the night awake waiting to be attacked by the living dead.

We did in fact find out later that the son was a medical student and as nothing was said about the state of the front garden we assumed that no on had witnessed our late night effort to water the lawn.

The details of the weekend are easily recalled but there is no memory of the actual racing so at this distance I can only imagine that our results were best forgotten.

My Very Badly Documented Cycling Career: Part 3

Another nondescript photo.

Another gem from my personal cycling archive, these two I’m told are from a road race during the Harrogate cycling week. It’s a technical descent at speed and seems to have induced fear in the photographer, causing them to fire off the shot just 2 or 3 seconds too early. Nice record of street furniture and the telephone system in that part of the country, but as usual absolutely no detail of any riders in particular me. I’m in the picture and can’t even begin to pick myself out.


Now I take this opportunity to up the badness stakes, this is later on in the same race in Yorkshire. A steady climb up through a small town. All the time in the world, no need to panic, just position yourself nicely on the climb, get the bunch in your view finder, pick out your target (me) and snap, easy.
 

Anticipating some cycling.

But what’s this, not a single rider in sight. There is a motorbike bottom left which may be connected with the race control but no one can be 100% sure. Anyway Yorkshire looks as lovely as ever, might turn to rain later, now rain in Yorkshire that’s something I actually remember.

Posted by Love Yellow

I don't like Southend… Oh no… I love it!

In the 1950’s when Time Trials were a cloak and dagger affair with all start sheets bearing the words “Private and Confidential” it was the ambition of all time triallist in the South of England to ride on the RTTC courses which were coded as E.3 and E.4.

These mystic numbers referred to the two super fast courses, which were the two trunk roads that ran between London and Southend. To get into any event on either road was difficult in the days when most open events had a full field of 120 riders and Local Association events always had their full complement of 150 riders.

Having had the good luck to get onto the start sheet in an event on the better of the two courses (E.3 or the A127 road) I was up for doing a scorching “PB” (personal best).

Dressed all in black in accordance the “private and confidential” rules that applied at the time nothing could get in my way.

The weather on the day of the event was good I was young and reasonable fit and everything went really well until I got to the halfway turn point. Then for the first time since the start I braked to slow to make the turn and to my dismay the brake stirrup broke away from the frame. The marshal was quick to offer his assistance and told me to take his bike to complete my ride.

Racing on the Southend Road, circa 1960

It seemed like a good idea (not to mention a generous gesture) at the time but as you can see the bike had gave me had mudguards, a saddlebag and a ridiculously low gear. My quest for a good time vanished as I spun the low gear to the finish. It also didn’t help that the unfamiliar pedals were obviously bent to the point where it was almost impossible to keep my foot within the toeclips. The tyres could have done with a few more pounds of air pressure aswell.

My disappointment was further compounded when at the end of the event the chap who had loaned me his bike turned up on mine and told me that he had found the securing nut from the rear of my brake on the road and hand tightened it and then rode my bike back to the finish area without any trouble. His first action on reclaiming his bike was to check that his sandwiches were still in his saddlebag and had not been eaten as, he assumed from the time I recorded that I must have had a lunch break during the second half of my ride.

A Poorly Documented Cycling Career: Part 2

Poorly documented time trial photo. 

More lamentable pictures, here I am shown in time trial mode. All the essentials of the photographers craft are exhibited here, the subject well centred in the frame. Despite bright weather the dullness of the English time trial scene has been captured in a landscape devoid of interest making it easily identifiable as Kent or Essex or Cambridgeshire or ……anywhere else flat. Do I really miss those 6am starts?

Distant bunch race Herne Hill.

Its not all time trials as can be witnessed by this gem from the velodrome, the Good Friday meet at Herne Hill to be prescise. Although as a photo record of me it continues in failing to identify me (I am there in the bunch) it does work as a record of this venue in the early 1980’s. Note the old tarmac surface, and it seems well attended (there wasn’t the public interest back then, cyclists must have had larger families in those days).

Posted by Love Yellow

Classic Cycling Item 1: Big Suisse Bell

Large Swiss Bell

Large Swiss dangler, close up

We all know road racing is really about the spectators... Anyone who has ever been to a Cycling World Championship will know everyone (it's a stipulation) has these bells and they make an ear-splitting din with them up the climbs.

The bell above was purchased at the 1983 Swiss World's - Women's road race: Gold - Marianne Berglund, Silver - Rebecca Twigg, Bronze - Maria Canins. Men's road race: Gold - Greg LeMond, Silver - Adri van der Poel, Bronze - Stephen Roche.

When the World Champ's is in the 'land of Suisse' then it's the law that each spectator has at least two... or one very large one, which is carried around by a group of men (usually short and fat) and waved at anyone who looks in it's general direction.

Suisse spectators with over-sized bells (source: Suisse Olympic website)

Posted by Love Yellow

Old Bikes: Gillot Road /Track Frame 1951 Vintage

My first real racing frame, which I bought second hand from one of my older Eltham Paragon club mates, was a 1951 hand built Gillot. It was finished in black with the Gillot decals on the head and seat tube. It came with a 4 inch steel Necini extension.

This frame together with sprint rims built on Airlite hubs, a Williams chainset, Lyotard pedals, and a Brampton chain was used by me to ride track events . When fitted with a G.B. front brake it was also used as my transport for work and pleasure rides and also road time trials from 5 to 100 miles.

The lug work and finish were superb and when I sold the frame a couple of years ago on E-Bay it was collected by an enthusiastic bike restorer who asked endless questions of the frames history and who said that it would be returning it to its original showroom state.

 Gillot special fork crown shows damage from constant fitting of brake stirrup

Gillot frame number shows date frame made

seat cluster showing top of the pencil rear stays

Although I miss my old frame is great to think that someone now is getting pleasure from the machine that served me so well all those years ago.

My Badly Documented Cycling Career

Am I alone in having such a poor record of my cycling exploits? Having ridden my first race aged 10 (a cyclo cross against senior riders including the national champion at the time Keith Mernickle) my memory allows for me only to recall the freezing temperature, an unbelievably heavy bike and being lapped constantly.

Badly documented cycling career photo 1 (Tonbridge bypass)

No photographic evidence of this event or any other exists. At the age of 13 this high definition photo taken by a family member is of me riding a time trial on the Tonbridge bypass. I can only assume I was going extremely fast as before the pic was taken I seem to be past and on my way out of shot. What promise!

Badly documented cycling career photo 2 (Eastway, London)

This next photo records my early road racing exploits. Here I am, still 13 coming up the finishing straight at Eastway circuit. From memory I guess I’ve been dropped again and going too slow to get in the frame (this photography lark’s not easy) but the close up of a complete stranger’s head, maybe where Head and Shoulders got the idea to use Mark Cavendish in their ads.

Posted by Love Yellow