I Have Been Reading, Book Reviews by Graham Thompson

I HAVE BEEN READING . . .

 

 

by Graham Thompson

 

 Two excellent reads have been “The Hour” or “Sporting Immortality the Hard Way” by Michael Hutchinson and “In Pursuit of Stardom” by Tony Hewson. I have written about “The Hour” previously, but I was given Tony Hewson’s book at Christmas. This is the story of John Andrews, Vic Sutton and Tony Hewson, who aspired to be continental roadmen in the late 1950s and early 1960s with their ambitions being met with raised eyebrows. They met with some success and led a precarious existence in a converted ambulance and a caravan for some three or four years. It was a hard life and the story gives a lively account of their struggles with some amusing tales of La Vie Francaise in France Profonde. Sadly Andrews and Sutton died a few years ago, but Hewson is going strong, having run in a recent London Marathon and still contributing articles to a veteran cycle magazine.

I have been presented with signed copies of  John Woodburn’s “Fifty Years at the Top” and Eileen Sheridan’s “A Cycling Life”. Eileen’s book is a photographic record of her life and has many photos of her family and cycling achievements which at one time included holding all the WRRA bicycle records – she still holds the best time for five of the recognised records more than 50 years later. I have had a look at John’s book and it confirms my belief that he must be one of the truly great all round cyclists over the past 50 years. Multiple champion on the time trial scene, prolific record breaker, talented track rider and roadman, having finished 14th in 1963 Warsaw–Prague–Berlin which was a fifteen stage race behind the old Iron Curtain. He regards this as his best ride, but we should not overlook his End to End ride of 1 day 21 hours 3 minutes 16 seconds, an improvement of96 minutes on the old record and we must not forget his 505.47 miles in our 24 of 1980.

Two more books have come my way! In the Lake District for a long weekend, I picked up “Road Racing – Technique and Training” by Bernard Hinault published 1988 and ex Cumbria County Library for £1. Some good pictures are here and a quick browse reveals some interesting writings about equipment, riding positions and skills to tactics, training and preparation.

At the other end of the cycling spectrum and the cost factor I have acquired “Cycling” by F. T. Bidlake, published circa 1898. This was part of the “Oval” series which covered most sports from cricket to swimming. My copy is a revised edition as the first edition (photocopied in an idle moment) had been published some years earlier. In those distant days it had taken G. P. Mills, one of the giants of cycling, just under three days and six hours to get from Land’s End to John O’Groats. It would be an interesting exercise to contrast Bidlake’s advice with that of Hinault as it covers a century of cycling history and lore.

In 1898 there was no tarmacadam on the roads, no multiple gears, pneumatic tyres had been only been invented in 1888, clothing was wool for the winter and perhaps cotton for the summer and cars were a very rare sight. The Bicycle was King! Now we are spoilt for choice – multiple gears, very lightweight equipment, cycling specific clothing, and generally dependable tyres. A simple machine is in danger of becoming a complex machine! . . . and The Car is King! Yet the NRCC lives on and we still enjoy cycling.