Cycling in Britain in 1955

[LordMarv]

A more relaxed time, and look, no kit and no Strava!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=QPkT0paGEnQ

 

[welsh dragon]

Nice. A year before I was born as well. Excellent film.

 

[jay clock]

been up here before but always worth another viewing. thanks

 

[Julia9054]

Absolutely wonderful - especially the music.
No one wore helmets then as heads were protected by a thick layer of brylcreem!

 

[Peteaud]

The 50's, best decade for fins n chrome, music and now it seems, cycles as well.

 

[ComedyPilot]

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/cycling-in-1955.134395/

Another thread already on this - Mods please merge

 

[jay clock]

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/cycling-in-1955.134395/

Another thread already on this - Mods please merge

Why? This is publicising to a new audience....

 

[wiggydiggy]

Saved to watch later, ta muchly!

 

[toekneep]

I've seen that loads of times and never realised it was the year I was born. I'd love to live in that era. (But preferably at the more than the age of one)
Coincidently the first time I did the Manchester to Blackpool my number was 1955, how about that!

 

[LordMarv]

No one wore helmets then as heads were protected by a thick layer of brylcreem!

LOL...wonder if that stuff will ever make a comeback? I remember my dad used the stuff.

 

[wiggydiggy]

1) How good were train companies in 1955 for bikes!
2) Good mixed group, not the beardy weirdey I've come to expect from CTC these days*

The bikes - any one of those could be used today, in comparison the cars of the time (of which there were few) look ancient.

And lastly near the end of the film, there's a little girl on a pull along back bike behind her father(?) - I thought those were a modern invention, unfortunately the film doesnt quite show the combo of adult/half bike they are riding.

Excellent film, makes me want to go an ride.....


* Ps I have a beard, and am weird

 

[robjh]

Wonderful stuff. I wonder if the motorists of the South Midlands complained about dozens of arrogant cyclists (and Londoners at that) clogging their roads on that day?

A few points noted :
'Cycling without a map is like new potatoes without mint sauce' - quite so!
The road below Kenilworth castle still floods.
Derelict-looking Foxton locks, long before renovation.
Naseby battlefield without the A14 running through it.

And the idea that people have 'ranks and stations' - some people still believe that but we don't say it so often these days. Happily cyclists were clearly ahead of the times and chose to ignore them even then!

 

[byegad]

I love this film.
When it first reappeared I had vague recollections that I'd seen it before. I spoke to my Mother, and showed her the film, who thought we'd have seen it at the cinema. I was four when it was made and we used to go as a family nearly every week in the fifties so it is quite possible I really had seen it before.

Gosh! I feel old!!!!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Like that.

The roads are so quiet. I want to go cycling in 1955.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Like that.

The roads are so quiet. I want to go cycling in 1955.

Try riding from, say, just after midnight on a Friday night until breakfast time on a Saturday morning.