Firestorm
Veteran
- Location
- Southend on Sea
Ah . North London. My parents were in East London clubs . The Penguin and the Buccanneers
Do not stop pedalling as you cross the line. I did and remember thinking whilst 6 foot off of the ground in a horizontal position that the landing was going to hurt.
Never though about gear changes, after a while you just do it naturally.Not having to think about gear changes leaves you to concerntrate 100% on your ride, congrats on a new PB.
I organised a forum ride near Oswestry, a couple of years ago; one of those who attended, was 'Mick the Quick'. Mick won the National 50 TT in 1956, he came 2nd in 1957. In 1958, he won the National 25 & the 50TTs. He was the first person to win both events in the same year.
In the same year, he came 12th in the National 100; he suffered a double wheel breakage and did the last 20 miles on a marshal's bike. In 1959, he won the National 50 TT again . . . I believe that he was the last person, to win a National TT on fixed.
Mick certainly can still turn a wheel; on the forum ride, he had no problems keeping up with all the other riders - I'm hoping to get him out on another forum ride this year.
I've enormous respect for guys of that era; Mick tells me, that he'd frequently cycle up to 30 miles, just to get to a convenient spot, to hitch a ride from a lorry. He said that at events, some riders would provide other riders with accommodation; but if there was no accommodation to be had, he'd sleep in a barn, or even under a hedge. They certainly were tough, in those days !