let's not get carried away on the strength of one ride.
I think we have been here before. Hardly on the strength of ONE ride:
12 Hour Record Holder: in 1959, Beryl covered 250.37 miles in a Twelve Hour Time Trial... That was astonishing, especially considering the road surfaces and the the equipment she was using; it was also remarkably close to the men's record. It was in 1967 that she took the big leap she knew she could do... She set off two minutes behind the men's national champion, catching him around the ten hour mark: she offered him some liquorice and went on to cover 277.25 miles/ 443.6 km in the twelve hours... beating the men's existing record by over 5.75 miles/9km.
World Pursuit Champion in 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963 and 1966 (silver in 1961, 1964 and 1968, bronze in 1967, 1970 and 1973)
World Road Champion in 1960 and 1967 (silver in 1961)
National Road Champion in 1959, 1960, 1963, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974
National Pursuit Champion in 1960, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974
National 25 Champion in 1958, 59, 60, 61, 62, 62, 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77
National 50 Champion in 1958, 59, 60, 61, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77
National 100 Champion in 1958, 59, 60, 61, 62, 64, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 73, 74, 75
British Best All Rounder in every year from 1959 to 1977 (19 victories)
I'm sure it will be pointed out that womens cycling wasn't the sport it is now etc etc and so on and so on but the fact is you can only beat those in front of you and she did that hands down.
Her records and achievements are international in their scope.
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