Re: [CR] Re: British Cycling and World Success & USPRO race

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme:2002)

From: "Charles T. Young" <youngc@netreach.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <BAY16-F44uDocXpGRWv000199c1@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [CR] Re: British Cycling and World Success & USPRO race
Date: Sun, 6 Jun 2004 18:53:46 -0400


Let's not forget that massed start races were long prohibited on Britain's roadways. There time-trialing history is without peer and some of the victories cited derive from that long tradition that continues today.

I had to time trial out to Conshohocken from the Wachovia US PRO race in Philadelphia because I dawdled overlong with the likes of Steven Maasland, Curtis Anthony, Sam Fitzsimmons, and Simon Firth on Lemon Hill. My Dawes Double Blue winter/rain hack with full fenders coped marvelously. Steven had his "Bianchi Gran Largo" fillet brazed trike along. I'll leave it to him to tell that story.

Anybody with any information / catalog scans on the Double Blue model? The cognoscenti pegged the frame as late '60's - early '70's.

Charlie Young
Honeybrook, PA


----- Original Message -----
From: Mick Butler
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2004 4:43 PM
Subject: [CR] Re: British Cycling and World Success



>
> " Let's get some facts straight here. Britain does not have a history of
> international success in professional cycling, and in the CR period never
> did. Try as you will, you will not be able to build a case to show that they
> did. Apart from a very select group of highly gifted individuals, Britain
> did not enjoy any deeply seated success. I know that you will bring up
> Harris, and likely Porter and maybe the poor deceased Simpson, but 3 riders
> over the 60-70 years of concern of the CR list do not show success. If you
> take the top three finishers at the world championships in the two premier
> events, namely road and track sprint, you find Harris alone from Britain."
> I know I am not supposed to use this word on the list but that statement is
> utter " BOLLOCKS"
> We will start at the beginning George Mills winner of the first Bordeaux-
> Paris in 1891. It was thought that it would take between three and four days
> to complete this race they even set up camp beds along the route. Mills
> ignored all this and won in 26.5 hours firmly establishing this event.
> How about Beryl Burton probably the greatest all round racing cyclists ever.
> More World Championships they you can wave a stick at. Lance eat your heart
> out Think its just one by my reckoning.
> Bill Bailey, Leon Meridith, Chris Boardman Multi World Hour record holder,
> Graham Obree likewise, Robert Millar, Barry Hoban, Sean Yates, Max Sciandri,
> David Millar, Brian Robinson, Malcolm Elliot, Tony Doyle when was the last
> time an American won a European Six Day? Michael Wright, Graham Jones, Vin
> Denson, Frank Southall, Leon Meridith, Ian Steel Winner of WBP, Arthur
> Metcalf, Bill Bradley, Bill Bailey, Norman Sheil, Jason Queally, Yvonne
> McGregor, Graham Web, Colin Sturgess, Mandy Jones, Cyril Peacock, Ray Booty,
> Bradley Wiggins. And these are just a few I can remember off the top of my
> head. Think if you look back carefully you will look back in horror on your
> highly inaccurate statement. All Brits and several World Champions twice
> over not just one fluky win.
> Best wishes and be lucky. Michael Butler Huntingdon UK.