Re: [CR]Simmy on a Moulton or otherwise at Herne Hill

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot)

From: "Joe King" <joeking@fastmail.fm>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Simmy on a Moulton or otherwise at Herne Hill
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:56:15 +0000


Ray said "Just found my May 1963 edition of Sporting Cyclist and surprisingly there is not a report of the Good Friday meeting of 12th April. As I said the Moulton stunt didn't attract much if any publicity". Ray I respect you for being a first class top flight cyclist but as a Mr.Memory I don't think so. This stunt trial or race generated huge publicity for Tom and the Moulton name. The cycling press and more importantly the National Press were full of it. Tom was already on his way to becoming a British Superstar and household name. Another reason it created a lot of interest was that the Moulton had its front and rear racks removed and it looked like it had spears coming out of the frame either end. How the hell they ever got it pass the machine examiners god only knows. You must remember how strict they were on anything protruding on a bike back then? A bike that was going to be raced or ridden on the track had to have the lamp brackets pump pegs taped up etc. Thats if you were lucky to get it pass them. No sorry mate I won't be asking you to be on our pub quiz team unless you start eating oily fish in huge quantities. If you don't believe me drag your self along to Colindale and do some delving. Colindale is in North London just in case you forgot! Tom Simpson at his height of fame won the BBC Sports Personality of the year award. He also appeared in Superstars where the person was barred from competing in their own sport. For the cycling test they used a sort of cycling ergometer where they gradually increased the load and resistance on the pedals. They put Tom on it and he spun and twiddled the pedals easily, they kept on increasing the load but still he kept on pedalling freely, they finally put so much on it that Tom broke the machine much to everyones surprise and amusement. Surely you must remember this Ron? Croeso Cymru Joe King Nr. Maenaddwyn Ynys Mon Wales