Then you have all the long days and nights when we as club kids use to hand up the beer in 24's and 12's to the riders. We absolutely hammered 12 miles out to find a pub which sold Stewart & Patterson s Farm House Stout for one rider because he thought it would ease him over a rough patch .Arch Harding with his lighted fag and beer was one such rider and this was a champion who could knock out in excess of 465 miles etc.
I cannot agree with the statement such as this it really lowers the tone of the sport and those dedicated riders and their choice to ride a 24 hour time trials . I was one of the numerous marshalls which was required to assist in the imfamous annual Catford CC 24 hour time trial for many years. We cycled around the various points from early Saturday evening until the finishing circuit on the Sunday. Not once did I ever come across riders wanting this kind of refreshment as they were well catered for at the feeding stations and by their own club members throughout the period of their ride. To purchase , carry or hand up bottles of beer would have been a dangerous practice to say the least . On the other hand not many clubfolk could'nt afford such "luxuries" on their wages they were being paid ! It should'nt be forgotten the marshalls needed as much food and drink as the riders did themselves and we still did'nt resort to using the pubs , drinking or carrying beer as claimed but only maybe use a cafe for food and drink.Our saddle bags were reserved for the more important requirements ie.spare lamp batteries , spare tubs ,cordial drinks and fruit and some first aid items.
I was privileged to see riders such Eddie Mundy of the Addiscombe CC and Stan Butler winning the 1950 National Championship at a distance of 458.18 miles to his credit. Ken Price of the Cardiff 100 miles Club in 1955 another great champion. I do accept there may have been the few individuals who liked their drink and smokes but they were'nt the heart and soul of majority who took part.
Doug Smith
North Dorset
UK