Hi Doug, Peter et al.
I raised these films on the list last year and got some response at the time. Fabulous stuff. Is such touring still possible in this day and age? I notice a lack of motor cars throughout! I love the lines about lawyers and carpenters cycling side by side and enjoying friendly banter. Was it really this egalitarian? A while ago we raised the issue of economics and politics when talking about cycling in the UK. Did touring tend to be a middle-class pursuit? How did things break down on the racing circuit? Were there those who toured and raced? I ask because it seems that, at least in North America, there are two camps. Moreover, where I grew up in Ontario racing seemed to be a middle-class thing and cycle-touring was an even far less common pursuit associated with "middle-age," granola types (okay maybe I am being a bit fascetious).
I am fascinated to see all of those lovely lightweights, a la Patterson, spinning along the country roads. And what about the eclectic range of clothing? Not an advert in sight!!!
Cheers,
Paul.
Paul B. Williams, MPhil (Wales), PhD (Queen's) 70 Viscount Ave., Ottawa, On, K1Z 7M9 ph: 613-761-3867 e-mail: castell5@sympatico.ca
> John Hudson of London wrote:-
> Some friends of mine at the bicycle film festival came across
> thisdocumenta
> ry from 1955, about day tripping club cyclists from the CTC,
> and I thought there might be some interest on the list, or at least people
>
> with 15 minutes to kill watching old british touring bikes.
> Its in 2 parts: http://youtube.com/
> ube.com/watch?v=WGYngjxJP1I
>
> I am surprised that there has 'nt been a reply or response to this
> posting,
> well not on list anyway!
>
> Over the years I and others in the UK have made efforts to try and explain
>
> to the folks in the States the kind of club life and bikes we rode. There
> i
> s
> nothing like experiencing the real thing and those two films get as near
> to
>
> reality as anyone could get. The pictures are as I remember those days
> which give a true picture of cycling here in the years of a bygone era .
>
> I know there are many folks in the States who are always interested in our
> cycling history and wanting to learn more. These films go a long way to
> fulfilling that interest and give another insight of how it was really
> like
> here
> in the UK.
>
> Doug Smith
> North Dorset
> UK
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