I have begun reading “This Island Race” by Les Woodland which covers the chequered but fascinating history of British cycle racing. (thanks to Ed, for lending)
The history of British cycling is one of many missed opportunities. In a nutshell British cycling was never allowed to develop like continental cycling because road races were outlawed. Even when it is was possible to have mass start races, the British cycling establishment were quite hostile to the ‘professional’ scene. This created an artificial barrier between the different disciplines of cycling. Any British cyclist who wished to make it on the professional scene has, by and large, had to move across the channel.
As a Time triallist, I find there is still a lingering divide between the testers and road racing. It is rather sad because there is no good reason why they shouldn’t be run by a single cycling body, with an easy mingling between the disciplines.
Despite cycling’s low profile in the UK, Britain has produced some great cyclists. These have included several Tour de France riders, world champions and in recent years time triallists to break the prestigious world hour record.
The books is full of interesting facts about the development of cycling in the UK. It seems that at one time, cycling came close to being banned by the authorities. There was certainly a strong anti cycling bias (something never change). The cyclist reported how in 1882
“Even a gentleman of a ‘most respectable address’ was fined 30 shillings for riding through London at a ‘furious’ 10 miles per hour.”
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