I had a nice email from a reader Michael Merrony in Australia, Michael grew up in Surrey and was a member of the Redhill CC for a couple of years before leaving UK in 1951. Michael is now in his 80s, but still rides about 400km a week on a MTB.
Michael writes:
For a bit of nostalgia and an indication of how time trial times have changed over the years, include a couple of result sheets.
One for the 1950 Oxford City 50 mile time trial. (I rode in it – the course was somewhere out between Oxford and Banbury).
I would have ridden on the Saturday from Coulsdon (where I lived) to a B &B somewhere on the outskirts of Oxford (approaching an 80 mile ride) with a set of racing wheels attached to brackets on the front bicycle hub with straps to handlebars. And after the race rode home again on the Sunday.
page 2
A few points of interest:
- The note at top of the results sheet says: ‘Private & Confidential’ under R.T.T.C regulations. This shows the legacy from the old traditions of time trialling, which stressed secrecy and lack of publicity.
- I don’t know if any women were riding in this event. There was no prize for women and no indication of sex in results sheet.
- The times are much more closely distributed than today. In modern events, you would see a much greater spread between the winning time and the last place. A good percentage of rides were in the 2.10s. A ‘modern’ 50 would have times from 1.40 to 2.30s.
- I would imagine the average age profile of the riders would be much lower than today. The close times were probably a result of the fact many riders were of fairly similar age.
- It was hard to even get in the race. 203 entrants, 100 acceptances.
- In 1950, the competition record for 50 mile time trial was 1.59.14, set by G.H.Fleming Belle Vue C.C in 1947. In 1951, it was lowered to 1.58.29 by G.K.Bentley Bec C.C.
- To get close to 2 hours in the 1950s would have been a major achievement. Today the 50 mile TT record is 1.35.27 by Michael Hutchinson, In-Gear Quickvit (though of course comparisons are hard – given advances in aero technology and growth of motor traffic)
- 16% non-finishers seems quite high. I wonder if the old tubulars were more prone to punctures?
- It would be interesting to know the course, but, I wouldn’t surprise if it was just the main A road from Oxford to Banbury. 1951, petrol rationing was still in force.
- Michael mentions carrying the racing wheels to the race on the bike. I wonder if this fits the bill.
A wheel carrier, from classic time trial photos
- In those days, the results would have to be sent off to a specialist printer – Spelthorn Press, Ashford Middx. It was probably a big event to get a results sheet in the post. These days, startsheets and results are often emailed, but I doubt in 50 years time, we will have the same nostalgia for a pdf as we doe these specialist printed jobs.
- I love the crossing out of October and replacing with a typed September, no computer to edit in those days!
- The results are not listed in speed order. I wonder if this was deliberate or whether just Excel spreadsheets ‘sort by lowest time’ make it much easier?
an Open 50 mile From Oxford City R.C.
I wonder what the ‘umpire’ did?
At the weekend I was racing against Brian James (now 83). The timekeeper was Jim Burgin, who also was promoting events back in 1950s.
sadly we have had news that Peter Burgin has passed away
http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=80281
Yes, it is sad news. I’ve used Peter Burgin to repair quite a few tubulars, always very good job.
Unfortunately, I made a typo in the blog, I meant to write Jim Burgin was timekeeper. I don’t know why I got the two mixed up.