Golden Book of Cycling
Encyclopedia
The Golden Book of Cycling was created in 1932 by Cycling
, a British cycling
magazine
,
to celebrate "the Sport and Pastime of Cycling by recording the outstanding rides, deeds and accomplishments of cyclists, officials and administrators." There exists only a single copy of this compendium of illuminated manuscripts.
Each page was crafted to honour a single cycling hero. The original book was finished in 1972, but the tradition has been continued by The Pedal Club, who also maintain the archive of the original book.
Cycling Weekly
Cycling Weekly is a British cycling magazine. It is published by IPC Media and is devoted to the sport and past-time of cycling. It is affectionately referred to by British club cyclists as "The Comic".-History:...
, a British cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
,
to celebrate "the Sport and Pastime of Cycling by recording the outstanding rides, deeds and accomplishments of cyclists, officials and administrators." There exists only a single copy of this compendium of illuminated manuscripts.
Each page was crafted to honour a single cycling hero. The original book was finished in 1972, but the tradition has been continued by The Pedal Club, who also maintain the archive of the original book.
Golden pages
- Frank SouthallFrank SouthallWilliam Frank Southall was an English racing cyclist who won silver medals for Great Britain in the individual road race at the 1928 Summer Olympics and a track cycling medal at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles...
was the first cyclist to be honoured, having won the 1932 British Best All-RounderBritish Best All-RounderThe British Best All-Rounder competition, organised by Cycling Time Trials, is an annual British cycle-racing competition. It ranks riders by their average speeds in individual time trials, over 50 and and 12 hours for men, and over 25, 50 and for women. There are similar competitions for...
(BBAR) competition for individual time trialIndividual time trialAn individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials...
lists. He signed his page in front of 7,000 cyclists attending the BBAR prize-giving at the Royal Albert HallRoyal Albert HallThe Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
- Harry GrantHarry Grant (cyclist)Harry Grant was a British racing cyclist who specialised in motor-paced events. He was national amateur champion in 1926, 1928 and 1931. At the time he turned professional in 1932 he held four British amateur track records...
, 1932
- John Ephraim SibbitJohn SibbitJohn Ephraim Sibbit John Ephraim Sibbit (Jack Sibbit) John Ephraim Sibbit (Jack Sibbit) (3 April 1895 – 5 August 1950 (or November) was a British track cyclist who won a silver medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics....
(John Sibbit), Citation in 1932
- Albert Arthur HumblesArthur HumblesAlbert Arthur Humbles was an English cyclist who set the world endurance cycling record by covering 36,007 miles during the calender year of 1932...
(Arthur Humbles), Citation in 1933
- Frederick Thomas BidlakeFrederick Thomas BidlakeFrederick Thomas Bidlake was an English racing cyclist of the late 19th century who became one of the most notable administrators of British road bicycle racing during the early 20th century. The annual Bidlake Memorial Prize, was instituted in his memory...
Citation in 1933. 7,000 cyclists at the Royal Albert HallRoyal Albert HallThe Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
in London watched Bidlake sign the first page during a concert to honour time-trialling champions.
- Hubert OppermanHubert OppermanSir Hubert Ferdinand Opperman, OBE , referred to as Oppy by Australian and French crowds, was an Australian cyclist and politician, whose endurance cycling feats in the 1920s and 1930s earned him international acclaim....
— signed the book on 13 October 1935 Opperman, later Sir Hubert Ferdinand Oppermann OBE, was regard as one of Australia's greatest sportsman. The honour of appearing in this Hall of FameHall of FameA hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
was largely overshadowed by his later honours, but his sporting background was always an important asset and led to his later honours.
- Ernest James CapellErnest J. CapellErnest James Capell, Ernest J. Capell, Tubby Capell was an English amateur cyclist who in 1934 won the British Best All-Rounder competition, by dominating all of the qualifying events - 50 mile, 100 mile and 12 hours....
, Citation in 1935
- John Gavin BoneJohn Gavin BoneJohn Gavin "Jackie" "Mulguy" Bone was a Scottish amateur cyclist who competed in the Cycling at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.In 1935 he set new Scottish and British records with a total distance of 244¾ miles in 12-hours...
, Citation in 1936
- Stanley Walter MilesStanley MilesStanley Walter Miles, Stan Miles, was an English amateur cyclist who won the British Best All-Rounder competition in 1935 whilst also leading his club, 'Century Road' C.C., to the title of 'Best All-rounder' team in Great Britain....
(Stan Miles), Citation in 1936
- W. G. (Bill) PaulBill Paul (cyclist)William George Paul, was an English amateur cyclist who, with his team-mate 'Ernie' Mills, set the British 12-hour record on a tandem in 1934 and re-established it in 1936 with a 'world's best performance'. In 1937, in Italy, they set the world one-hour tandem record which stood for 63 years...
and E. V. (Ernie) MillsErnest MillsErnest Victor Mills, Ernie Mills, was an English amateur cyclist who, with his team-mate 'Bill' Paul, set the British 12-hour record on a tandem in 1934 and re-established it in 1936 with a 'world's best performance'. In 1937, in Italy, they set the world one-hour tandem record which stood for 63...
(Mills & Paul) signed the book on 18 February 1937 as a record breaking tandem pairing. Initially they had been on opposing tandem teams but together they covered over 30 miles in one hour in 1936 and won a 10 minute pursit race in less than four minutes.
- Charles HollandCharles Holland (cyclist)Charles Holland was a British road bicycle racer. He was one of the first two Britons to ride the Tour de France.-The early years:...
, Citation in 1937
- Sidney Herbert FerrisSid FerrisSidney "Sid" Herbert Ferris was an English long-distance cyclist who broke the records for Edinburgh-to-London, Land's End to John O'Groats, and 1,000 miles in 1937....
(Sid Ferris), Citation in 1937
- Walter William Greaves (Walter Greaves), Citation in 1937
- Cyril HepplestonCyril HepplestonCyril Heppleston, was an English cyclist from Bradford who broke the 100-mile, 200-mile, and 12-hour competition records in 1937, and was the only man to beat 250 miles in twelve hours in open competition...
, Citation in 1938
- Arthur James WilsonArthur James WilsonArthur James Wilson was an English cyclist, cycling administrator, activist and journalist. He became deaf at age 12 after contracting scarlet fever and Faed was a self-applied anagram of 'deaf'. He was a member of the National Cyclists' Union executive committee and joint editor of the Bicycling...
(Faed Wilson), Citation in 1938
- Stanley John Ambrose CotterellStanley CotterellStanley J.A.Cotterell, founded the Bicycle Touring Club at Harrogate, Yorkshire, on 5 August 1878, while he was a medical student. Its headquarters were wherever he happened to be living...
(Stan Cotterell), Citation in 1938.
- Sir Harold Bowden, 2nd BaronetSir Harold Bowden, 2nd BaronetSir Harold Bowden, 2nd Baronet, GBE , was the chairman and chief executive of the Raleigh Bicycle Company and Sturmey-Archer Ltd from his father's death in 1921 until his own retirement in 1938...
, Bart, C.B.E., Citation in 1938
- Willie HumeWillie HumeWilliam "Willie" Hume was an Irish cyclist. He demonstrated the supremacy of John Boyd Dunlop's newly invented pneumatic tyres in 1889, winning the tyre's first ever races in Ireland and then England.-Career:...
, Citation in 1938
- Thomas Edward GodwinTommy Godwin (cyclist born 1912)Tommy Godwin, was an English cyclist who holds the world cycling records for miles covered in a year and the fastest completion of ....
(Tom Godwin), Citation in 1939 He was celebrated as the greatest long distance rider in the world, having ridden 75065 mi (120,805.1 km) miles in a single year to set an endurance riding record that will never be beaten.
- Harold EarnshawHarry EarnshawHarold Earnshaw, Harry Shake Earnshaw, was an English racing cyclist from Yorkshire. In 1938 he was acclaimed as the British Best All-Rounder when his three best event performances were aggregated into 399 miles at 22.627 mph....
(Harry Earnshaw), Citation in 1939
- Marguerite WilsonMarguerite WilsonMarguerite Wilson was a record-breaking cyclist from Bournemouth. In 1939 she broke the Land's End to John o' Groats and records. When World War II stopped her efforts in 1941 she held every Women's Road Records Association bicycle record...
— signed the book on 30 April 1947
- Albert Edward George Derbyshire (Albert Derbyshire), Citation in 1947
- George Herbert Flemming(George Flemming), Citation in 1947
- Reginald Hargreaves HarrisReg HarrisReginald - 'Reg' - Hargreaves Harris OBE was a leading English track racing cyclist in the 1940s and 1950s. He won the world amateur sprint title in 1947, two Olympic silver medals in 1948, and the professional title in 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1954...
(Reg Harris), Citation in 1947
- Albert Edward Walters, Citation in 1948
- George Herbert StancerGeorge Herbert StancerGeorge Herbert Stancer OBE was a notable English racing cyclist of the late 19th century who became one of the most notable administrators of the British Cyclists' Touring Club after World War I...
, Citation in 1948
- John William Stocks (John Stocks), Citation in 1948
- Clarence KingsburyClarence KingsburyClarence Brickwood Kingsbury was a British track cyclist who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics. He belonged to the Paddington and North End cycling clubs....
was recorded as 64 years old when he signed his citation page in September 1948, (6 months before his death at the age of 66Clarence KingsburyClarence Brickwood Kingsbury was a British track cyclist who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics. He belonged to the Paddington and North End cycling clubs....
). He was a British track cyclist who won two Gold medals in the 1908 Summer Olympics.
- Charles Henry BartlettCharles Henry BartlettCharles Henry Bartlett was a British track cyclist. He competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics where he won the gold medal in the 100 kilometres competition, completing the course in a time of 2 hours 41 minutes and 48.6 seconds.-References:...
, Citation in 1948,aged 63.
- Charles George Marriner (Charlie Marriner), Citation in 1948, aged 25.
- Harry Green (cyclist), Citation in 1948, aged 73.
- John William Rossiter, Citation in 1948
- Victor Louis JohnsonVictor Johnson (cyclist)Victor Louis Johnson, Vic Johnson, was a British track cycling racer who, in 1908, won a gold medal at the 1908 Summer Olympics; became 'World Amateur Sprint Champion' and the 'British National Quarter-mile Champion'....
(Vic Johnson), Citation in 1948, aged 65.
- William James Bailey (William Bailey), Citation in 1948, aged 65.
- Alfred Sydenham Ingram (Alfred Ingram), M.B.E. Citation in 1949, aged 74.
- David Marsh (cyclist), Citation in 1949, aged 56.
- Horace Thomas Johnson (Thomas Johnson), Citation in 1949, aged 60.
- John Thomas Allison (John Allison), Citation in 1949, aged 22.
- Peter Beardsmore, Citation in 1949
- Cyril Francis PeacockCyril PeacockCyril Francis Peacock was a British amateur racing cyclist who was world champion in 1954. He was also national sprint champion in 1952, 1953 and 1954 and Commonwealth Games champion in 1954.-Adolescence:...
, Citation in 1950s
- Eileen Sheriden, Citation in 1950
- Edward Russell MockeridgeRussell MockridgeRussell Mockridge was a racing cyclist from Geelong, Victoria, Australia. He died during a race, in collision with a bus....
(Russell Mockridge), Citation in 1950s, aged 25.
- Harry Edgar Ryan, Citation in 1950
- Kenneth Howard Joy, Citation in 1950
- Mildred Jessie Robinson, Citation in 1950
- Thomas Summersgill (Tom Summersgill), Citation in 1951
- William James Pett (Bill Pett), Citation in 1951
- Albert White, Citation in 1952
- Sidney Philip Patterson (Sid Patterson), Citation in 1952
- Edith AtkinsEdith AtkinsEdith Atkins was a racing cyclist and a prolific breaker of long-distance records in the 1950s. She completed 12 different record-breaking journeys. The records included Land's End to John o' Groats; Land's End to London; Holyhead to London; London to York, London to Edinburgh; and London to Great...
— signed the book on 12 August 1953
- John Francis Arnold, Citation in 1954
- Joyce Joan Dorothy Harris, Citation in 1954
- Victor Augustus Gibbons (Vic Gibbons), Citation in 1954
- William Harry Townsend (Will Townsend), Citation in 1954
- Henry Herbert England, Citation in 1955
- Tom PeckTom PeckTom Peck, a former Nascar Busch Series driver, was born April 4, 1953 in McConnellsburg, PA. Tom Peck drove the #89 Pontiac in two races in 1984 in the Busch Grand National Series, but failed to finish either race. In 1988 he ran the #96 Thomas Chevy sponsored Olds in 6 races with a best finish...
, Citation in 1955
- Brian Robinson , Citation in 1956, aged 25.
- Norman Leslie SheilNorman SheilNorman Sheil is a retired racing cyclist who won world pursuit championships for Britain in 1955 and 1958 and rode the Tour de France in 1960. He became national coach of the British Cycling Federation and later of the Canadian federation...
(Norman Sheil), Citation in 1956
- Raymond Charles Booty (Ray Booty), Citation in 1956
- Albert Crimes, Citation in 1957
- Dennis Hulbert White, Citation in 1957
- David John Keeler, Citation in 1958
- Reginald Frederick (Ray) Randall, Citation in 1958
- Bryan Frank Wiltcher, Citation in 1959
- Charles Frederick DaveyCharlie Davey (cyclist)Charles Frederick Davey was a British racing cyclist who rode in the Olympic Games, the world championship and the marathon Bol d'Or race....
, Citation in 1959
- Owen George Blower (Owen Blower), Citation in 1959
- Beryl BurtonBeryl BurtonBeryl Burton, MBE OBE was an English racing cyclist and one of Britain's greatest ever athletes.She dominated women’s cycle racing in the UK, winning more than 90 domestic championships and seven world titles, and setting numerous national records...
, Citation in 1960
- Donald Douglas McLachlan, Citation in 1962
- Raymond Frank Colden (Ray Colden), Citation in 1962
- Brian Geoffrey Kirby, Citation in 1963
- James Peter HillJames Peter HillJames Peter Hill was a British embryologist.Born in Edinburgh he gained a DSc at Edinburgh University but went to Australia in 1892. In Australia he formed with a group dubbed "The Fraternity of Duckmaloi" that did studies on the platypus and was named for a noted "hunting ground" for the animal....
, Citation in 1964
- Thomas Middleton Barlow (Tom Barlow), Citation in 1965 President of Manchester Wheelers' ClubManchester Wheelers' Club-Formation and early history:The club was formed on 7 July 1883, as Manchester Athletic Bicycle Club, the name being changed to Manchester Wheelers' Club in 1890.The Manchester Wheelers are the most successful cycling club in Britain having produced countless international riders and several World...
. A copy of his citation is held at the National Cycle Library in Llandrindod WellsLlandrindod WellsLlandrindod Wells , colloquially known locally as "Llandod", is a town and community in Powys, within the historic boundaries of Radnorshire, mid Wales, United Kingdom. It was developed as a spa town in the 19th century, with a boom in the late 20th century as a centre of local government. Before...
.
- Rex Burgess Coley (Rex Coley), Citation in 1970
- Hugh William PorterHugh PorterHugh Porter MBE is one of Britain's greatest former professional cyclists, winning four world titles in the individual pursuit as well as a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 1966...
, Citation in 1972
Chapter 2
The original golden book was finally shut in 1972. In 1991 the Pedal Club started "The Pedal Club Golden Book" to resurrect the tradition.- Christopher BoardmanChris BoardmanChristopher "Chris" Boardman MBE is a former English racing cyclist who won an individual pursuit gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics and broke the world hour record three times, as well as winning three stages and wearing the yellow jersey on three separate occasions at the Tour de France...
(Chris Boardman), Citation in 1990s, aged ?.
- Ian Scott Cammish (Ian Cammish), Citation in 1990s, aged 35.
- Tom SimpsonTom SimpsonTom Simpson was the most successful English road racing cyclist of the post-war years. He infamously died of exhaustion on the slopes of Mont Ventoux during the 13th stage of the Tour de France in 1967...
, Posthumous Citation in 1990s.
- Ian SteelIan SteelJohn "Ian" Steel is a Scottish racing cyclist who in 1952 won the Peace Race, an eastern European race between Warsaw, Berlin and Prague. He was the first Briton to win and the first to win any major race...
, Citation in 1990s, aged 62
- Les WestLes WestLes West was one of the dominant figures of amateur and professional cycling in Britain during the 1960 and 1970s. He won the Milk Race twice, came second in the world amateur road race championship and fourth in the world professional championship.-Early career:Born in Hanley, Staffordshire,...
(Leslie George West), Citation in 1990s.
- Ronald Robert WhiteRonald WhiteRonald "Ronnie" White was an African American soul singer and songwriter, notable as a founding member of The Miracles, and the only member to survive all of that group's line-up changes...
(Ron White), Citation in 1990s, aged 80+.
- Peter John WoodburnJohn WoodburnJohn Woodburn is a British road and time-trial cyclists and 2001 British Veteran on target time. He received his award from Eddy Merckx at the at the RTTC Champions Evening at Derby on 6 January 2001....
(John Woodburn), Citation in 1990s, aged 55.
- Sean YatesSean YatesSean Yates is an English former professional cyclist and head Directeur Sportif at Team Sky.-Career:Yates competed at the 1980 Summer Olympics, finishing sixth in the 4,000m individual pursuit. He also competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics...
, Citation in 1990s, aged 30.
- Roy CromackRoy CromackRoy Cromack was a racing cyclist who represented Britain in track races and in international road races such as the Peace Race. He was the first British cyclist to ride more than 500 miles in a 24-hour time trial....
, Citation in 1991, aged 51.
- Alfred EngersAlf EngersAlfred 'Alf' Robert Engers was an English racing cyclist who set national records and won national individual time trial championships from 1959 to the late 1970s. He established a British record of 49 minutes and 24 seconds in 1978, averaging 30.364 mph...
(Alf Engers), Citation in 1990s, aged ?.
- Alex MoultonAlex MoultonDr. Alexander Eric Moulton CBE is an English engineer and inventor, specialising in suspension design.Moulton is the great-grandson of the rubber pioneer Stephen Moulton, the founder of the family business George Spencer Moulton & Co...
(Alex Moulton), CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
signed the book when he was 71, circa 1991.
- Eileen Gray, O.B.E. Citation in 1991, aged 71.
- Beryl BurtonBeryl BurtonBeryl Burton, MBE OBE was an English racing cyclist and one of Britain's greatest ever athletes.She dominated women’s cycle racing in the UK, winning more than 90 domestic championships and seven world titles, and setting numerous national records...
, Second Citation in 1991, aged ?.
- Amanda Ellen JonesMandy JonesAmanda Ellen Jones is a former British racing cyclist who won the women's world road race championship in 1982.-Biography:Jones joined the West Pennine Road Club to ride on Sunday outings. She rode her first race in 1974 and five years later tied with Julie Earnshaw for first place in the national...
(Mandy Jones) won the world road race championshipUCI World ChampionshipsThe Union Cycliste Internationale organises UCI World Championships to determine world champion cyclists. These take place annually and are organized around nations rather than trade teams....
in 1982. She signed the Golden Book circa 1991, when she was 29.
- Roy CromackRoy CromackRoy Cromack was a racing cyclist who represented Britain in track races and in international road races such as the Peace Race. He was the first British cyclist to ride more than 500 miles in a 24-hour time trial....
was an all-rounder, winning championship medals from 4,000 metres on the track to 24 hours on the road. He competed in the road race at the 1968 Summer Olympics1968 Summer OlympicsThe 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
- Anthony Paul DoyleTony Doyle (cyclist)Anthony Doyle MBE is an English former professional cyclist.-Biography:Doyle was world pursuit champion in 1980 and 1986. He was a professional between 1980 and 1995, riding for British teams....
(Tony Doyle), Citation in 1992, aged 33.
- William Edward Squance (Bill Squance), Citation in 1992, aged ?.
- Charles William MessengerChas MessengerCharles William "Chas" Messenger was a British cyclist, a former Milk Race organiser and British road team manager.Messenger was born in London...
(Chas Messenger.), Citation in 1992, aged 88.
- Douglas Graham Obree (Graham Obree), Citation in 1995, aged 29.
- Richard William Ewart PooleDick PooleHerbert Richard Poole is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He was a centre for the Australian national team...
(Dick Poole), Citation in 1995, aged 63.
- Ronald Vincent Webb (Ron Webb), Citation in 1997.
- Harold George ScottHarold ScottSir Harold Richard Scott, GCVO, KCB, KBE was Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1945 to 1953.Scott was born in Dublin, England and raised in Bruton, Somerset. He was educated at Sexey's School and later Jesus College of the University of Cambridge...
(Harold Scott), Posthumous Citation in 1998, aged 87.