Tony Bell
Encyclopedia
Tony Bell is a freelance writer and journalist, known for his whats he on column in Cycling Weekly
, where he was a columnist between 1994 and 2006. His popularity gained as a CW columnist led to engagements as an after-dinner speaker at cycling events.
Bell is also a serious reporter with a degree in politics
who has reported on race riots, gangland contracts, drugs wars and environmental and social issues in his native Merseyside
for The Independent
and The Observer
. Following a road accident in which several members of Rhyl cycling club were killed, Bell criticized the attitudes of those such as Jeremy Clarkson
, whose column in The Sun
he considered anti-cyclist, and what he saw as the cynical attitude of motorists. He called for a single organisation to represent cyclists in the UK to avoid such tragedies recurring.
Bell was also professional cyclist. He once held the mountains and points jerseys in the prestigious Mi-Août Bretonne
. He is the brother of former National Amateur and Professional Road Race Champion
Mark Bell
.
Bell lives in Chester
and supplements his income as a bus driver. He is writing an autobiography, provisionally called "Pinball", excerpts of which are on his web site.
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:...
, where he was a columnist between 1994 and 2006. His popularity gained as a CW columnist led to engagements as an after-dinner speaker at cycling events.
Bell is also a serious reporter with a degree in politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
who has reported on race riots, gangland contracts, drugs wars and environmental and social issues in his native Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
for The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
and The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
. Following a road accident in which several members of Rhyl cycling club were killed, Bell criticized the attitudes of those such as Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Clarkson
Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May...
, whose column in The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
he considered anti-cyclist, and what he saw as the cynical attitude of motorists. He called for a single organisation to represent cyclists in the UK to avoid such tragedies recurring.
Bell was also professional cyclist. He once held the mountains and points jerseys in the prestigious Mi-Août Bretonne
Mi-Août Bretonne
Mi-Août Bretonne is a French cycling road race that was established in 1960. It is held in the region of Brittany, France. It is rated 2.2 on the UCI Europe Tour. The original race ran from 1960-1966. It was then re-established in 1978 by Louis Bihannic...
. He is the brother of former National Amateur and Professional Road Race Champion
British National Road Race Championships
The British National Road Race Championships cover different categories of British road bicycle racing events, normally held annually.-History:...
Mark Bell
Mark Bell (cyclist)
Mark Bell was an English professional cyclist from Birkenhead. He rode for Britain in the Olympic Games, won the national road championship as an amateur and then a professional and was the first foreigner to win the Étoile de Sud stage race in Belgium. He died at 49 after collapsing at his home...
.
Bell lives in Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
and supplements his income as a bus driver. He is writing an autobiography, provisionally called "Pinball", excerpts of which are on his web site.