Bedfordshire Cycling
Bedfordshire, Cycling & the Olympics.
In the 1880s the invention of the safety bicycle - with pneumatic tyres, rear chain drive and equal-sized wheels – helped to change cycling from a pastime into a sport. Possibly due to its fairly flat terrain and long main roads such as the A1 and A5, Bedfordshire has produced several famous cyclists and one Olympian in Victoria Pendleton. Cycling was included in the first modern Olympics in 1896 and has been a premier event ever since. Mountain biking was added in 1996, followed by BMX in 2008.
Victoria Louise Pendleton, MBE, of Stotfold (born 1980) won a gold medal in the cycling sprint at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She has also been highly successful in other events, winning gold at the World Championships (9 medals) and at the European Championships (2 medals) and Commonwealth Games (1 medal) (Picture courtesy Central Bedfordshire Council.)
Dan Albone of Biggleswade (1860-1906) was not only a racing cyclist,but ran the Ivel Cycle Works in his home town. In the early 1900s he developed one of the first motor tractors as well as a forerunner of the tank.
This 1890s greetings' cardgently pokes fun at female cyclists. The new safety bicycle and the development of a range of cycling clothing for women meant that by this time both sexes could enjoy the sport. (ref PM3009 part).
The Leighton Buzzard Christian Endeavour outing to the Bridgewater Monument, Ashridge Park, Herts., c.1903. Cycle trips like this were very popular a century ago; there was little road traffic then and men and women could exercise in the fresh air with the prospect of a picnic as well. (ref: Z650/1).
The start of a bicycle race at Sandy, c.1890. These men are riding the ordinary or penny-farthing bicycle, far more dangerous and difficult to ride than the safety bicycle. Riders often came a cropper by going head-first over the handlebars. (ref: X746/2)
Arthur Gell of Bedford (1874-1955) was one of the County's most successful racing cyclists. He won the Bedfordshire five mile championship in 1896-98, as well as the one mile Championship cup outright in 1903. He also raced in the West Country and Europe, and ran a cycle and motoring business in the town for sixty years. (ref: BTNegM8/54/1)
John Charles Cole (above), popularly known as Charlie Cole, of Dunstable (1900-c1985) was a racing cyclist throughout his life; in old age he competed in veterans' events. (ref: Z537/18/17)
Cycling is encouraged today as good exercise and as a green form of transport, but in 1934 this journey from Stoke Newington to Biggleswade by A. W. Hammond (a round trip of 90 miles) proved too ambitious. We don't know why Hammond was attending Court; records show that he was not indicted, so possibly he was a witness!(ref: HF147/44/4)
