Simply amazing

[Rob_T]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffor...

[itsnotarace]

Incredible achievement given the equipment he used and on the roads he cycled on

[anonymous-user]

it does make you laugh when we fret about aero positions, nutrition, gear ratios and how we feel left out if we dont have cadence measuring heartrate monitors....

[TonyHetherington]

Wow.

That is amazing!

I recall Cav rides about 50k miles a year, to put it in perspective.

[Laurel Green]

BBC said:

At 14, he used to get on a bike in a pair of shoes he'd borrowed from the lady next door.

"He'd get on an iron-framed butcher's bike and cycle a road race of 25 miles and win it.

"He never bragged or told anyone. He was so unassuming and didn't want any fuss.

"All his cups and trophies, he gave away. It wasn't that he was ungrateful - he just didn't need any recognition.

"When they unveiled a plaque in his honour someone asked me what my dad would have said. I told them he wouldn't have turned up.

They certainly don't make them like that anymore!

[2volvos]

That's incredible - and very fitting for the time where heroes really had to perform feats that today no one would even contemplate. Too much instant gratification in today's world for anyone to take that on. A whole year? I mean come on.

A lot of the records set by cyclists in those days were amazing feats of strength and bloody mindedness. Just finished this book, which is a great read for anyone interested in that sort of thing. A few years old now but as an inspiration for getting out there it's brilliant.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/3621242/C...

[okgo]

TonyHetherington said:

Wow.

That is amazing!

I recall Cav rides about 50k miles a year, to put it in perspective.

Its amazing indeed.

LOL of course Cav doesn't ride 50k miles a year, who told you that?

[TonyHetherington]

50k kilometres, apologies! (so 31k miles)

[GreatGranny]

I've just read this. A great feat indeed.

My wifes Uncle used to be a serious cyclist in the 60s & 70s.

He used to cycle 35 miles a day to work and back and do a 12 hour shift as a tunneller.

He did this 5 days a week then train all day saturday and race sunday. Bonkers!