Not even a fistfull of seatpost!

[Patrick Moore]

I have to admit that a small part of my motive for posting this photo is to yank the "just ride" chain -- even though as I age, my riding is more and more "just ride", but that's not the only reason. Other reasons below.

The photo comes from a post to the CR list by an ancient member (reminds me of The Oldest Member character in the PG Wodehouse stories, or "Uncle Tom" in Rumpole) who was racing in the 1950s. Per the discussion, that half-fistful was normal, extended seatposts were "ridiculous" and big frames were "more comfortable."

But the main reason is that Beryl Burton -- always an amateur and never a professional, a working (manual farm worker, in fact; she pulled rhubarb among other things) mother (she rode to the hospital to bear her daughter) with a working mother's schedule -- beat the men and the professionals for 25 years, and really ought to be as well known as Eddy Merckx. And there is a well known photo of her at speed on the shoulder of a '60s British highway with a 1X5: the "one" is about 56 t and the "five" looks like a 14-18. 

And the final reason is personal. We each of us severally have our own reasons for our own cycling preferences, partly practical, partly merely personal and idiosyncratic. I cut my baby teeth of cycling interest in the late 1960s and early 1970s on old Brit cycling literature that I found in the Nairobi municipal library; books that told you about ankling and steel frames getting soft with age and wearing silk socks or none at all under your Rivats in order to remove all slop that would slow you down. All nonsense, but still, part of an era. 

But all of that aside, Beryl remains a person and cyclist worth looking up.

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

[☆ Paul ☆]

Hello Patrick,

Thanks for posting. This is awesome! My 11-year-old daughter is looking over my shoulder and she agrees.

The root of the word "amateur" is "love" in latin. An amateur is someone who does something out of love. It's sad that a professional somehow earns more respected in our culture than doing something that you are passionate about — without pay, without recognition, just because you love it. The latter is the more courageous course.

(I do think I need a bit more seatpost than that.)

❤️

[Patrick Moore]

By Gary Boulanger, who as early on associated with Rivendell:

https://www.bikemag.com/pavedmag/5-reasons-why-she-was-beryl-burton-and-you-couldnt-have-held-her-wheel/

And (1X5):

[lconley]

Way back in the 80's, I was living in Gainesville, FL and was in the best cycling condition of my life. There was a rather fast U of F student by the name of Jeanne Golay who would occasionally ride with the cycling club - couldn't keep up with her. I think she later won three US Road Racing Championships and a lot of other races.

Laing

Delray Beach, FL

[Joel Stern]

So then my Bleriot is not too big for me.. It is Grant style sizing. Great picture, thanks Patrick.

[Nick Payne]

I have a copy of her autobiography, signed by her - she spent several weeks here in Canberra in 1988, getting away from the British winter, and I met her at a couple of the local time trials. Here's a link to an article that our local newspaper cycling columnist of the time wrote during her visit: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/101979374

[JAS]

Patrick,
Thanks so much for posting this information and to the others who added to it. What an amazing rider! I wasn’t aware of her or her many accomplishments in cycling, all while carrying on the responsibilities of wage earning and family care. Now when I’m feeling tired on a long hill, I’m going to sing out “yippee” and think of her pulling ahead with renewed energy. Maybe it will work for me too!
—Joyce

[Patrick Moore]

My favorite anecdote is that about her setting a new 12-hour time trial record in 1967, which she did, but she also beat the men's record. She caught up and passed the men's favorite and, as she passed him, legend relates, she offered him a piece of candy (liquorice allsort) to keep up his energy, which he graciously accepted with the vernacular, "Ta, luv."

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[Dan Vee]

Awesome stories