Cyclist Records

OLDEST WINNING BIKE RIDER:

A number of cyclists have won races in their 50's, but Clive Gribble (NSW) probably set
a record by winning the 100 miles (160.934 km) Nyngan-Dubbo professional open race in
1966 when he was 60 years of age. Gribble who contested his 22nd Warrnambool road race in
1967, had recovered from a stroke which paralysed one side of his body, to win the big race.

YOUNGEST RECORD-BREAKER:

Six-year-old Stephen Wilkinson of Darwin, who on January 3, 1968, rode from
Brisbane to Southport (50 miles or 80.467 km) in 5&1/2 hours—surprising Gold Coast Mayor
Bruce Small by arriving one hour ahead of schedule. Small was manager of the great Hubert
Opperman. Another young record-breaker was 13 year-old Alee Foster also of Darwin, who
rode 500 miles (804.670 km) non-stop in the NT in less than five days in 1967.

LIGHTEST AUSTRALIAN CYCLING COMPETITOR:

Snowy Munro, 7 st, (44.5 kg), who at the age of 17 broke the
Warrnambool race record in 1903. Albert Uyeda, of Sydney, billed as the "flying flea", won
races in the 1940's on "an absurdly small bike". Uyeda was 8 st. (51kg).

CATAPULTED TO VICTORY:

In 1934 at Pratten Park, Sydney, the complete field of 13 riders fell a few metres before
the finish of a race. D. Blackman, who was catapulted over the finishing line and suspended
on the safety fence was declared the winner.

MOST HANDICAPPED RIDERS:

Several one-armed riders have ridden with success in Australia, and at least two one-
legged riders. Officially, the professional Federal Council (on a NSW motion) barred
limbless riders in 1911.

TALLEST AUSTRALIAN CYCLIST:

Terry Casemore (Vic) who raced in the late 'forties. He was 6 ft 7 ins tall (200.66 cm),
used a 67.31 cm or 26&1/2 inch (length of seat bar) frame, compared to normal 22 or 23 inch
(55.88 or 58.42cm).

LIGHTEST WOMAN CHAMPION:

"Billie" Samuel who tipped the scales at 6 st 7 Ib (41.5 kg) when she set Sydney-
Melbourne-Sydney road records in 1934.

WORLD "ONE YEAR" CHAMPION:

Tasmanian-born Ossie Nicholson rode 62,855 miles (101,155.314 km) in a year to
capture the world record for 12 months' pedalling. Nicholson had settled in Melbourne
when he achieved this record.

MOST INGENIOUS CHEATS:

A rider once won a NSW classic event by towing himself along behind a truck with a long
length of piano wire between his teeth. The other end was fastened to a fast-moving truck,
driven by an accomplice. A NSW road race was allegedly won by a twin who substituted for
his tired brother near the finish.

STRANGEST TRAINING METHOD:

Old-time champion, George Dotzauer, was fined in court for training late at night
around the West Melbourne swamps, without a light.

MOST EMBARRASSING WINNERS:

NSW women cyclists Barbara Whitcher (Newcastle) and Margaret McLachlan
(Dulwich Hill) were barred from racing against male cyclists in their clubs after winning
several events.

TRIPLE DEAD-HEAT:

Only recorded triple dead-heat in an important amateur or professional cycling event, occurred
at McCabe Park (then a dirt track), Wollongong, NSW, in February, 1945. The judges
declared an official triple dead-heat in the City of Wollongong Wheel Race (one mile or
1609.34 m) when they could not separate Cecil Fuller (later to win the Victory 1000 mile
(1609.344 km) Tour of NSW in 1945), Ern Johnson and Cecil Cripps. The three riders split
prize money for the first three places.

MUNICH GAMES SUCCESS:

Australian cycling results in 1972 were remarkable. It was the only country with placings in
the first four in all individual events. Clyde Sefton's silver medal in the road race was our first
medal in this race. All the Australian road riders finished before or with the main bunch. On
an unofficial points-score Australia finished second to Russia.

GREATEST AUSTRALIAN 6-DAY RIDER:

Reginald ("Roger") Arnold (NSW). Despite the loss of an eye, Arnold won a
total of 16 six-day teams races in Europe and the US to make him our most prolific winner of
these cycling marathons. He began racing in 1941, aged 16. Arnold and the Sydney road rider
Alt Strom, 29, worked their passages across to Europe in 1945 to attempt to break into the
big-time. After winning 6-day races at New York, Berlin (2), Antwerp (2) and London
between 1949 and 1952, Arnold won 10 more "sixes" in Europe with nine different partners.
He won several big races in Australia between 1953 and 1954, and retired soon after winning
the Essen 6-day race in 1961.

BEST FAMILY CYCLING RECORD:

The Beasleys, J.J., Clinton, Vin, Vin jnr, and John, of Vic. J.J. Beasley was a champion
in the 1906-26 period who won big races against internationals, was one of the all-time greats
of Australian cycling. His son, Vin, won a Warrnambool road classic (1952). Clinton
("Clinker") and John, like their father, rode from scratch in Warrnambool road races, with
Clinton gaining fastest time in 1935 and John winning the Victorian 150 miles (241.401 km)
championship in 1951 and several big tours and competing overseas. Vin jnr won a Latrobe
Wheel Race.

LIONEL COX'S MEDALS:

With Charlie Bazzano (London Olympics sprint representative), Lionel Cox was the best
amateur sprinter produced in NSW in the decade after World War II. After winning state and
national titles, he won the 1952 Olympic sprint silver medal (beaten by Italian Enzo Sacchi)
and with Mockridge won the tandem gold medal (beating a South African combination in
the final).

GOLD MEDALLIST KILLED:

Lindsay Cocks (Vic) won the Commonwealth Games 10 miles (16.093km) gold medal at

Vancouver in 1954, being killed in a car crash in France a few years later.