British Transport Films: Cyclists Special

[tim-b]

Hi
Anyone starring in this film?
Regards
tim-b

[mjr]

Essentially little has changed except less cycle carriage on trains but you couldn't do those tours today, with the A14 quasi motorway having cut up the Naseby battlefield and so on.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
I love it
Plenty of propaganda there, Corny to!
What no rain, not my experience on CTC rides.

[NetworkMan]

Interesting that they quote a gear range of 29-82 inches. I reckon that's a sensible choice for a touring bike with (only!) 10 speeds.

[pete75]

Hi
Anyone starring in this film?
Regards
tim-b

No but the woman in an orange top at 3:10 looks like Kate Moss the fashion model. Probably isn't though as Moss is only in her forties.

[yostumpy]

I have watched this many times, normally when I'm laid up for some reason. Gives me inspiration .

[Grandad]

Spotted 2 ex clubmates - one is still riding, lost touch with the other.

[Greystoke]

that's just fab

[Oldjohnw]

What a delight.

The territory I grew up in. As a teenager in the 1960s it was not unusual to ride 80-100 miles on my 'racer'. Only ordinary clothing plus a cape for bad weather.

How come it is now essential for us to spend thousands on a bike then thousands more on additional kit?

[Bonefishblues]

Excellent.

Foxton flight is re-opened these days, which is good - I guess that the mid 50s were pretty much the nadir for canals.

[PH]

For all the differences, those riders would still recognise the rides CTC groups organise every week as the same thing.
I did a CTC club ride to Foxton Locks from Derby in the summer, quiet lanes, good cafes, some similar clothing and maybe even a bike of the same vintage.

[atoz]

Truly a piece of the past. I suspect it looked old-fashioned when it was first released. No sign of brighly coloured racing jerseys. It could have been filmed in the 1930s, but was actually quite a bit later- well into postwar.

I know that the modern trend to look smarter than the actual pro peloton when out for a leisurely run is a bit OTT, but you've only got to look at this film to be thankful for progress- lol.

Reference to the film crops up in Hutch's book "re cyclists"- worth a read. I also like the description of League and NCU cyclists coming across each other- one lot says "up the League" and the other says "**** the League". Lots of gems like that..

[Grandad]

It could have been filmed in the 1930s, but was actually quite a bit later- well into postwar.

Late 1950s

[yostumpy]

8th may, 1955.

[Grandad]

8th may, 1955

That's why I couldn't join my 2 clubmates as I was half way through doing 2 years National Service