Cycling UK Forum

I've just had one of the oddest cycling related experiences ever!
I've always longed to own a Jack Taylor frame, for as long as I've been cycling. The Taylor's were pretty local to me, and I liked the idea of the local connection, as well as brilliant workmanship. Anyway, I've been studying at the local university for five years now, and have made good friends with a couple of part-time colleagues. I rode in the other day, and one of these colleagues remarked on the nippy weather, and the fact that I 'must be keen'. On the same subject, she pipes up, 'Yeah, my grandad and his brothers were all keen cyclists...they even used to make their own frames'. I'm all ears by now..'The Taylor brothers, have you heard of them?' I was bowled over. I've been sitting next to this woman for five years, and might never have made the connection, had it not been for my gear. I was staggered at the coincidence of it.
Anyway, I'm no closer to owning a frame, but it was still a fabulously fortuitous moment. Her name, ironically, is J. Taylor. I hope she wins the lottery - I'll beg her to finance me to start up the family business again!

I had a similar experience.....worked for years with a woman before finding out that she was the cousin of Hugh Porter the BBC cycling commentator. Despite my banging on about cycling at any and every chance she didn't think that I'd be at all interested that she had a relation in the biz. Unfortunately, despite these connections I still couldn't wangle any free tickets to the velodrome.

Si wrote:I had a similar experience.....worked for years with a woman before finding out that she was the cousin of Hugh Porter the BBC cycling commentator. And twice winner of the pro world pursuit championship Despite my banging on about cycling at any and every chance she didn't think that I'd be at all interested that she had a relation in the biz. Unfortunately, despite these connections I still couldn't wangle any free tickets to the velodrome.

Fame's a fickle thing. Perhaps she was more impressed by Mrs Porter's achievements?

thirdcrank wrote:

Si wrote:I had a similar experience.....worked for years with a woman before finding out that she was the cousin of Hugh Porter the BBC cycling commentator. And twice winner of the pro world pursuit championship Despite my banging on about cycling at any and every chance she didn't think that I'd be at all interested that she had a relation in the biz. Unfortunately, despite these connections I still couldn't wangle any free tickets to the velodrome.

Fame's a fickle thing. Perhaps she was more impressed by Mrs Porter's achievements?

She kept her surname, ( Lonsbrough - Porter ) 'cus she would fade into obscurity if she took the name of a twopenny-hapenny cyclist.

To show just how fickle fame is - I've checked and Hugh P actually took four rainbow jerseys.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UCI_Track_ ... al_pursuit

Up there with some other big names like Fausto Coppi. Talking of others on that list, I remember a certain Chris Boardman being on A Question of Sport a few years ago. The answer to one of his "home" questions was "Hugh Porter" and a very embarrassed Chris B got it wrong.

Still have my 1975 JT Clubman bike, handed over to me personally by the brothers at the York Rally. Get it out for a spin every now and again - still beautifully light and responsive, despite huge clearances for those tractor-sized dimpled alloy mudguards they used to fit, and enormous fork rake. Characteristic little accidental wobbles in the hand-applied highlighting lines round the lugs etc. The original wheels were rubbish, however - at the time they were using a (now happily long-defunct) British rim maker whose name escapes me. Soon replace them with Weinmann concaves built by Pat Hanlon in Harrogate on large-flange Campag Record hubs. Those I still have. Lovely bike though.

thirdcrank wrote:To show just how fickle fame is - I've checked and Hugh P actually took four rainbow jerseys.

Up there with some other big names like Fausto Coppi.

My only rainbow jerseys are the one's my grand-daughter has drawn on....

fausto copy