What fantastic footage - Thank You !! 1953, the year of my birth (as well as other greats such as Tony Blair and Michael Portillo) !! Did anyone else notice the few glimpses of the dapper start/finish announcer - Jimmy Saville !!! I really enjoyed, especially, the scenes crossing into Scotland at the top of Carter Bar. Crowds as big as The Kelloggs and PruTour in more recent times. Until recently one of my own favourite rides was an evening "cross-border raid" from here in Hawick, up to the border and back down again. Believe me, it is usually a lot more quiet than this. Many Thanks for a great piece of much-needed (in these nasty Covid times) nostalgia.
Jimmy Saville was an amateur racer at the time riding under the name of Oscar Saville. He had the latest equipment including index gearing when most of the peleton in Britain were still using 5 speed friction changes. One wonders whether the disreputable conduct that disgraced his later years was occurring in 1953 or perhaps came in the 1960s with the birth (then) of the 'permissive' age. Life seemed to me more moral years ago than now.
Thank you, and how refreshing to see cyclists not wearing lycra with aerodynmic helmets and hoards of cars and support vehicles behind. No clip-ins, but the tell-tale straps of the rat-traps. No electronic shifting - just good proper racing.
What fantastic footage - Thank You !!
1953, the year of my birth (as well as other greats such as Tony Blair and Michael Portillo) !!
Did anyone else notice the few glimpses of the dapper start/finish announcer - Jimmy Saville !!!
I really enjoyed, especially, the scenes crossing into Scotland at the top of Carter Bar.
Crowds as big as The Kelloggs and PruTour in more recent times.
Until recently one of my own favourite rides was an evening "cross-border raid" from here in Hawick, up to the border and back down again.
Believe me, it is usually a lot more quiet than this.
Many Thanks for a great piece of much-needed (in these nasty Covid times) nostalgia.
Jimmy Saville was an amateur racer at the time riding under the name of Oscar Saville. He had the latest equipment including index gearing when most of the peleton in Britain were still using 5 speed friction changes. One wonders whether the disreputable conduct that disgraced his later years was occurring in 1953 or perhaps came in the 1960s with the birth (then) of the 'permissive' age. Life seemed to me more moral years ago than now.
Just wonderful!
I was born in 1955.....I grew up on Schwinn & Raleigh bicycles.....
thanks for sharing this beautiful archive.
YES ABSOLUTELY!
Wow Doug Petty 3rd over the top at Holme Moss. Doug got me into cycling as a boy I still ride today. He gave his life to the sport.
Hey let's schedule a 1600 mile road race without any road closures. Oncoming traffic will make it more exciting!
Back when cars hardly ever ran you over
Love the 1950s cheesy background music.
this film was a made in 1953 !!!
Thank you, and how refreshing to see cyclists not wearing lycra with aerodynmic helmets and hoards of cars and support vehicles behind. No clip-ins, but the tell-tale straps of the rat-traps. No electronic shifting - just good proper racing.
jimmy savile at 1,56 commentating
14.00 John Laurie ( Dads Army , Fraser ) commentating . ☺