SF Edge (far left) sits on the back of an Olympia tandem at the Crown public house, Selsey for the Whitsun Tour event in the early 1900s.
BROOKLANDS BY BICYCLE
Brooklands has a long-running history with cycling that began with many of its pioneering racers and continues to the present.
Words: Bob French Photos: Brooklands Museum Collection/Bob French
of those drivers, riders and pilots who would go on to become highly regarded in cars, on motorcycles and in the air were competing on bicycles. In hindsight, the progression from bicycles to powered vehicles is obvious as so many young men and women looked to satisfy their desire for speed and competition. Until the car became more established in the 20th Century, bicycles were the
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he connection between Brooklands and cycling is one that runs deep. Even before the track was opened in 1907, many
fastest form of transport other than steam railway. Names such as Fournier, AV Roe, the O’Donovans and SF Edge all began on pedal cycles before graduating to machinery with more power than a pair of human legs. Early events held on the Continent showed the ability of British cyclists, such as Edge setting the 50- and 100-mile records on a tricycle and tandem tricycle. He then went on to score third place in the first Bordeaux to Paris race on 23 May, 1891. This was a gruelling 360-mile race between the Café Mazarin, Bordeaux to the Porte Maillot in the French capital. It was won by GP Mills in 26hrs
BROOKLANDS BULLETIN | MARCH - APRIL 2020
34mins, while Edge came home third in 30hrs 13mins. With that kind of determination, it goes some way to explaining why Edge was able to go on to claim the 24 Hour record at Brooklands in the Napier, covering 1581 miles 1310 yards. He also continued to cycle as a means of keeping fit as motor racing grew more demanding on its drivers. Two months after Edge’s record-setting run in the Napier, the first bicycle race was held at Brooklands. This was a 100-mile race with a massed start. This type of start had been banned for road racing in Britain since 1895, so there was a great deal of
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