1946 Tour of the Mendips Race

[focomat 1c]

I am interested in finding some information about the Tour of the Mendips race ( in Somerset )

I came across it while reading a booklet about Reg Harris and his training methods . In it Harris refers to ' an 80 odd mile event
that was exceptionally tough due to the high number of stiff prime hills '

I don't know when the event was first held , or when it was last held . My hope is that someone may have a cycling magazine
from the period that mentions the event in some detail , particularly regarding the route and start/finish etc

Thanks for your help

 

[tangent]

interesting!...will ask around my Mendip friends. Never heard of this event before, but can guess at some of the climbs involved!...

 

[keithglos]

Re:

My first senior road race was the Tour of the Mendips April 1951. About 75 miles, start in Bristol, to Wells, I remember the large hailstones going down the long hill into Wells, and how warm the water from the road felt when we got to the flat roads.
The Western Section was all about up and down the Mendips, so I can't remember whether this one went up Cheddar gorge or a bigger hill a bit further along. Finally up Redhill on the Bridgewater Road into Bedminster Down and finishing in Winterstoke Road near the Bristol City Football ground. I finished in the leading group of 6, whether any others finished

Events like this were organised without any motor transport, all direction marshalls were volunteer cyclists who also placed direction arrows.

I was equipped with Cyclo Benelux gears, 47 x 50 and 13 to 21 giving an even range of close gears.

Keith

 

[tangent]

Re: Tour of Mendip Race

Thanks for sharing your Tour of Mendip memory...really cool

 

[kohl57@yahoo.com]

Re:

The V-CC on line library has a good number of 1946 copies of "Cycling" scanned complete, that would be a good place to start.

Peter Kohler
Washington, DC USA

 

[Old Ned]

Re: Re:

My first senior road race was the Tour of the Mendips April 1951. About 75 miles, start in Bristol, to Wells, I remember the large hailstones going down the long hill into Wells, and how warm the water from the road felt when we got to the flat roads.
The Western Section was all about up and down the Mendips, so I can't remember whether this one went up Cheddar gorge or a bigger hill a bit further along. Finally up Redhill on the Bridgewater Road into Bedminster Down and finishing in Winterstoke Road near the Bristol City Football ground. I finished in the leading group of 6, whether any others finished

Events like this were organised without any motor transport, all direction marshalls were volunteer cyclists who also placed direction arrows.

I was equipped with Cyclo Benelux gears, 47 x 50 and 13 to 21 giving an even range of close gears.

Keith

Reminds me a reading race reports in the BLRC 'Leaguer' magazine about similar events in North Wales where a motley assortment of riders of all abilities were sent off into the wilds of Snowdonia etc. with no motorised support. These races were very long (some well over 100miles) and I doubt that many riders actually completed the distance apart from the leading local riders of the day. Some may still be out there, their bones bleaching on the hillsides being gently nibbled by sheep.................... :twisted: :roll:

 

[focomat 1c]

Re:

Thanks for the various replies to my recent query about the route taken

Particularly to keith for his recollections which give me a general idea of the route

I think that my best bet would be to follow up peter's suggestion and check out the various magazine scans in the VCC on line library ,
however as I am no longer a member this is a bit of a problem !

I would be extremely grateful to any VCC member who would be prepared to have a look for me

Thanks again