Ok, here you all are largely in the UK: and here this is a retro bike forum.
Was
Reg Harris mentioned?? :shock:
Guy retired and then came back some 20 years later to race again on his same old cycle from 20 years earlier and still had a punch. Something like that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reg_Harris
Major Taylor, early African American cyclist in the USA. Early part of the century, like the 1900s. Back then, cycling was vying for the public's attention along with other sport before some sport like American Football/Gridiron got established. Pole sitting was actually a sport a long time ago. Major Taylor raced in the days, though I don't know the exact timeline, when the Madison was raced, he did some riding in those types of events though it was considered a bit "vulgar", 2 bios out on the guy.
The "Dog in the Hat" book is fine by the cyclist,
Joe Parkin. This is sort of an "honourable mention", it's not like the guy has real palmares but wrote an informative book.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rVItnnrpuX0/S ... in+Hat.jpg He's a hero to me in telling me about the Kermis races in Belgium, that is one fascinating and exciting topic. Sounds like a real ultimate in racing.
I've gotta put
Lance in there, I think after this Tour but not so much the Lance of 7 straight TdF's because like many, I wonder. He seemed to be basically a good guy on this last tour. He also phoned John Hartson who came down with testicular cancer and thankfully, has come out of critical care. Don't mean to bump this thread up that someone hasn't posted in in a while but it's like a "favourite song" thread and can continue to be active. Lance has kind of gone from being the super favourite to being the big underdog one cheers for in a sporting event.
Before we Americans had some of our successes beginning with Lemond, John Marino rode the Road Across America (RAAM, lots of retro Peugeots in that book of which I believe he rode across America on one for a record setting pace) and he wrote a book on bicycling. I kind of like John for the book. Though, he's rather obscure.
I'm sure there are others but these come to mind.
Oh, yes, and Joop, because my very first real Road Bicycle is an early 1980s Raleigh, 531 tubing... and it's got a Tour De France decal on it for a Raleigh bicycle winning the Tour De France, I think that is the 1980 tour.
Joop Zoetemelk .