Hello all,
Steven Thomas from the list has been asking about this cycling great, hope this is of interest.
Eddie Soens the surname is probably Flemish in origin was one of the four surviving sons of James Soens born in 1872. James Soens is reputed to have started the first racing bike building business in Liverpool s just prior to the turn of the twentieth century. The business closed when he volunteered for service during the Great War at the age of 42. He survived the war unscathed and lived to the age of 84. His four sons were James, Thomas, Edward (Eddie) and Douglas.
The eldest son James opened a cycling shop in !936 building hand - built bicycles still trading today under the name of Pete Matthews. Tommy was a very good track rider as was Eddie, but Eddie Soens is best remembered as one of the greatest British cycling coaches of all time. Due to his influential training methods he helped win more British, Worlds and Olympic titles than any other British coach.
Eddie Soens had a bike shop in Liverpool for several years and this was called SoenSport their address was 110 Boaler Street, Liverpool, 6. During the early 60s their frames were extremely popular especially the track models. The models produced at the time were the Campionissimo road frame, 55 Time Trial Special, Vigorelli Sprinters Frame and the Roma Pursuit light track frame. Ron Spencer of the Warrington CC who was a very good timetrialist in the 60s rode an Eddie Soens bike. There is Eddie Soens memorable race run every year to honour his memory.
Be lucky Mick Butler Huntingdon UK
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