Re: [CR]Beryl Burton

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme:2007)

Subject: Re: [CR]Beryl Burton
From: "Morgan Fletcher" <morgan@hahaha.org>
To: Norris Lockley <norris@norrislockley.wanadoo.co.uk>
In-Reply-To: <000901c600c5$08efac00$d0dc4054@norris>
References: <000901c600c5$08efac00$d0dc4054@norris>
Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2005 08:25:42 -0800
cc: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
cc: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

On Wed, 2005-12-14 at 15:42 +0000, Norris Lockley wrote:
> Looking at those three new photos of Beryl at speed, it's very easy to
> conclude that she based her classic crouched style on that of "Maitre
> Jacques" Anquetil.a style that had helped him to more than a handful of
> victories against both the watch and high level competition.
> Fortunately, from the on-lookers' point of view Beryl did not copy
> Jacques' unusual toe-down pedalling style.
>
> The very "closed-leg" style probably resulted from the fashion..or more
> likely belief..that when the crank was at its bottom dead centre, the
> rider should be able to stretch the leg downwards, extend the foot even
> further and then scrape the heel of the shoe on the ground...of course
> that is with the bike upright and not in a cornering position.
> Anyhow..that was the way the Huddersfield lads used to do it..and of
> course the low bracket height, usually 10.25 to 10.5 " made it a little
> easier. I doubt whether we could manage the manoeuvre these days
> ..particularly with the arched shoe soles and clipless pedals.
>
> Dating ..or at least seteting a time sequence to the photos isn't too
> demanding, with Photo 3 being most certainly the earliest..dating from
> the 60s. The frame is again almost certainly a Jacques Anquetil (you can
> just make out the silver-foil seat-tube panel), a brand that Ron
> Kitching distributed in the UK during those years. The brakes are
> Balilla with the distinctive large hoods covering that odd QR button. A
> similar photo appears on page 225 of Ron's "Everything Cycling Handbook"
> for 1970/71, but Beryl is not identified as the cyclist. Bear in mind
> that Ron had sponsored Beryl with bikes for a long time..and she was
> invited to open Ron's new HQ in 1963.. During the same period Ron had
> co-sponsored other Pro riders and teams in the UK with "Anquetil"
> frames.
>
> Photos 2 and 4 are from later years, no earlier than the mid-70s at a
> guess. The frame ridden here is Ron Kitching one, painted in Ron's
> distinctive house colours of mid-green enamel with black and white
> panels/transfers. The lugs are probably Bocama and the tubing Vitus,
> with ends supplied by Zeus....all products that Ron distributed...and
> promoted very effectively. I reckon the frame would have been made by
> MKM...and used as a vehicle for Ron to promote his new brand. Until the
> manufacturing link-up with Mason and Metcalfe he had not produced frames
> with his own name. The workshop was on Skipton Road , Harrogate just a
> short ride along the road from Ron's warehouse.
>
> It is interesting to note the Weinmann 500 series brakes - the lightest
> on the market at the time - and even lighter if the already relatively
> flimsy stirrups were subjected to the "drillium" treatment that became
> fashionable.. The chainset is TA with a MASSIVE single ring, linked
> probably to a six-block at the back..gearing would most likely be Zeus.
> I recall Ron once explaining that although he had been successful in
> business, he could have done better. His point was that, at one time
> early in his importing career, he had been offered the Campagnolo
> franchise. He explained that because at the time he was very much into
> French equipment thanks to his link with Andre Bertin, and their shared
> Milremo brand, he had opted to stay with the Huret brand. Much later he
> was to take on Zeus...but failed in his attempts to place it on the same
> level, quality and price-wise as Campag.
>
>
> As has been pointed out, Beryl owed a tremendous amount to her husband
> Charley - no mean rider himself by all accounts. Although he acted as
> coach, trainer, chauffeur (when they actually manged to afford a car)
> mechanic, he was also a training partner.The fact that Beryl could hold
> down a full-time arduous job with Ned Carline - himself a phenomenal
> mile-eater- and perform as well as she did. was due in no small part to
> the fact that everything, going to work, taking holidays etc was done on
> the bike, as very few cyclists had cars in the 50s and 60s.
>
>
> Norris Lockley, Settle uK

Norris, thank you for the excellent write-up on Beryl Burton, her bikes, and bikes of that era. Is there a good book on her that you'd recommend? I'd like to read more about her.

Morgan P.S. Please pardon the long quote. -- Morgan Fletcher, morgan@hahaha.org Oakland, CA, USA