Beryl Burton and Graham Webb at the World Amateur Road Race Champions in 1967
If you're even faintly interested in the history of bike racing (in all its many, various, weird and wonderful forms) in Britain, then you might want to take a look at what governing body British Cycling has come up with for its 50th anniversary.
Founded as the British Cycling Federation in 1959, British Cycling has been the governing body of cycle racing in the UK for 50 years, although it's only been so for mountain biking since the BMBF was assimilated in 1996. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, BC has lanched a "50 Years of British Cycling" section on its website, recalling memorable moments in cycle sport's history from Beryl Burton's successes in the Sixties through to Team GB in the Beijing Olympics and the recent prominence of British riders in the Tour de France.
Visitors to the British Cycling website are encouraged to submit their cycling memories, whether they are recollections of unforgettable cycling performances, interesting rider encounters or personal moments they associate with the sport. Over the next few months, the most interesting and touching memories will be published on the British Cycling website.
Brian Cookson, President of British Cycling, says: "Our 50th Anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on our journey as the national governing body and on the incredible progress our sport has made. We welcome contributions from the public, whether in the form of memoirs, iconic images or unique footage, as we reflect on cycling not just as a sport discipline but as an activity that enriches people's lives."
If you're just interested in mountain biking then you won't need to look at anything earlier than the 1990s, when British riders did really quite well in the then-fledgling UCI World Cup series. You can find all of the 50th anniversary retrospective pages at http://new.britishcycling.org.uk/50th-anni.
