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| 25 Mile Championship |
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| Charlie's bike |
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| Click images for larger version |
A big thank you to friend of the blog Paul Gittins who has sent in some great scan's and information about Charlie McCoy's record ride.
Paul adds the following information:-
"I've found some photos in old Sporting Cyclist mags of Melling Wheelers star Charlie McCoy riding his Eddie Soens '55 Special' - so named because he did a competition record 55-01 riding it. Whether the name came before or after the ride I can't say! The record ride photo (in the May 1962 issue) was taken by Melling Wheelers stalwart Ken Matthews during his record ride on the D1 Chester by-pass course on a very wet day. The 25 Championship start photo and the bike detail photo were in the August 1962 issue and taken by Roy Green. It is interesting to note that the 'Eddie Soens' name has been removed on both photos in the dark room to avoid the RTTC's punitive anti-advertising legislation. The detail photo shows the Campagnolo single chainring chainguard used to prevent the unintentional derailing of a chain when using a single large ring. I had one once, goodness knows where it went! Charlie rode 56 x 14-18 which was considered a very large gear in those days and is using the original TA cranks with the 'triangular' axle and a Campagnolo Gran Sport gear. His bike is White and rumour had it (at least in my circle of friends) that Eddie would only let you have a White frame if you were a 'fast man' well under the hour. I marshalled this event - the first 'proper' time trial I'd seen - and it was one of the very few times I saw him in action."
Any further information about Charlie, please contact merseysidebicycles@gmail.com
I rode the event promoted by the LTTCA on 3rd September 1961 as a seventeen year old and did a P.B. Charlie also won first handicap and his total winning was four quid. Oh and a certificate for leading the second team!
ReplyDeleteReally interesting to read the info about Charly McCoy, I had just joined the Melling Wheelers in September 1961, Charly was a big hero to look up to for me as a seventeen year-old. Some years later when Charly retired he sold his 'stuff' and I bought the silk jersey he wore in the 55.01 ride, and other rides. What may be forgotten is that he was suspended by the RTTC because the original photos in CYCLING showed the name "Eddie Soens" on Charly's frame. Would you believe a local power crazy "official" called Bill Barrow, instead of celebrating competition record actually reported Charly to the RTTC for breach of a petty rule. Charly was selected for the Commonwealth Games but was likely to be suspended which would prevent him training, or even competing. It's a far cry from the encouragement riders receive today, thankfully such stupid rules from the pre-war years have been scrapped. Lots of riders, including me, had white frames in the same colour scheme, Eddie Soens didn't discourage anyone, he gave huge help to many right up to his death in the 80s. A great guy! Geoff Magnay.
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