Vintage Bike Ride Commemorating Shay Elliott - Saturday 22nd June, Wicklow

Brendan Hennessy

In 1963 Shay Elliott took the yellow jersey in the Tour de France by winning the 3rd stage to Roubaix - he wore the jersey for the following three days. This was a fantastic achievement in the golden age of cycling and wouldn't it be great to commemorate it with a vintage run on the 50th anniversary.

What is proposed is a vintage bike ride meeting at 10am at The Beehive Inn on the N11 South of Wicklow on Saturday the 22nd of June. The spin will travel along Deputy's Pass with, depending on feedback, perhaps two routes one of 50miles and the other about 80miles - both preferably taking in the Shay Elliott climb and a stop in Laragh - finishing back at The Beehive.

Riders are encouraged to bring their old steel bikes, woolen jerseys, toe clips, lace up cycle shoes, and mass start caps - whatever! - the older the better, to engender the spirit of the golden age. The bringing of any memorabilia is also encouraged.

The spirit of this event is a club style spin marking Shay Elliott's great achievement 50 years ago. This is an informal ride so no fees are attached, cyclists are reminded to wear their helmets, bring their own supplies, obey the rules of the road, look out for each other & enjoy themselves.

Feedback welcome - why not share some golden age memories or photos - or post a pic of your bike for the ride. Feel free to share the word.

In the meantime the following article based on Graham Healy's book on Shay Elliott will be of interest: http://www.cyclismas.com/2011/11/the-flahute/

Best wishes,

Brendan

Slo_Rida

Sounds AWESOME!
No notion of me getting up for it but the very best of luck with it...

happytramp

Excellent idea. Well done.

Brendan Hennessy

Thanks folks,

A bit of momentum building up - do spread the word.

Anybody got a vintage british thread headset - someting suitable for a 50's ligweight preferbaly. Also looking for Campagnolo Gran Sport parts.

Brendan

monkeyslayer

Need a photographer? I'd love to do this...

Brendan Hennessy

Hi Monkeyslayer,

A friend is hoping to come up from Cork with a camera too - but, in the spirit of the spin, why not come along too. I hope there will be plenty to photo too. If anyone notices silvo and brillo pad sales spike it'll be a sure sign of chrome!

Brendan

monkeyslayer

Cool might do, I don't drive so if can figure out the logistics i'll be down

happytramp

Surely this would seem like an ideal opportunity for Tax Man to dust off some of those vintage beauties!

The tax man

Hope to bring the oldest of the collection,that would be the Road Ace.
Not sure stuff from the 90's is considered "vintage."

hesker

Great idea. Would be there but I'm moving house that weekend. Best of luck.

ThreeBlindMice

My old butted Reynolds is now a "fixie". :mad:

redzerredzer

OP, will you lend me a vintage bike?

Inquitus

ThreeBlindMice wrote: »

My old butted Reynolds is now a "fixie". :mad:

And your penance is to ride this on it!

Brendan Hennessy

Hi Redzer x 2,

Much as I'd love to I think they may all be called on already - unless of course you fancy a pre-war fixie. I could put a freewheel on it. Now there's a penance for any crime inquitus!

Hopefully others may be willing, get looking in those sheds.

Brendan

Dermot Illogical

What sort of gradients are we talking here? I may have a choice of one suitable steel bike that day and it's running 48x16.

Brendan Hennessy

Ah Dermot, Illogical indeed!

The spin will go over Glenmalure, so while not to rule a fixed wheel out, you would be walking.

But that's the spirit of the day doing old roads on old bikes. 48 x 16 would be pushing it however, so I'd recommend hiking boots also. A derailleur and freewheel would probably be better though.

Brendan

Dermot Illogical

You've convinced me. I'll do it.
Thanks!

Daithi BC

I'd love to do this, but will be away on holidays that weekend. If anyone's interested in doing a recce beforehand, let me know.

happytramp

Dermot Illogical wrote: »

You've convinced me. I'll do it.
Thanks!

Just concentrate on how awesome you'll look and it'll be grand....

Dermot Illogical

happytramp wrote: »

Just concentrate on how awesome you'll look and it'll be grand....

Just need to take a trip to Carroll's gift shop for a flat cap and I'll be sorted. Already know how to walk on hills.

studiorat

got a map of that route anyone?

Beehive over Drumgoff before Laragh and back how?

Brendan Hennessy

Hi all,

Route being mapped and will post shortly. Ideally would like to keep people together over the Shay Elliott climb and then offer the option of a longer spin for those who wish and a shorter return to the start for those ready for home. Hoping to have both an 80mile and 50mile route. In the meantime check if your derailleurs can handle 42x28!

Dáithí BC - will let you know if I'll be up for a recce.

Thanks for the interest,

Brendan

25sean

looking forward to this event.. good few mates up for it too, all sporting vintage bikes and kits..

based in dublin so would like to pedal out to it and back.. not overly concerned with distance, once not too far beyond 120/130 kms. i think your based further south brendan, are you

anyhow.. spreading the word.. up on bray wheelers site forum as well..

let us know if you need any help

thanks

Brendan Hennessy

Hi Folks,

I spent the last hour trying to upload this ad. I hope you enjoy it!







Jacques-Anquetil-1962-1 by Didawah, on Flickr

happytramp

lWhile we're at it..... Shay leading the way for Jacques Anquetil at the 1960 Giro.

The tax man

Although it's 30yrs old,my ride looks way too modern for this event.



Some of you eagle eyed viewers might spot some differences since I last posted the Road Ace.(ignore saddle\water bottle)

happytramp

I'm no eagle eyed viewer but that 20(22) rear cog needs to go.....

happytramp

Also, I'm no dic*head either but surely you could find somewhere more epic to photo your bikes instead of in front of you're kitchen/bananas, no?

Btw..... this thread needs more bike pictures.

Dura Ace

The following video shows Shay's win in the 1959 Het Volk.

http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/retro/retro_voorjaarsklassiekers/retro_omloop_hnb/MV_120224_HNB_1959

It was posted a while ago on the Facebook page set up for the Shay book

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Shay-Elliott-The-Life-and-Death-of-Irelands-First-Yellow-Jersey/211927275513457?hc_location=stream

Brendan Hennessy

Fear not tax man

Your bike is just perfect for the event - nice memories too as I had one myself!

Dura-ace thanks for the link, looking forward to checking it out later.

Agree Happytramp, - I've a nice pic of a Helyett which I'll post tonight.

Sorry I haven't route maps yet, but working on it. Brendan

Brendan Hennessy

Hi all,

Here's the Helyett Speciale as promised. This one is allegedly from 1963, but by this time Gitane had bought Helyett and Shay Elliott would have ridden a Gitane in the '63 Tour de France. Would anybody have a colour picture of one? I think it was blue.

Best Brendan