Old Hartley / Tom Simpson

[Jo May]

Met a chap in the toilet block at Old Hartly campsite at Seaton Sluice, Northumberland. Doesn’t sound too glamorous I realize, but he was a really interesting guy. He told me he was in the gradual process of cycling up the ‘100 Greatest Tour de France Climbs’ culminating with a ride up Mont Ventoux on his 80th birthday. (He’s 75 now.) What a terrific goal he’s set himself.

Is he on here? Does anyone know him? I’d be interested to hear how his quest progresses.

He also recommended I buy Tom Simpson’s biography, ‘Put me back on my bike’, which I did, and am half way through. A fascinating read.

 

[rb62]

It's about time the BBC showed 'Death on the Mountain,the Tom Simpson storey again' not been on since 2011 there are some but not all of the 6 episodes on
You Tube.

 

[The Coops]

Was it not overheating and amphetamines that was the cause of death? And some still chance doping for the chance of winning!

 

[rb62]

Was it not overheating and amphetamines that was the cause of death? And some still chance doping for the chance of winning!

Yep,literally rode himself to death

 

[Jo May]

'Allegedly', amphetamines, alcohol, an upset stomach, exhaustion and dehydration. But Britain's first cycling star I think.

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[Nigel Crompton]

Drove up Ventoux earlier this summer, overnighted on top.
There was some sort of cycling event on, qs there was a constant stream of them on all sorts of bikes only seeming to exclude unicycles & penny-farthings. Sit-up-and-beg, with baskets, easily outnumbered Pinarellos

 

[Brains]

But Britain's first cycling star I think.

Think Beryl Burton would give him a run for his money.
She was a decade older, and I seem to remember set the LeJoG record back in the 1950's which was not beaten until this century.
(And no one ever suggested she used amphetamines)

 

[AndyLaika]

He's probably using this book as a guide.
Great to keep active at that age, we have a few old club cyclists still going into their 80s around here (Risca, South Wales).
https://www.100climbs.co.uk/product-page/100-greatest-cycling-climbs-of-the-tour-de-france

 

[Jo May]

Think Beryl Burton would give him a run for his money.
She was a decade older, and I seem to remember set the LeJoG record back in the 1950's which was not beaten until this century.
(And no one ever suggested she used amphetamines)

I sit corrected

 

[jockaneezer]

Didn't Beryl Burton stop speaking to her own daughter when she broke her mother's record ?

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[PhilMary]

Yep,literally rode himself to death

Not quite correct. He was a drug taker and chose to kill himself. I have no sympathy whatsoever, and wish that those who want to change cycling history step back and see the harm they are doing by gloryfying such irrisponsable acts.
This is why young cyclists are tempted.