Ride! Ride! Ride!: Herne Hill Velodrome and the Story of British Track Cycling

Description

Mark Wellings tells the story of British track cycling which with Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy, Laura Trott and more rules the world through the history of the iconic 1948 Olympic venue Herne Hill Velodrome, which opened 125 years ago. From Lyons Tea House ladies' teams in the 1930s to the medals of 1948; from the huge Italian crowd which greeted Fausto Coppi in Herne Hill in 1958, to Red Harris' men's track record at 53; from Tom Simpson and Barry Hoban in the 1960s to Gramae Obree and Bradley Wiggins - who started racing at Herne Hill at 12 - Wellings, with an eye for incredible detail and anecdote, tells for the first time a picturesque story of track cycling in Britain. Packed with many previously unpublished photographs, Ride! Ride! Ride! is a thrilling circuit of track cycling's history, the story of an iconic venue, and a tale of British achievement against all the odds.

Mark Wellings is a publisher, writer and historian. Born and raised in north-west England, he spent a decade living and working abroad before settling with his family in south-east London - a short ride from Herne Hill Velodrome. A lifelong cyclist, he fell in love with the track the first time he took his young son there and has not looked back: he is now a regular volunteer, spectator and occasional participant. He loves taking his Italian road bikes on iconic rides around Europe, but is usually to be found at the back of the pack on Sunday rides with VC Londres. A risible wheel-sucker, he still dreams of having a double-jump like Reg Harris.

Herne Hill is simply a wonderful cycling venue. Mark Wellings' new book brings back so many fantastic memories of it, both as a spectator and competitor. -- Rob Hayles