This film is part of Free
Holiday Cycling at Herne Hill
Stunning, 360-degree action of the speeding wheels at London's premier cycling circuit.
Overview
'Remarkable pictures taken with our special camera', boasts this newsreel item, and there's no denying the stunning clarity of these images, which never lose their focus on the speeding riders - even if the audience is all in a blur! Cycling's popularity peaked in the 1920s, and attendance at the annual Good Friday event could exceed 10,000 fans, all hoping to see records shattered.
Herne Hill's state-of-the-art velodrome was built in 1891 to provide a safe, banked cycle track for south London. Such was cycling's popularity by the 1920s that the newsreels regularly brought their cameras to events like this one, bringing all their ingenuity and technical invention to the challenge of tracking the tirelessly spinning wheels.
Related
Cycling Stunt Man Cycling Stunt Man
Non-Fiction 1974 3 mins Location: Gloucester
Gloucester's answer to Evel Knievel may not be able to afford a motorbike but he won't let that deter him...
Race for the Muratti Cup at Manchester Wheelers' Annual Meet (1901) Race for the Muratti Cup at Manchester Wheelers' Annual Meet (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 15 mins Silent Location: Manchester
Exciting scenes of amateur cycling's 'Race of Champions' at Manchester's Fallowfield track.
Flying the Foam and Some Fancy Diving Flying the Foam and Some Fancy Diving
Sport 1906 2 mins Silent Location: Brighton
Innovative early 'trick' film showing the popular 'flying the foam' stunt performed on - or rather off - Brighton's West Pier.
Herne Hill - Pedals & Puddles Herne Hill - Pedals & Puddles
Non-Fiction 1927 1 mins Silent Location: Herne Hill
The adrenaline rush of a race at South London's famous velodrome at the height of a cycling boom.
Riding High Riding High
Comedy 1939 mins
The sedate peace of Victorian England is disrupted by bumbling comedian Claude Dampier and that miracle of modern transport - the penny farthing...
Woman Wheelers Woman Wheelers
Non-Fiction 1929 1 mins Silent Location: Herne Hill
Women cyclists go for gold! Singer Gracie Fields presents the grand prize at South London's premier women's cycling event.
Fair Footballers Fair Footballers
Non-Fiction 1925 1 mins Silent Location: Herne Hill
Music hall star George Robey kicks off the action at this international ladies' footie match at Herne Hill, South London.
Herne Hill - Pedals & Puddles Herne Hill - Pedals & Puddles
Non-Fiction 1927 1 mins Silent Location: Herne Hill
The adrenaline rush of a race at South London's famous velodrome at the height of a cycling boom.
Olympic Trials Olympic Trials
Non-Fiction 1928 1 mins Silent Location: Herne Hill
With neither gears nor lycra to help them, the cream of Britain's cyclists battle it out at the Herne Hill velodrome ahead of the 1928 Olympics.
Woman Wheelers Woman Wheelers
Non-Fiction 1929 1 mins Silent Location: Herne Hill
Women cyclists go for gold! Singer Gracie Fields presents the grand prize at South London's premier women's cycling event.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.