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Pedal Power
Riding to the challenge: the competition to be the best, toughest or fastest on two wheels.
For some cyclists, a leisurely ride from A to B will never be enough. They need challenges: to be the best, the toughest, the fastest on two wheels. This collection of films celebrates cycling's sporting champions, from a simple informal Edwardian street race to the bright lights of the velodrome during the 1920s cycling boom, and from the endurance athletes of the Tour of Britain to some more unusual feats accomplished on a bike. Although some of these contraptions might test your definition of 'bike'... These films highlight challenges for filmmakers, too. The Topical Budget newsreel proudly unveiled a special new camera for its coverage of bank holiday racing at London's legendary Herne Hill in 1924: the results are stunning, even 90 years later. Not all filmmakers managed to keep up with the blur of speeding wheels - but that just adds to the furious energy of it all. Ready... steady... GO!
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.
Six Days in Romandie Six Days in Romandie
Industry sponsored film 1983 31 mins
Six days of punishing wheel-to-wheel action as the TI Raleigh racing team competes against the best European squads.
Cycling: 1962 Tour of East Anglia Cycling: 1962 Tour of East Anglia
Non-Fiction 1962 2 mins Silent Location: Felixstowe
Cyclists and Cinzano! An interesting mix of competitors and sponsors take to the road for the exciting three-day, three-stage, 350-mile Tour of East Anglia.
United Service Sports United Service Sports
Non-Fiction 1917 1 mins Silent
Army athletes compete for glory on foot and bike.
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.
Leeds Athletic and Cycling Club Carnival at Headingley (1902) Leeds Athletic and Cycling Club Carnival at Headingley (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 7 mins Silent Location: Headingley
Athletes and acrobats wow the crowds at the annual Cycling Club carnival.
National Bicycle Week Begins National Bicycle Week Begins
Non-Fiction 1923 1 mins Silent
Speeding wheels and speedy reels… Thrilling scenes of high-speed cycle racing are captured with a super-fast film camera.
Cycling the Channel Cycling the Channel
Non-Fiction 1929 1 mins Silent Location: Dover
A Fine Feat of Endurance. Why swim the Channel when you can go by hydrocycle?
Women Rule the Waves Women Rule the Waves
Non-Fiction 1929 1 mins Silent Location: Dover
Take to the surf with valiant French 'hydro-cyclist' Aimee Pfanner, as she gamely pedals from Calais to Dover.
Wheel in Britain Wheel in Britain
Documentary 1953 27 mins Location: London
Speeding round Britain by bike: taking in the scenery in a 1,600-mile competitive tour.
Ladies Training for Cycle Races Ladies Training for Cycle Races
Non-Fiction 1902 1 mins Silent Location: Leeds
Edwardian ladies work their pedals, eagerly watched by workers and an attention-seeking dog.
Early Season Kermesse Early Season Kermesse
Amateur film 1962 6 mins Silent Location: Great Yarmouth
The dedication and enthusiasm of Club cyclists is put to the test big time at the early season Kermesse on Norfolk's chilly east coast.
Informal Cycle Race in a Village Road Informal Cycle Race in a Village Road
Non-Fiction 1902 0 mins Silent
Edwardian cycle racing at its best - albeit a little fuzzy! Riders take on all comers on an intriguing variety of bicycles.
Holiday Cycling at Herne Hill Holiday Cycling at Herne Hill
Non-Fiction 1924 1 mins Silent Location: Herne Hill
Stunning, 360-degree action of the speeding wheels at London's premier cycling circuit.
Ashlee Family Films: Whirling Wheels, Bexley (1963) Ashlee Family Films: Whirling Wheels, Bexley (1963)
Amateur film 1963 7 mins Silent Location: Kent Street
Lycra-clad cyclists take part in a fierce race around the London-Kent borders, diligently filmed by a Bexley amateur film-maker.
Dunston C.C. Road Race Dunston C.C. Road Race
Amateur film 1960 9 mins Silent Location: Dunston
Celebrating cycling culture in the north east on a 70 mile road race from Blaydon.
Newcastle Rag Race Newcastle Rag Race
Amateur film 1960 9 mins Silent Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Top rider Bill Baty triumphs in a charity road race for Newcastle Rag Week.
Weston-super-Mare hosts 1962 Tour of Britain cycle race Weston-super-Mare hosts 1962 Tour of Britain cycle race
News 1962 3 mins Location: Weston-super-Mare
Ready, steady, go! Europe's best cyclists arrive in Weston-super-Mare to complete stage 6 of the 1962 Tour of Britain Milk Race.
Race for a Bride Race for a Bride
Drama 1922 15 mins Silent Location: Sunningdale
Dastardly deeds are afoot when rivals for the hand of a young woman vie against each other in a bicycle race.
Tour of the North Tour of the North
Sponsored film 1957 5 mins Silent Location: Belfast
Crowds flood Belfast to catch a glimpse of the Tour of the North cyclists
Hugh Porter Interview Hugh Porter Interview
Non-Fiction 1970 6 mins Location: Wolverhampton
A tough training regime for a cycling world champion. Although it helps that he goes home to a fellow Olympian.
CCPCC Cycling CCPCC Cycling
Amateur film 1947 14 mins Silent Location: Sheffield
Rare film of an exciting sprint and cycle racing event just after the war, capturing most of the large expectant crowd and many competitors.
British Cycling Federation National Road Race Championship British Cycling Federation National Road Race Championship
Amateur film 1960 11 mins Silent Location: Blaydon
Blazing saddles on the 140-mile Blaydon route of the 1960 British National Road Race with one of the greatest amateur road cyclists of all time.
See-saw Cycling See-saw Cycling
Non-Fiction 1928 1 mins Silent Location: Mitcham
Thrills and spills on two wheels at a charity motorcycling gymkhana in Mitcham, Surrey.