I like the sound of this book!!

Article goes on to say -“The growing influence of The Bicycle, run by former racers Mills and Bailey, who love and appreciate France. They were the first to give a large place in their newspaper to French races..they who launched the idea, then organized the first major mass-start races…”

🤣

In 1936 THE BICYCLE had been launched (one of its very first scoops was the 1936 Six Days race which they published exclusively). In this 1939 article, Bill says “I think we can claim to have done our share in establishing the six days race as a hardy annual at Wembley”.

The teams raced in pairs with one rider on the track whilst the other rested, relaying each other at will. After 6 days of non-stop racing, crashes and vast amounts of food being consumed by the riders (inc. pigeons, chops, steaks and 12 egg-omlettes), the winning pair was Cozens and Van Kempen.

And so Bill Spencer engaged Bill Mills to assist in an impossible task to engage a suitable hall, buy the timber, design and build a track to fit the hall, sign up the bike riders, get out a programme, engage the staff right down to the last kitchen hand. Mills was the track manager for the event.

The last 6 day race had been held in Britain in 1924 and was a failure. Interested, the NCU officials asked him when did he want to hold it. He responded in “in 21 days”

In 1933, Bill and Jenner held their first massed start racing event at Brooklands Motor racing circuit in Weybridge. These quickly became an integral part of the British cycling race calendar and a highlight of these events was “The Bicycle 100” in 1937 sponsored by Bill’s paper.

The two men were Bill Mills and A.V Jenner - members of Charlotteville Cycling Club.

Thank you! Bill championed women’s cycling - dedicated a section of his paper specifically to ladies and even spoke up for them when some cycling clubs were banning women from being members- I think he would’ve been pleased I’ve taken up his favourite sport…

The list of cycling books is getting ever longer! I’m only just finishing Wilson’s Beryl one!

Am also presuming that Bill was on this committee although he doesn’t explicitly state this - just looking for evidence to confirm this!

Another article by Bill in World Sports which states a committee of cycling journalists selected the 10 man 1955 British team! What would happen if that practice would be adopted today?

Then compare 1937 list with this one for the 2024 #tdf! www.welovecycling.com/wide/2024/07...

There was also some incident with the Belgians at the end of this tour which made them change the rules for 1938- too much detail to elaborate- I’m sure you know it already anyway!! Not sure if the changes were actually implemented