|
Yarm cycle maker establishes new industry Then in 1900 a flourishing cycle industry was established in Yarm by Thomas Bailey Dobson who with his family lived in a cottage at the eastern end of the High Street. It was here that he established his workshop. He called his first machine The Bentley after Bentley Wynd and his son Matt helped to spoke wheels after he arrived home from school. Cycling was a popular sport and a Yarm cycling club was quickly established with members regularly riding out for picnics at Osmotherley. Our picture (above) illustrates the basic design of their bikes in those days and one wonders just how the ladies managed to push their machines up the steep inclines dressed more in keeping with a formal outing. How did they manage to keep those hats on in a high wind?. Now - cycling has never been more popular in Cleveland due in no small way to the success of Chris Newton who in the Sydney Olympics became the first Teessider to win a medal for 52 years. Stephen Binks, racing secretary for the Cleveland Wheelers, one of the oldest cycling clubs in the area, says Chris has become something of a folk hero since he won his bronze medal, especially among the junior members of the club. Stephen, who also combines his duties with that of Youth Development Officer, says the Cleveland Wheelers, which was formed in 1958 is recognised nationally as a child friendly club, and its 160 members encourage the youngsters in all aspects of the sport. One element of the cycling club which has died out is the organised club outings. As Stephen points out, the roads today are too congested to cope with large groups of cyclists touring the area. Instead, smaller groups tend to meet locally for a ride out. Members
of the Cyclist Touring Club (CTC) meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at
Great Ayton for a ride that will cover 20 miles in the winter and
anything up to 60 miles in the summer. The cost of the modern bike would
make Tom Dobson’s eyebrows rise. The enthusiastic rider today will pay
anything up to £2000 for his machine. As Stephen Binks points out, most
riders custom build their machines, a practice that does not come cheap. The case for encouraging cycling has never been greater. Facts supplied by the CTC show that the average speed of a car in London is 3.4 mph and a bus 2.5 mph compared to the average speed of a cycle of 5.4 mph. According recent research three quarters of all personal journeys are less than five miles long and fifty percent are under two miles. Cars are used for 15% of journeys under a mile and 75% of car owners continue to make journeys between two and five miles. It is interesting to note a 10% increase in cycle commuting in London which coincides with an eight per cent drop in air pollution following the introduction of ultra-low sulpher diesel.Then in 1964 the winter was a big disappointment to 78 year old Matt Brown. It restricted him to cycling only 2,067 miles. His usual annual average is 4000 miles. A founder member of Stockton Wheelers, Matt holds trophies for 25 and 50 mile races. He owns three bikes including a racer “I can still clock my 15 mph” and one which he uses for doing the shopping. A retired charge hand at Bousfield Lane steel plant, he and his wife plan to move to a new bungalow in Eaglescliffe and Matt visits the site every day - on his bike of course. He plans to cover the 80 odd mile round trip to Coxwold shortly for the cyclist church service. |