Vintage Bike Ride Commemorating Shay Elliott - Saturday 22nd June, Wicklow

Brendan Hennessy

In 1963 Shay Elliott took the yellow jersey in the Tour de France by winning the 3rd stage to Roubaix - he wore the jersey for the following three days. This was a fantastic achievement in the golden age of cycling and wouldn't it be great to commemorate it with a vintage run on the 50th anniversary.

What is proposed is a vintage bike ride meeting at 10am at The Beehive Inn on the N11 South of Wicklow on Saturday the 22nd of June. The spin will travel along Deputy's Pass with, depending on feedback, perhaps two routes one of 50miles and the other about 80miles - both preferably taking in the Shay Elliott climb and a stop in Laragh - finishing back at The Beehive.

Riders are encouraged to bring their old steel bikes, woolen jerseys, toe clips, lace up cycle shoes, and mass start caps - whatever! - the older the better, to engender the spirit of the golden age. The bringing of any memorabilia is also encouraged.

The spirit of this event is a club style spin marking Shay Elliott's great achievement 50 years ago. This is an informal ride so no fees are attached, cyclists are reminded to wear their helmets, bring their own supplies, obey the rules of the road, look out for each other & enjoy themselves.

Feedback welcome - why not share some golden age memories or photos - or post a pic of your bike for the ride. Feel free to share the word.

In the meantime the following article based on Graham Healy's book on Shay Elliott will be of interest: http://www.cyclismas.com/2011/11/the-flahute/

Best wishes,

Brendan

Slo_Rida

Sounds AWESOME!
No notion of me getting up for it but the very best of luck with it...

happytramp

Excellent idea. Well done.

Brendan Hennessy

Thanks folks,

A bit of momentum building up - do spread the word.

Anybody got a vintage british thread headset - someting suitable for a 50's ligweight preferbaly. Also looking for Campagnolo Gran Sport parts.

Brendan

monkeyslayer

Need a photographer? I'd love to do this...

Brendan Hennessy

Hi Monkeyslayer,

A friend is hoping to come up from Cork with a camera too - but, in the spirit of the spin, why not come along too. I hope there will be plenty to photo too. If anyone notices silvo and brillo pad sales spike it'll be a sure sign of chrome!

Brendan

monkeyslayer

Cool might do, I don't drive so if can figure out the logistics i'll be down

happytramp

Surely this would seem like an ideal opportunity for Tax Man to dust off some of those vintage beauties!

The tax man

Hope to bring the oldest of the collection,that would be the Road Ace.
Not sure stuff from the 90's is considered "vintage."

hesker

Great idea. Would be there but I'm moving house that weekend. Best of luck.

ThreeBlindMice

My old butted Reynolds is now a "fixie". :mad:

redzerredzer

OP, will you lend me a vintage bike?

Inquitus

ThreeBlindMice wrote: »

My old butted Reynolds is now a "fixie". :mad:

And your penance is to ride this on it!

Brendan Hennessy

Hi Redzer x 2,

Much as I'd love to I think they may all be called on already - unless of course you fancy a pre-war fixie. I could put a freewheel on it. Now there's a penance for any crime inquitus!

Hopefully others may be willing, get looking in those sheds.

Brendan

Dermot Illogical

What sort of gradients are we talking here? I may have a choice of one suitable steel bike that day and it's running 48x16.

Brendan Hennessy

Ah Dermot, Illogical indeed!

The spin will go over Glenmalure, so while not to rule a fixed wheel out, you would be walking.

But that's the spirit of the day doing old roads on old bikes. 48 x 16 would be pushing it however, so I'd recommend hiking boots also. A derailleur and freewheel would probably be better though.

Brendan

Dermot Illogical

You've convinced me. I'll do it.
Thanks!

Daithi BC

I'd love to do this, but will be away on holidays that weekend. If anyone's interested in doing a recce beforehand, let me know.

happytramp

Dermot Illogical wrote: »

You've convinced me. I'll do it.
Thanks!

Just concentrate on how awesome you'll look and it'll be grand....

Dermot Illogical

happytramp wrote: »

Just concentrate on how awesome you'll look and it'll be grand....

Just need to take a trip to Carroll's gift shop for a flat cap and I'll be sorted. Already know how to walk on hills.

studiorat

got a map of that route anyone?

Beehive over Drumgoff before Laragh and back how?

Brendan Hennessy

Hi all,

Route being mapped and will post shortly. Ideally would like to keep people together over the Shay Elliott climb and then offer the option of a longer spin for those who wish and a shorter return to the start for those ready for home. Hoping to have both an 80mile and 50mile route. In the meantime check if your derailleurs can handle 42x28!

Dáithí BC - will let you know if I'll be up for a recce.

Thanks for the interest,

Brendan

25sean

looking forward to this event.. good few mates up for it too, all sporting vintage bikes and kits..

based in dublin so would like to pedal out to it and back.. not overly concerned with distance, once not too far beyond 120/130 kms. i think your based further south brendan, are you

anyhow.. spreading the word.. up on bray wheelers site forum as well..

let us know if you need any help

thanks

Brendan Hennessy

Hi Folks,

I spent the last hour trying to upload this ad. I hope you enjoy it!







Jacques-Anquetil-1962-1 by Didawah, on Flickr

happytramp

lWhile we're at it..... Shay leading the way for Jacques Anquetil at the 1960 Giro.

The tax man

Although it's 30yrs old,my ride looks way too modern for this event.



Some of you eagle eyed viewers might spot some differences since I last posted the Road Ace.(ignore saddle\water bottle)

happytramp

I'm no eagle eyed viewer but that 20(22) rear cog needs to go.....

happytramp

Also, I'm no dic*head either but surely you could find somewhere more epic to photo your bikes instead of in front of you're kitchen/bananas, no?

Btw..... this thread needs more bike pictures.

Dura Ace

The following video shows Shay's win in the 1959 Het Volk.

http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/retro/retro_voorjaarsklassiekers/retro_omloop_hnb/MV_120224_HNB_1959

It was posted a while ago on the Facebook page set up for the Shay book

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Shay-Elliott-The-Life-and-Death-of-Irelands-First-Yellow-Jersey/211927275513457?hc_location=stream

Brendan Hennessy

Fear not tax man

Your bike is just perfect for the event - nice memories too as I had one myself!

Dura-ace thanks for the link, looking forward to checking it out later.

Agree Happytramp, - I've a nice pic of a Helyett which I'll post tonight.

Sorry I haven't route maps yet, but working on it. Brendan

Brendan Hennessy

Hi all,

Here's the Helyett Speciale as promised. This one is allegedly from 1963, but by this time Gitane had bought Helyett and Shay Elliott would have ridden a Gitane in the '63 Tour de France. Would anybody have a colour picture of one? I think it was blue.

Best Brendan

sarge10

Hi Brendan,

How are things. Looking forward to the ride. I'll bring the hubs and woods with me. I can't decide what bike to bring with me. I might go for the Viking Severn Valley and let a friend of mine use the Olmo. The tandem is up and running properly. Just needs the bar tape to finish it Looks like a good bit of interest on the board. Anything from the CR list in UK?

See you soon.

Paul

Dura Ace

Here's a link to a photo of the bike from the '63 Tour. I'm having trouble embedding the photo in the post.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=212373328802185&set=pb.211927275513457.-2207520000.1370015867.&type=3&theater

happytramp

Dura Ace wrote: »

Here's a link to a photo of the bike from the '63 Tour. I'm having trouble embedding the photo in the post.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=212373328802185&set=pb.211927275513457.-2207520000.1370015867.&type=3&theater

Great picture. Going on my desktop montage,

Brendan Hennessy

Dura-Ace thanks for post and the link to the FaceBook site for the Shay Elliott book - for those of you who haven't seen it it is a great resource.

Dura-ace as thanks I've uploaded the photo you linked. Why did so many of the caps have a black strip across the brow? Finally, see Anquetil didn't need to carry a pump!

Brendan Hennessy

Hi all,

One of the lads took the time out to drive the route today so we could put it up for you all - he rang me from the Beehive after the trip to tell me it'll make a great spin... but that the map my ride app didn't pick up the signal - damn and blast and any advice?

So, in brief, the exact course is to be confirmed, but assuming you have some orienteering skills here are the old school directions. Please note this is to be confirmed but eager to give you some detail now

Both spins will stay together till the stop at Laragh. The short course will be approx 50 miles and the long course approx 80 miles - distances to be confirmed.

START 10am The Beehive - Deputy's Pass - Rathdrum - Vale of Avoca - Woodenbridge - Aughrim - Ballinaclash - Glenmalure - STOP Lynhams LARAGH.

Short Course: Proceed to Rathdrum - Glenealy - FINISH The Beehive

Long Course: Proceed to Roundwood - Kimacanogue - Glen of the Downs - Newcastle - Wicklow - Coast road to Wicklow - FINISH The Beehive

Enjoy your training - remember this is to be a leisurely club style ride. No doubt those double butted steel spokes and chrome stays are dancing in the sunlight.

Brendan

ger.c

Best of luck to all participants! can't wait to check out the pics of those machines afterwards!

tonycon28

Hi Brendan, count me in. Tony

Brendan Hennessy

I think this pic is from 1959/1960 but as trade teams were not yet in the Tour it must have been a different race. And we all have days like this - just hopefully not on the 22nd of June! A good resource for bike pics and parts is: http://www.mannabicycle.com/helyett-leroux-bike-hutchinson-1957/

Dura Ace

Brendan, I'm pretty sure that photo is from the '59 Manx Trophy which Shay won.

Brendan Hennessy

Hi all,

Just about ten days to go till we congregate at the Beehive, 10am on the 22nd June. I better get the bike finished on time! Anyone else building from scratch or is it just brillo pads and silvo?! Route has been mapped successfully, just need to upload it next.

sarge10

I'm really looking forward to the ride on the 22nd. I'll probably bring my 1950's Olmo and/or my 1953 Claud Butler Jubilee.

cdaly_

That's an impressive chainset on the Olmo. Looks like a 52/51 or something.

Brendan Hennessy

Hi all,

Talking to people during the week it sounds like we'll have a nice size group on Saturday next. Bikes are being dusted down and woolen jerseys are being rescued from attics.

John went to some trouble to map the route. Unfortunately we haven't been able to mark points on the map - not for want of trying! What you have here is an overview of the 80 mile route.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/226211527

• The starting point is The Beehive at 10am on Saturday 22nd (where the R751 intersects the N11).
• The route goes clockwise from there on the mapped course
• Both routes bring riders 40 miles to Larragh via the Vale of Avoca & Aughrim and over Glenmalure together
• All stop at Laragh
• The 50 mile short route then returns to the Beehive from Laragh along the R755 and retraces the route back to the Beehive from Rathdrum
• The 80 mile long route proceeds from Laragh to Kilmacanogue and back to the Beehive.

All should familiarise themselves with the route and bring their own food and supplies. Enjoy your preperations!

Brendan

Brendan Hennessy

Hi all,

Less than 2 days till the Shay Elliott vintage meet at the Beehive Inn (10am Saturday). We have maps of the route available for the day - including the short cut home for those ready for home. I'll post a copy shortly or see previous post. Hopefully all will be able to get over Glenmalure and stop at the Shay Elliott memorial.

In the meantime time flies when you have a bike to put on the road (not quite there yet)! But now the questions is what to wear and will I actaully fit in to any of them?

See you Saturday, Brendan

25sean

nice selection... trying to find something special myself..

so, is it a strict 10 o clock roll out?

met.ie has a few showers but sure they're never on the button....

The tax man

My outfit for the weekend...

From the 80's and it still fits me.

Brendan Hennessy

That 7 eleven jersey would give you the shivers if you remember Andy Hampsten going over the Stelvio (I think?) in the 1988 Giro!

Out of bed early on Satruday Sean 25! Be ready for road at 10, altough just like Met Eireann, never on the button!

Just struggling with a set of Mafacs here.

Brendan

25sean

very good, see you in the morning so..

Inquitus

Brendan Hennessy wrote: »

That 7 eleven jersey would give you the shivers if you remember Andy Hampsten going over the Stelvio (I think?) in the 1988 Giro!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5wPEymv-oQ

2x4

I see the route passes Kilmac cemetery, where Elliott is buried, and then passes his house just past Kilmac on the N11.