Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Phil Tomlinson on 09 March, 2013, 02:17:04 pm
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There I was looking out at a grey drizzly morning, trying to find the motivation to get out and ride.
The radio was on and suddenly I heard the word Audax mentioned.
Paying a little more attention I realised they were interviewing George Berwick on, "Out of doors".
During the interview George mentioned that he'd cycled about 790,000 miles in his life. He also last year rode across Scotland and back, covering about 400 miles in 34 hrs. On his own....just sleeping out as and when he felt the need. He is 72!
So, feeling that maybe I wasn't such a "badass" rider after all, I thought I'd better get out for a spin.
The program is available on the iplayer at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01r5pdk/Out_of_Doors_09_03_2013/
The interview was on around 7.30, so about an hour into the show.
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Have you met the guy?
Put his name into Google search.The results will keep you entertained & impressed for a looooong time.
He often wears a black baggy wooly pullover.He is Superman in disguise.
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The program is available on the iplayer at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01r5pdk/Out_of_Doors_09_03_2013/
The interview was on around 7.30, so about an hour into the show.
56 minutes.
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Have you met the guy?
Put his name into Google search.The results will keep you entertained & impressed for a looooong time.
He often wears a black baggy wooly pullover.He is Superman in disguise.
Yes I've done a few events which George has ridden. However, I can't say I know him.
I knew he'd been a good rider in his youth, (well he still is!), but I hadn't fully realised the extent of his exploits.
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I've only spoken to George a few times but he is a lovely guy - great face for radio.
..d
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Most entertaining!
While I knew it was possible to pee while riding, the extra difficulty of doing it on a fixed gear hadn't occurred to me. Or, it hadn't occurred to me that someone would try it on a fixed gear :)
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Superb!
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Or, it hadn't occurred to me that someone would try it on a fixed gear :)
But now that it has...
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I've seen photos of what a fixed chain can do to a finger so there's NO WAY I'm going to try peeing. The dangers are just too great.
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Excellent stuff.
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I've seen photos of what a fixed chain can do to a finger so there's NO WAY I'm going to try peeing. The dangers are just too great.
you wish ;D
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"They call me McNasty" :)
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I've seen photos of what a fixed chain can do to a finger so there's NO WAY I'm going to try peeing. The dangers are just too great.
Now you're just boasting.....
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That was fab wasn't it? He's inspiring is McNasty.
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Brilliant stuff and a good reminder to get up to Scotland for a ride sometime.
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My favourite photo of George. (http://www.owenphilipson.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/HBK10_6_2.jpg)
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"The James Bond of Audax." I had the privelige of riding with McNasty on the Elenith a few years ago. What a lovely guy! Enjoyed every minute. This interview is essential listening!
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A couple of years ago I was supporting a friend on the East Sussex 24. George was there, and so was his wife, which was unusual. I went say hello and she explained that she'd come to keep an eye on him as he was" under doctor's orders not to ride his bike". He finished with a modest 300 and something. As it was his 50th 24, they'd laid on a presentation. There was a list of all his finishing mileages. For the first 25 events he only once went less than 400 miles.
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I had the privelige of riding with McNasty on the Elenith a few years ago.
I met him on that ride too, back at the village hall after the event.
To me he's hardcore - not so much because of how far he's ridden, but because he doesn't really care whether anybody's there or not to see him do it.
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Posted by: Tewdric Yesterday at 10:25:24 PM »"The James Bond of Audax."
I can't really imagine George asking for a "dry martini, shaken, not stirred" but a hard man he certainly is.
On one of the Daylight 600's I came accross George laid out at the side of the road, apparently he was suffering from a severe case of cramp, he said he would be okay, so I carried on.
Later I was told that he had been taken into hospital (Fort William?Oban?) for a couple of hours before he discharged himself and completed the ride!
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My favourite photo of George. (http://www.owenphilipson.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/HBK10_6_2.jpg)
This should be on the front page of the AUK website. ;D
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I will listen to the program later (BBC Scotland doesn't appear to work on the iPad iplayer app), it sounds great.
I have only once, briefly met George, and he was everything I expected of him.
A true hard man of the road. Inspiring stuff.
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I generally ride a bit faster than George (who is old enough to be my father), and yet he always seems to be in front of me after a control. There's no stopping the man.
That photo of him, linked up-thread, was taken at the end of Hamburg-Berlin-Koln-Hamburg, a 1500 km audax event entered by George and a number of others including some of this parish who could tell the story better than me, but here goes. His frame broke in a ride-ending kind of way, but of course it didn't end George's ride. He beat a drink-can into a shim, strapped it on with zip-ties, rode 500 km like that and finished the event. Someone who tried his bike at the end said it didn't feel like you could ride across the car-park on it, far less 500 km.
More photos and links here (http://www.owenphilipson.com/blog/2010/09/12/george-berwick-500km-on-a-broken-frame/).
Class.
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And another link that shows he's more than just a cyclist.
link (http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/minisites/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.display&pageid=CADB6BE7-A9FB-9F42-9B01F185066BBD25&siteID=FE129D42-BEB5-F023-67D7792A2E9043B1)
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It's probably easier if you're used to pushing a big gear up hill.
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I imagine that what George regards as easy is beyond the ken of many.
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I generally ride a bit faster than George (who is old enough to be my father), and yet he always seems to be in front of me after a control. There's no stopping the man.
That photo of him, linked up-thread, was taken at the end of Hamburg-Berlin-Koln-Hamburg, a 1500 km audax event entered by George and a number of others including some of this parish who could tell the story better than me, but here goes. His frame broke in a ride-ending kind of way, but of course it didn't end George's ride. He beat a drink-can into a shim, strapped it on with zip-ties, rode 500 km like that and finished the event. Someone who tried his bike at the end said it didn't feel like you could ride across the car-park on it, far less 500 km.
More photos and links here (http://www.owenphilipson.com/blog/2010/09/12/george-berwick-500km-on-a-broken-frame/).
Class.
Yes, I remember reading about that at the time. I congratulated him on his achievement at a later audax at Newtonmore and he just shrugged it off as it it was all in a days riding. I think that episode will go down in audax history. Epic!
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I generally ride a bit faster than George (who is old enough to be my father), and yet he always seems to be in front of me after a control. There's no stopping the man.
That photo of him, linked up-thread, was taken at the end of Hamburg-Berlin-Koln-Hamburg, a 1500 km audax event entered by George and a number of others including some of this parish who could tell the story better than me, but here goes. His frame broke in a ride-ending kind of way, but of course it didn't end George's ride. He beat a drink-can into a shim, strapped it on with zip-ties, rode 500 km like that and finished the event. Someone who tried his bike at the end said it didn't feel like you could ride across the car-park on it, far less 500 km.
More photos and links here (http://www.owenphilipson.com/blog/2010/09/12/george-berwick-500km-on-a-broken-frame/).
Class.
Yes, I remember reading about that at the time. I congratulated him on his achievement at a later audax at Newtonmore and he just shrugged it off as it it was all in a days riding. I think that episode will go down in audax history. Epic!
It's people like George who make you realise what a big poof you've been all your life!
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I've got some old articles he wrote for Cycling Weekly (I think it was just Cycling back then) around the late '70s, about his 'rough' cycling exploits in the Scottish wilds. Very inspiring (but mad), they were.
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Fabulous stuff. I just hope I can still ride at a good level when I'm 72 (I'll never be able to ride at the level George was at in his younger days!).
The article Ian H linked to had a great phrase "a distinctive shortfall in sartorial elegance"! Brilliant!
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(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/103439080/badass.jpg)
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More photos and links here (http://www.owenphilipson.com/blog/2010/09/12/george-berwick-500km-on-a-broken-frame/).
Is that link to your blog, Lightkeeper?
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More photos and links here (http://www.owenphilipson.com/blog/2010/09/12/george-berwick-500km-on-a-broken-frame/).
Is that link to your blog, Lightkeeper?
No, not mine - it popped up on a Google search for George and his broken frame, but I've dipped into it before. There's some good reading there.
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More photos and links here (http://www.owenphilipson.com/blog/2010/09/12/george-berwick-500km-on-a-broken-frame/).
Is that link to your blog, Lightkeeper?
No, not mine - it popped up on a Google search for George and his broken frame, but I've dipped into it before. There's some good reading there.
OK. The close up of the broken frame is mine & hasn't been credited ::-)
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(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/103439080/pingu.jpg)
;D
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That photo still amazes me - it just looks like (and probably is) the gear cables are the only thing actually holding it together. He must have had some shifting issues!
Insanely audacious stuff.
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That photo still amazes me - it just looks like (and probably is) the gear cables are the only thing actually holding it together.
Oh, make no mistake that gear cable tucked underneath the cable ties is structurally very significant ! The look on that blokes face. Classic.
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I today tried to explain to an in-law about my intention of doing a 300k in two weeks time and what it was all about and was greeted with a 'well, good luck with that' and a look that said 'you're insane'.
I'm staying in a hotel, not hiding under a bridge. Amateur stuff yet.
I am still in awe of the character who can do half of what Mr Berwick has clearly done! Brilliant piece of radio and I love the backup from this thread - what great stuff. :thumbsup:
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My favourite photo is him demonstrating the sartorial elegance, and practicality, of a hat fashioned from a bread bag*
Must listen to the radio broadcast before it is deleted. George ranks as one of my audax idols.
*having difficulties hotlinking, but if you search for "George Berwick bread bag" that delivers the goods.
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(http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j10/jdfyfe/DurnessDuress005.jpg)
It's a classic for sure.
It's a lesson for all of us in how to adapt to changing conditions with what equipment is to hand.
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When I was a young "louin" {colloquial NE Scottish / Aberdonian term) growing up in Inversneckie (in the mid 70's), tales of George abounded even then.
It was alleged that, rather than spend "3d" on a stamp to post a letter/birthday card, he'd ride 2 or 300 mile round trip as a training ride through the night and deliver his mail in person.
:thumbsup:
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I was in the same club as George (Edinburgh Road Club) in the mid 90s but I never met him. Not sure why he was a member of an Edinburgh club when he lived in Fife... We got to hear about his exploits from another cycling club legend, club president Jack Murdoch, who must have been around 80 years old at the time. Jack was old-school - riding far more miles in a year than any of us youngsters, I don't think he ever owned a car. He'd mention regularly that he'd seen George Berwick out and about on his recumbent, "it's the bike of the future!"
Jack persuaded him to write an article about 24-hr time trials for the club newsletter. The only part I can remember is that George only started wearing a helmet after he'd woken up more than once lying in a roadside verge in the dark, having fallen asleep and toppled over.
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I was in the same club as George (Edinburgh Road Club) in the mid 90s but I never met him. Not sure why he was a member of an Edinburgh club when he lived in Fife... We got to hear about his exploits from another cycling club legend, club president Jack Murdoch, who must have been around 80 years old at the time. Jack was old-school - riding far more miles in a year than any of us youngsters, I don't think he ever owned a car. He'd mention regularly that he'd seen George Berwick out and about on his recumbent, "it's the bike of the future!"
Jack persuaded him to write an article about 24-hr time trials for the club newsletter. The only part I can remember is that George only started wearing a helmet after he'd woken up more than once lying in a roadside verge in the dark, having fallen asleep and toppled over.
The SCU record in 1986 for the 100 mile tandem, is listed as J Murdoch and G Berwick of the Edinburgh Roads Club,
with a time was 4hr 00min14secs.
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My favourite photo of George. (http://www.owenphilipson.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/HBK10_6_2.jpg)
This should be on the front page of the AUK website. ;D
Unfortunately the photo is copyright Rapha Clothing, Sales & Marketing.
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The SCU record in 1986 for the 100 mile tandem, is listed as J Murdoch and G Berwick of the Edinburgh Roads Club, with a time was 4hr 00min14secs.
I think that was Jack Murdoch's son.
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(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/103439080/pingu.jpg)
;D
Fantastic, cable-tie master degree in structural bodgery. One must look and learn. Used toe straps (old school) in the past :thumbsup:
Radio link- Sorry, this episode is no longer available ???
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(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/103439080/pingu.jpg)
;D
S'okay. It's sorted noo.
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Fantastic, cable-tie master degree in structural bodgery. One must look and learn. Used toe straps (old school) in the past :thumbsup:
Next time you have a breakdown on a ride, just ask yourself the question - "what would George Berwick do"? Inspiration will follow. Maybe I should get my toolkit inscribed with it.
I bumped into him once on the A68 at Tow Law. I was doing the C2C with a CTC Group, and George had "popped out" for a ride. I was never sure where he lived, because in the 1990s he turned up on Audax rides around the country, and I suspected he spent months away from home riding event after event.
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Radio link- Sorry, this episode is no longer available ???
The radio link is not available any longer as Listen Again, but on the off-chance I checked to see if there is a podcast of it available, and there is! It looks like it is available to download until about 7th April:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/outdoors - "Fence post art, a garden haven for birds and the 72-year-old who’s cycled almost 750,000 miles."
Going to listen to it now!
Julian
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in the 1990s he turned up on Audax rides around the country,
He still does, even as a soft Southern newcomer to the sport, I've come across him a couple of times.
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The James Bond of audax. Love it!
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Julian, many thanks!
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Downloaded :thumbsup:
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Radio link- Sorry, this episode is no longer available ???
The radio link is not available any longer as Listen Again, but on the off-chance I checked to see if there is a podcast of it available, and there is! It looks like it is available to download until about 7th April:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/outdoors - "Fence post art, a garden haven for birds and the 72-year-old who’s cycled almost 750,000 miles."
Going to listen to it now!
Julian
Julian
Many thanks for this.
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Radio link- Sorry, this episode is no longer available ???
The radio link is not available any longer as Listen Again, but on the off-chance I checked to see if there is a podcast of it available, and there is! It looks like it is available to download until about 7th April:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/outdoors - "Fence post art, a garden haven for birds and the 72-year-old who’s cycled almost 750,000 miles."
Going to listen to it now!
Julian
Thank you kind Sir,
If you haven’t listened to this yet, do it now, it's a must!! (12.50 on)- http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/scotland/outdoors/outdoors_20130309-0800a.mp3
George it the ultimate Auk, give him a Gong. :thumbsup:
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Brilliant ! ;D
"I'm a wee bit daft [ ???] - I pencil in every road I've been in Scotland. There's a few up in Aberdeenshire, the country roads I've not been. I've been on most tracks and most roads ... "
CHAPEAU, GEORGE !
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**THREADREDGE**
Don’t suppose anyone recorded this interview?