I came across this article on the BBC sports website. ( i guess you could put it in the climate change topics)
https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-sports/67926417
As a resident of this watery (occasionally icy) place it filled me with dismay, while I cannot skate and never watch the
professional speed skating I do remember the 1997 event, without doubt the greatest 'sporting'* event I have ever witnessed.
Gripping television from dawn to midnight as the often distraught en disheveled skaters try to beat the clock.
I guess is has parallels with the worst aspects of a wintry audax brevet... probably why I liked it so much.
* The word sporting is perhaps not accurate, the vast majority are just trying to finish in time.
(The profs are already in with their feet up in the early afternoon)
I saw a film dramatisation of the notorious 1963 event, following 4 participants in the 'just get round in the limit' category. On Netflix, I think (yes,
https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/70277686). I enjoyed it probably for the reason you stated, but probably worth watching anyway.
On a similar note, I once watched the British Outdoor Speedskating Championships. I'm pretty sure it was in the winter of 1981/82. A very lengthy cold spell had been forecast, and an area of fenland near Baston had been flooded in anticipation. From my memories of riding the 8 miles or so to the event, I can confirm it was very very cold. Bricks had been laid out to delineate the track. but there was loads of other room for recreational skating, and there were plenty of families taking advantage. I remember one name from the competitive events - John French - who was a well-known time triallist at the time (and as I've found out today competitor at the 1980 winter Olympics).
Many years later I bought a book at a bargain bookstore by Matthew Engel. As a cricket journalist he was expected to report on football in the winter, but persuaded his editor to let him report on anything which took his fancy, the more unusual the better, and this book was a collection of his reports that winter, including the event I had witnessed.
PS More
here, including a picture of John French in action.
