|
Billie Fleming, known at the time as Billie Dovey (13 April 1914 – 12 May 2014), was a long distance cyclist who set the woman's record for greatest distance cycled in a year in 1938 at . At the time of her death in 2014 she continued to receive letters from people saying how much she inspired them to cycle; her record still stood .〔(BBC News: Cyclist aims to beat Billie Fleming's distance record, 8 November 2015 )〕 ==Cycling record== She had taken up cycling around the age of 18 and, following the ideas of the Women’s League of Health and Beauty, she rode across the United Kingdom on a mission to promote the health benefits of cycling. She gained sponsorship from Rudge-Whitworth to provide a bicycle and financial support so that she could ride every day of the year in a wide variety of weather conditions. She was also sponsored by Cadbury chocolate. She was self-reliant on her journeys, cycling alone and calling in at cafes to eat. She did not carry any water. The distances were authenticated through a cyclometer on the bicycle and cycling check cards signed by witnesses that she submitted to the Cycling Magazine (now Cycling Weekly) offices.〔 Her cycling record bid started 1 January 1938 from Mill Hill in London. The summer weather was good, but December 1938 was snowy.〔 The distance she travelled each day averaged , but was up to in summer. Her mammoth tour included many evening engagements requiring her to give a talk at the end of a long day's pedalling. Fleming's ride attracted a huge amount of interest and press attention as the year progressed. Her record attempt finished with a reception at the Agricultural/Horticultural Hall in London that included cycling journalists and Mr England. Her mileage set a women's record and attracted international attention. Her subsequent plan to cycle across the USA had to be called off because of the Second World War.〔 She also later met René Menzies and Tommy Godwin, who successively held the men's record for greatest distance cycled in a year, among other achievements.〔 In 1940 she broke three records riding a tricycle — the 25-, 50-, and 100-mile distances.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Billie Fleming」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|