Harry Grant (cyclist)
Encyclopedia
Harry Grant was a British racing cyclist who specialised in motor-paced events
. He was national amateur champion in 1926, 1928 and 1931. At the time he turned professional in 1932 he held four British amateur track records. He also won many races on the continent and held the world paced one-hour record on three occasions.
in 1932, riding 90.971 km. He won the Cent Milles 100-mile race in Paris in 1938.
In Britain he took the professional one-mile standing start paced record with 1 m 35.8 s.
Grant's sponsors included British bicycle makers such as R. O. Harrison and Maurice Selbach. It was on a Selbach that Grant took the world one-hour record. Harrison named his top model after him.
In the late 1940s, Grant was riding in the colours of the south London Norwood Paragon cycling club at the Herne Hill Velodrome
.
In later life, Grant returned to Colchester, where he joined Colchester Rovers cycling club. He marked his 80th birthday in 1986 by taking part in the 100 km Windmill Ride, after which ride organisers presented him with a commemorative medal.
, near Colchester, in March 1993. He was aged 86.
awarded him his own page in the Golden Book of Cycling
.
Motor-paced racing
Motor-paced racing and motor-paced cycling refer to cycling behind a pacer in a car or more usually on a motorcycle. The cyclist follows as close as he can to profit from the slipstream of his pacer. The first paced races were behind other cyclists, sometimes as many as five riders on the same...
. He was national amateur champion in 1926, 1928 and 1931. At the time he turned professional in 1932 he held four British amateur track records. He also won many races on the continent and held the world paced one-hour record on three occasions.
Cycling career
He belonged to the Imperial Wheelers and won the national 50-miles tandem-paced championship in 1926, 1928 and 1931. In 1929 he established the British one-mile flying start paced record at 1m 17.6s and the standing start record at 1m 29.8s. He turned professional in 1932 and went to Paris, where he teamed up with the Belgian pacer, Leon Vanderstuyft. They trained together and Grant took the world one-hour paced record at the Parc des PrincesParc des Princes
The Parc des Princes is an all-seater football stadium located in the southwest of Paris, France. The venue, with a seating capacity of 48,712 spectators, has been the home of French football club Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. The current Parc des Princes was inaugurated on 4 June 1972, endowed...
in 1932, riding 90.971 km. He won the Cent Milles 100-mile race in Paris in 1938.
In Britain he took the professional one-mile standing start paced record with 1 m 35.8 s.
Grant's sponsors included British bicycle makers such as R. O. Harrison and Maurice Selbach. It was on a Selbach that Grant took the world one-hour record. Harrison named his top model after him.
In the late 1940s, Grant was riding in the colours of the south London Norwood Paragon cycling club at the Herne Hill Velodrome
Herne Hill Velodrome
The Herne Hill Velodrome is a velodrome or track cycling venue in south London. It is one of the oldest cycling tracks in the world, having been built in 1891. It hosted the track cycling events in the 1948 Summer Olympics and was briefly the home of Crystal Palace F.C...
.
In later life, Grant returned to Colchester, where he joined Colchester Rovers cycling club. He marked his 80th birthday in 1986 by taking part in the 100 km Windmill Ride, after which ride organisers presented him with a commemorative medal.
Death and commemoration
Grant died in West BergholtWest Bergholt
West Bergholt, formerly known as Bergholt Sackville, is a large rural village and civil parish in Essex, England, lying on the border with Suffolk, near to the ancient town of Colchester. With a history going back to medieval times the village is now part of the Colchester Borough Council seat of...
, near Colchester, in March 1993. He was aged 86.
The Golden Book
Grant's achievements were celebrated in 1932 when Cycling WeeklyCycling Weekly
Cycling Weekly is a British cycling magazine. It is published by IPC Media and is devoted to the sport and past-time of cycling. It is affectionately referred to by British club cyclists as "The Comic".-History:...
awarded him his own page in the Golden Book of Cycling
Golden Book of Cycling
The Golden Book of Cycling was created in 1932 by Cycling, a British cycling magazine,to celebrate "the Sport and Pastime of Cycling by recording the outstanding rides, deeds and accomplishments of cyclists, officials and administrators." There exists only a single copy of this compendium of...
.