Shropshire Star

Shropshire cycling mates are back in the saddle

In their heyday,  Alan Griffiths and Jim Blackhurst were the stars of Mid Shropshire Wheelers – and broke several records on their tandem bike.

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Alan Griffiths, left, and Jim Blackhurst

Now in their 80s, the lifelong friends remain unbeaten in a 50-mile race triumph, and have recreated a picture taken 60 years ago.

The pensioners, from Shrewsbury, broke three records riding together on the tandem in their youth and took a trip down memory lane when the original bike arrived from Bristol.

The pair remain holders of the record for cycling on a tandem fromLiverpool to London and posed for a picture once again to mirror a photograph taken of them in 1954.

Alan Griffiths and Jim Blackhurst on the Shrewsbury by-pass 60 years ago

Mr Griffiths, 86, who lives in Harmer Hill, said: "I was 27 and Jim was 20 when that picture was taken.

"We came together in 1949 when we were both members of Mid Shropshire Wheelers.

"We cycled when we could and one day we decided to try out a tandem bike."

The rest is history, and the two men quickly made it into the record books with their impressive pedal power. They hold the record for cycling from Liverpool to London – after covering 202 miles in eight hours and four minutes.

Mr Blackhurst said: "We gave it a go and we were successful. Quite quickly we began doing races and we used to go from Liverpool to London then cycle back. But it was so different then because there was a big difference in traffic."

Although the pair no longer cycle competitively, they have stayed in touch over the years, despite the fact Mr Blackhurst travelled overseas extensively during his National Service.

He said: "You do form quite a firm friendship when there are two of you on the bike, it's about working together and we did that well."

They rode at a speed of more then 25 miles per hour, and believe their feat will remain unbeaten.

Mr Blackhurst said: "There have been plenty of challenges but we still hold that record and we're pretty proud of that.

"I don't think anyone will be able to beat that, just because cycling has changed so much since we did it.

"We came through heavy traffic and finished at the Mount Pleasant Post Office, you couldn't possibly do that now."

The original photograph of Mr Blackhurst and Mr Griffiths was taken just before one of their record attempts, and they were finally reunited with the original tandem bike earlier this week.

Mr Blackhurst said: "We tried to do it four years ago but Alan was unwell at the time. The frame was blue when we rode it and it's owned by a Shropshire cyclist who now lives in Bristol. I don't think we'll be riding it this time, but we both loved cycling.

"Record breaking was very popular at the time, and we really loved riding from place to place.

The pair were reunited with old friends from Mid Shropshire Wheelers at a special dinner earlier this week, and they have been meeting up for several years now.

Mr Griffiths and Mr Blackhurst caught up with old team mates who they used to ride with in the 1940s, and enjoyed a luncheon at the Four Crosses in Bicton.

Some cyclists had travelled 200 miles or more to make the meeting, and organiser Jim Leech said the group no longer wait for sad occasions before having a get together.

Mr Leech said: "Shropshire Cycling Friends have been meeting up since 2009. On that first occasion it was as the result of a comment made at a friends funeral the previous September. A mourner had said that it was a shame we only meet in numbers like this on a sad occasion. "

And it wasn't just the winning pair who relived their cycling youth, with some members arriving by bike.

Mr Leech said: "The aim of the group has developed a little since the 2009 luncheon, still catering for Shropshire riders but now also encompassing those who were active from somewhere in the 1960s or earlier.

"Therefore, some at the function were in their late 60s, most in their 70s and 80s right up to one sprightly lady who will be 98 this year, which gives weight to the reputation of cycling creating a healthy body."

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