As a teenager I was a keen cyclist and built my own bike. I would often cycle from Southport, my home, to Ribble Cycles in Preston just to get a new part for the bike!
On one ride when I was about 13 or 14 I was stopped by a chap, also on a bike, who asked me whether I cycled in a club. I told him that as I played football, rugby, cricket and tennis I didn't really have much time. He extolled the virtues of club cycling and I listened and said if time allowed I might take him up on the offer.
When I got back home I told my Dad the story and described the man. He said I had just met none other than the legend Bill Bradley. As I wasn't really into competitive cycling and in the 1970s cycling wasn't the headline sport it is now it didn't mean that much to me. So I did some research and found that he was twice English National Road Race Champion, represented Great Britain in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, and twice winner of the Tour of Britain.
It would have been like meeting Sir Brad today!!
Neil Webster
Memory added on March 15, 2013
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