b'Cycling Up Garrowby HillKate PrattI n 1892 a competition was held for cyclists from York,and weighing 26 pounds; he had raised the saddle, in front of 300 spectators, to cycle up Garrowby Hilldropped the handlebars and changed into his dancing from a standing start. Although no-one succeeded,slippersAlex Stott very nearly did so, coming within 100 yardsHe was permitted a 10 minute rest after cycling out of the summit, with J W Wood 20 yards behind him,from York. The starting point was Goughs Farm, a and F E Wasling another few yards further down theholding marked on many maps as the Garrowby Inn hill. Obviously feeling that he hadnt done himselfand which in the old days was a coaching house. justice, Alex Stott had another go 2 days laterinThe finishing point was at Petchs Farm, 1 mile and 3 front of witnessesand succeeded, thereby winningfurlongs up the winding hill which has gradients of 1in a 10 bet which was enough for him to emigrate to8 and 1 in 12. The road surface was much improved Canada. It was no mean feat, on a bike that weighedsince Stotts day having a very good surface except nearly 40 lbs, and with a road surface which was inin places which can easily be avoided. Rain had places crossed by channels worn in the limestone orfallen during the afternoon, so the road was far chalk by water, which were some few inches in depth,from dry. Myers declined offers of marshalls to keep and difficult to cross. spectators back from his course, so during his effortful By 1905 this hill climbing competition had becomeclimb he had to keep shouting Make way! to force a really big event. On the evening of June 28th soa passageway through the crowdreminiscent of many cyclists rode out from York and the surroundingscenes from todays Tour de France. Some spectators area that by the time they got to Stamford Bridgetried to run to keep level with him, but he was the cyclists riding two by two took 5 minutes totravelling so fast that they couldnt keep up. Although pass a given point at a speed of 10 miles an hour.he was successful in his attempt, no measures had It was estimated that there were nearly 1,000 peoplebeen taken to have the climb accurately timed; the present, including large numbers of farm hands andestimate was that he had ridden the hill in 8 minutes. other country people, who displayed a lively interest inAfter the crowds left, a 15 year old called Master the event. The man they had come to see was AlexAlbert Pearson, using the same bike, also managed Myers, a 27 year old cyclist of renown who worked atto ride up the course, though not so fast as Myers a big shop on Lendal called The Sporteries. So far inand in less of a straight line. It had previously been his career he had won over 1,300 in prize money. Forannounced that a lady would attempt the ascent but this attempt on the formidable challenge of Garrowbyshe did not choose to do so in the presence of so Hill he was riding a Lambert Brothers machine with 26large a crowd.inch wheels, a gear of 58 inches, with 6 inch cranksIn 1907 the hill climb competition was much 82 BULLETIN 6'