| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Dave Griffiths
E, Silver
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 1181
|
 Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 3:19 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| Tucker wrote: |
1. The guy in the wooly jumper has no legs. Fact.
2. The guy in front of him is the shortest man in the world. |
Dennis Tarr was very definitely 'one of the UK's top riders' in the 1960's, and had endurance plus a powerful sprint.
He kept a low profile and went 'under the radar' of many big rivals 
Dennis rode LVRC etc, possibly until the early 2000's and, while his weight was 'way up' (couldn't ride on the drops!) he was still winning sprint finishes! Some heart issues then forced him to pack in racing.
Quite a guy! His 'palmares' would be bettered by few in the UK, not that I have a list to publish. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Roy Gardiner
T de F Winner
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 21249
Location: London and Essex
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 3:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Dave Griffiths wrote: |
| Dennis rode LVRC etc, possibly until the early 2000's and, while his weight was 'way up' (couldn't ride on the drops!) he was still winning sprint finishes! |
Fairly sure I saw him at Eastway as a (pardon me) very fat old git indeed, with a weird beard as well. Rode away from most of us, too... 
_________________
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong." H. L. Mencken
"Everything in war is simple, but the simplest thing is difficult." Carl Von Clausewitz |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JONNO
Div 1 Pro
Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 9031
Location: Up North
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Dogma Dave wrote: |
| legro wrote: |
| great picture Dave what a star |
What Legro said.  |
Yeah plus a gazillion. To do races like was it 113 miles or something the Manx was with rationing still being in and all that is awesome.
(only joking about the rationing Dave!)
_________________
I was being chased by a police dog last week, and made the mistake of trying to escape through a little tunnel, over a see-saw and through a hoop of fire. It finally caught me as I was weaving in and out of some sticks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dave Griffiths
E, Silver
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 1181
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| JONNO wrote: |
| Dogma Dave wrote: |
| legro wrote: |
| great picture Dave what a star |
What Legro said. |
Yeah plus a gazillion. To do races like was it 113 miles or something the Manx was with rationing still being in and all that is awesome.
(only joking about the rationing Dave!) |
I think we had sweets by then (not that I ever ate any )
but the Pro race was 'only' 100 miles, 10 laps of the Onchan circuit. I would 'suggest' that this was harder than the Manx lap as all you seemed to do was: climb and descend. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JONNO
Div 1 Pro
Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 9031
Location: Up North
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Dave Griffiths wrote: |
| JONNO wrote: |
| Dogma Dave wrote: |
| legro wrote: |
| great picture Dave what a star |
What Legro said. |
Yeah plus a gazillion. To do races like was it 113 miles or something the Manx was with rationing still being in and all that is awesome.
(only joking about the rationing Dave!) |
I think we had sweets by then (not that I ever ate any )
but the Pro race was 'only' 100 miles, 10 laps of the Onchan circuit. I would 'suggest' that this was harder than the Manx lap as all you seemed to do was: climb and descend. |
I remember watching it one year, Barry Hoban, Graham Webb of VR fame and Vinny Denson were all riding and I remember going to the hotel they were staying in with me dad and being in total awe. Bizarrely I can still remember the conversation they were all having which was about the benefits of eating raw meat to get a tape worm and lose weight and at what stage you should take poison to get rid of it. I was about 12 at the time so found it quite fascinating! Not sure if it wasn't the year after Simpson died so '68 probably. If you have ever ridden down off the mountain in a hailstorm praying your brakes will work at every corner you might argue the 'hardness' case. 
_________________
I was being chased by a police dog last week, and made the mistake of trying to escape through a little tunnel, over a see-saw and through a hoop of fire. It finally caught me as I was weaving in and out of some sticks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mho
Div 1 Pro
Joined: 28 Jul 2003
Posts: 9577
Location: going round the banking
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 6:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
This is one of those delightful occaisions when a thread goes in an entirely different direction that is most welcome (instead of punnery/name calling and the like).
Can we have some more old pictures please. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Joursans
Div 2 Pro
Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Posts: 4840
Location: The Whole Year Inn
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Roy Gardiner wrote: |
| Yeah but who's the geezer behind Mr Tarr with the TOP wooly on? |
I was just admiring how "nails" everyone looked in the photo until the Rudolph knitwear spoiled it.
_________________
I tell myself I will not go,
even as I drive there. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dave Griffiths
E, Silver
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 1181
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| JONNO wrote: |
| Dave Griffiths wrote: |
| JONNO wrote: |
| Dogma Dave wrote: |
| legro wrote: |
| great picture Dave what a star |
What Legro said. |
Yeah plus a gazillion. To do races like was it 113 miles or something the Manx was with rationing still being in and all that is awesome.
(only joking about the rationing Dave!) |
I think we had sweets by then (not that I ever ate any )
but the Pro race was 'only' 100 miles, 10 laps of the Onchan circuit. I would 'suggest' that this was harder than the Manx lap as all you seemed to do was: climb and descend. |
I remember watching it one year, Barry Hoban, Graham Webb of VR fame and Vinny Denson were all riding and I remember going to the hotel they were staying in with me dad and being in total awe. Bizarrely I can still remember the conversation they were all having which was about the benefits of eating raw meat to get a tape worm and lose weight and at what stage you should take poison to get rid of it. I was about 12 at the time so found it quite fascinating! Not sure if it wasn't the year after Simpson died so '68 probably. If you have ever ridden down off the mountain in a hailstorm praying your brakes will work at every corner you might argue the 'hardness' case. |
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Stotti
E, Bronze
Joined: 29 Aug 2008
Posts: 427
|
| Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 11:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Fabulous pic Dave - must be great memories if you can forget the pain. You make John Woodburn look positively fat in that pic, and im guessing he wasnt.
_________________
Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.
I was ridin bikes when Moses wore short pants |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rich Hill
Tour Winner
Joined: 15 Aug 2002
Posts: 15188
Location: Coventry
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Tucker wrote: |
| QUALLA photo - looking buff. |
What he said... I am very envious 
_________________
Imagination is the war against reality.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Des
Moderator
Joined: 19 Apr 2002
Posts: 16900
Location: Harrow
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 8:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
Surely it's time for the IoM week to resurrected given the current resurgence in the sport, and the success of Manx riders like Cav?
_________________
www.kentonrc.co.uk |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Voodoo
Div 2 Pro
Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Posts: 5675
Location: Park Lane, London / South Wales / Sparta
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 8:45 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Des wrote: |
| Surely it's time for the IoM week to resurrected given the current resurgence in the sport, and the success of Manx riders like Cav? |
I'd love to go back out there!
A great weeks worth of cycling
_________________
http://uk.movember.com/mospace/289902/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dave Griffiths
E, Silver
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 1181
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
http://www.iomtt.com/TT-2010/*CENSORED*-Race-Schedule.aspx it should read Pr act ice-an d-R ace
Compared to setting up a 'big race', over an exciting course, in England, Wales or Scotland, it would 'seem' that to resurrect the Isle of Man Cycling Week could be a simpler or more straightforward task. For those who don't know, the Cycling Week followed directly on from the TT Week and benefitted from the race route preparations made for that i.e straw bales on dodgy bits, route markers and road surface conditions (no potholes, loose gravel etc).
It always seemed popular with the residents and must surely have contributed to the 'holiday season income'.
The TT Stand is there and all the associated 'stuff' helps to add atmosphere. Some basic (at that time) changing facilities existed under the stand and the loudspeaker system was available.
Of course, it all needs organising and that's where I duck out!
I believe that I heard one of the reasons for its decline was the cessation of the Liverpool ferrys that most used.
My take on the Week was on the following lines and remember ..... I was spectacularly unsuccessful - and I still loved it.
Maybe others will have different opinions but the Manx and Clypse courses that I rode were almost unmatched. If you want courses that will sort out the wheat from the chaff - they are the bees knees
There was no way 'anyone' could sit-in and win on them. As Jonno correctly said, the weather could play a big part but even on a brilliant day, that Manx 113 miles would be super tough. The sheer speed, on the 12 mile flat stretch, from Ballig to Ramsey, allowed massive attacks to develop, full road width in use. You could be sitting 'fairly comfortably' in a 'good working' echelon and ANOTHER echelon 'scream' past on the far side, Wow!
Of course, all this 'fun' came to a crunching reality, immediately after threading through Ramsey town centre. On my final appearance there, in 1967, by a fluke of echelon timing (and with no relevance), I actually led through Ramsey on the second lap, quite something, with big crowds, lots of noise. I don't know the gradient, but the first, short, section is seriously steep, then eases but goes on forever! For those who think they can climb, being able to 'climb' is, of itself, of no value. You HAVE to be able to ride at the race pace. That meant, in my day (with only 10 speed) I had to climb with a bottom gear of 44x23 (normally had 20 or 21 bottom). Any lower gear and you wouldn't keep up. As the climb progressed, the pace increased and one had to change up to 44x20 (13,15,17,20,23 block - BIG steps!) and, while the peleton pace was 'fairly steady' you could 'feel' surges and that's when the splits came.
Yes Des, can someone get it back, proper racing! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
one man army
Div 2 Pro
Joined: 11 Nov 2003
Posts: 5898
Location: Brighton & Hove
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 2:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
What a great photo
What a great jumper
I remember watching a hirsuite Dennis Tarr only a few years ago at Preston Park. Babydinotrackboy must have raced against him down there?
_________________
Rap's Rambo! One Man Army had it with your mumbo jumbo
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Gains
E, Bronze
Joined: 17 Apr 2009
Posts: 284
Location: Derbyshire
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
BMI = a load of old sh1te.
Get a pair of Accumeasure bodyfat calipers (or similar) for a tenner and you'll have a better idea as to whether or not you need to lay off the pies.
_________________
If another cyclist nods/waves/says hello, ignore them: to give any form of acknowledgement is a sign of weakness. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Webster
Cat 2 Groupie
Joined: 07 Jan 2005
Posts: 49
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 2:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Dogma Dave wrote: |
| Roy Gardiner wrote: |
| The oldest of all -- simple waist measurement -- is the best indicator. |
The British Heart Foundation share that view. |
i got a tape measure through the post from the british heart foundation about this, i thought id give it a try 31" and i was only about 1" away from being "at risk" so basically almost all of the british population is "at risk"
_________________
www.CardiffAjaxCycling.co.uk
"If you wish to be in front, then act as if you where behind" -- Lao-Tzu |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
JONNO
Div 1 Pro
Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 9031
Location: Up North
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 2:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Dave Griffiths wrote: |
http://www.iomtt.com/TT-2010/*CENSORED*-Race-Schedule.aspx it should read Pr act ice-an d-R ace
Compared to setting up a 'big race', over an exciting course, in England, Wales or Scotland, it would 'seem' that to resurrect the Isle of Man Cycling Week could be a simpler or more straightforward task. For those who don't know, the Cycling Week followed directly on from the TT Week and benefitted from the race route preparations made for that i.e straw bales on dodgy bits, route markers and road surface conditions (no potholes, loose gravel etc).
It always seemed popular with the residents and must surely have contributed to the 'holiday season income'.
The TT Stand is there and all the associated 'stuff' helps to add atmosphere. Some basic (at that time) changing facilities existed under the stand and the loudspeaker system was available.
Of course, it all needs organising and that's where I duck out!
I believe that I heard one of the reasons for its decline was the cessation of the Liverpool ferrys that most used.
My take on the Week was on the following lines and remember ..... I was spectacularly unsuccessful - and I still loved it.
Maybe others will have different opinions but the Manx and Clypse courses that I rode were almost unmatched. If you want courses that will sort out the wheat from the chaff - they are the bees knees
There was no way 'anyone' could sit-in and win on them. As Jonno correctly said, the weather could play a big part but even on a brilliant day, that Manx 113 miles would be super tough. The sheer speed, on the 12 mile flat stretch, from Ballig to Ramsey, allowed massive attacks to develop, full road width in use. You could be sitting 'fairly comfortably' in a 'good working' echelon and ANOTHER echelon 'scream' past on the far side, Wow!
Of course, all this 'fun' came to a crunching reality, immediately after threading through Ramsey town centre. On my final appearance there, in 1967, by a fluke of echelon timing (and with no relevance), I actually led through Ramsey on the second lap, quite something, with big crowds, lots of noise. I don't know the gradient, but the first, short, section is seriously steep, then eases but goes on forever! For those who think they can climb, being able to 'climb' is, of itself, of no value. You HAVE to be able to ride at the race pace. That meant, in my day (with only 10 speed) I had to climb with a bottom gear of 44x23 (normally had 20 or 21 bottom). Any lower gear and you wouldn't keep up. As the climb progressed, the pace increased and one had to change up to 44x20 (13,15,17,20,23 block - BIG steps!) and, while the peleton pace was 'fairly steady' you could 'feel' surges and that's when the splits came.
Yes Des, can someone get it back, proper racing! |
Check the tli website, there seems to be more racing in the IOM than the rest of the UK put together!
_________________
I was being chased by a police dog last week, and made the mistake of trying to escape through a little tunnel, over a see-saw and through a hoop of fire. It finally caught me as I was weaving in and out of some sticks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bally
Div 2 Pro
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 5664
|
| Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 4:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Dave Griffiths wrote: |
I'm the 'skinny one' 2nd left, Helyett, behind John Woodburn, with Dennis Tarr to right. From Isle of Man Pro Race, 1962.
 |
Who's the guy with the dodgy jumper who's getting a 'backy' from Dennis Tarr.  And Dennis is must have been on a stormer that day if he can go up the mountain like that 
_________________
Bally: Putting the @rse into Grass.
www.easterleycycling.org.uk/CycleStatsLite.exe for Gears, Revs, Speed, BBAR calc, Pursuit Scheduling etc.
"your power is truly awesome" - John McC
"real class" - George Gilbert" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
olamba
E, Silver
Joined: 29 May 2010
Posts: 1106
Location: Istanbul not Constantinople
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Dogma Dave
Div 1 Pro
Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Posts: 6714
Location: God's Own County
|
| Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 9:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Webster wrote: |
| Dogma Dave wrote: |
| Roy Gardiner wrote: |
| The oldest of all -- simple waist measurement -- is the best indicator. |
The British Heart Foundation share that view. |
i got a tape measure through the post from the british heart foundation about this, i thought id give it a try 31" and i was only about 1" away from being "at risk" so basically almost all of the british population is "at risk" |
It is 37" for men and 31.5" for women.
http://www.bhf.org.uk/bmi/bmi_measurewaist.html |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
