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  • Several years ago Hippy said in a forum post that 'I doubt whether 5% of people on here have heard of Beryl Burton'.

    Perhaps that was putting it a bit strongly, but if you're not aware of her there's a big gap in your cycling knowledge.

    If you have a look at this VeloUK article you may be encouraged to find out more, perhaps even to buy Jeremy Wilson's book. One intriguing story in it is Xavier Disley's research which compares BB's actual times, done with no modern aerodynamic aids, with the times that she would have achieved with modern kit. This work was done with the aid of BB's last TT bike, a model wearing her clothes and even equipped with a curly wig, and the same model with a modern bike and kit, both in a wind tunnel.

    The results suggest that her performances would still be records at all distances except 10 miles. And that was on the basis of her 'antique' training method which was simply to ride a great many hard miles!

    Here's the link:
    https://www.velouk.net/2022/08/19/news-pedal-club-lunch-report-august/

  • Will have a look.

    I bought "Beryl Burton - Personal Best" back in 2009. That must've been about when I started riding TTs. No idea why or where I first heard of her exploits but I am a pretty voracious reader (if not of books these days, at least online) and reading about people good at something is a good way to find ways to be better at something :)

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