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The crazy world of pre-WWII extreme cyclists | Merlin Cycles Blog

Submitted by Brent Hugh on Sun, 08/30/2015 - 8:34am

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

In 1899 Charles Minthorpe Murphy was the first person to ride a mile in under a minute. He did this by drafting a steam train.

Murphy laid a two-mile carpet of boards in the middle of rails and built 11-foot side-wings and a small roof to the back of the train.

The boards moved up and down as the train passed over them, causing Murphy to ride a ‘wooden wave’. The train laboured to get up to 60mph at first.

Murphy: “Within five seconds the rate of speed was terrific; I was riding in a maelstrom of swirling dust, hot cinders, paper and other particles of matter. The whipsaw feeling through a veritable storm of fire became harder every second. I could feel myself getting weaker every second I saw ridicule, contempt, disgrace and a lifetime dream gone up in smoke. I saw the agonised faces, yelling, holding out stretched hands as if they would like to get hold of or assist me somehow.”

Just before the finish line the train slowed, Murphy crashed into the back of the train and was pulled up on to the train and into relative safety by spectators.

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The crazy world of pre-WWII extreme cyclists | Merlin Cycles Blog
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