Russell Mockridge book out soon

[timbo]

I was just looking at the Bicycle Victoria website and saw an article about a book on Russell Mockridge coming out soon. It will be a must read.

www.bv.com.au/join-in/41812/

[rob e]

interesting, i am halfway through "my world on wheels" which is my Dad's copy from the 1960's. Mockridge is my Dad's all time hero, having once carried his wheels for him as a kid in the 50's when Russell was racing at one of the Sydney velodromes (i cant remember which one).

[kukamunga]

If you want to make a quick dash down the Hume today, you could join in with some of us on this ride tomorrow morning

[scratchman]

I was just looking at the Bicycle Victoria website and saw an article about a book on Russell Mockridge coming out soon. It will be a must read.

www.bv.com.au/join-in/41812/

it's already out and I've read mine, lots of new pix, and some gory details of the accident, but interesting to get an insite into Irene, who has since passed on.
Cheers, Phil

[Aushiker]

The Guardian has story out this week, "The Forgotten Story of Russel Mockridge"

With his glasses taped to his head and a heavy, bone-shaking push bike for a ride, the lanky 18-year-old seemed an unlikely prospect when he turned up for his first club cycling race. Yet, when he died 12 years later – after two Olympic and two Empire gold medals and countless world records – there was a feeling that Russell Mockridge had not yet reached his full potential.

‘Mocka’ was a freakish and courageous talent whose feats in his day were as acclaimed as other Australian sporting icons, such as Phar Lap or Don Bradman. He was also one of those rare athletes whose talents are so prodigious as to force the rules of their sport to change.

Andrew

[HappyHumber]

Heard the name before, but never knew the back story. Thanks for the Guardian link, Andrew.

[edit : realized this was a bit of a thread revival... but thanks anyway, Andrew. Reckon I'll track a copy of this book down.]

[Derny Driver]

The Guardian has story out this week, "The Forgotten Story of Russel Mockridge"

With his glasses taped to his head and a heavy, bone-shaking push bike for a ride, the lanky 18-year-old seemed an unlikely prospect when he turned up for his first club cycling race. Yet, when he died 12 years later – after two Olympic and two Empire gold medals and countless world records – there was a feeling that Russell Mockridge had not yet reached his full potential.

‘Mocka’ was a freakish and courageous talent whose feats in his day were as acclaimed as other Australian sporting icons, such as Phar Lap or Don Bradman. He was also one of those rare athletes whose talents are so prodigious as to force the rules of their sport to change.

Andrew

Thanks for the link, I only just saw this thread. My uncle Roger Arnold (mentioned in the article) rode lots of madisons and omniums in Europe with Mocka. My uncle told me lots of stories about Russ in addition to the commonly told ones on here and in in his autobiography. The 1957 Sun Tour victory was just an amazing feat, as was his fastest time in the Warrnambool which stood for something like 14 years, when he was still asleep in bed when the limit riders set off.
Yes a freak of a cyclist but also a man of uncommon honesty and ethics, who never won the Austral because he refused to team with Patto or the other scratch men.
Thanks again

[HappyHumber]

Just to clarify, what is the name of the more recent book? Is it a revised, expanded edition of the original posthumous biography? A quick Google refers a lot to the original 1960s edition. "My world on wheels"... and the BV link above announcing the new book is long dead itself.

[il padrone]

"The Man in Front" by Martin Curtis

[HappyHumber]

cheers Pete.

[malnar]

My father in law gave us some photos yesterday & among them were these of Russell Mockridge at a social club sports night (I think at an Altona oil refinery) on 21 June 1957. Russell lived in a bungalow at my father in law's house in Ascot Vale for a year or two. He admired him greatly & says he was like a brother.

[foo on patrol]

That's a photo.

Foo