Cyril Heppleston

Cyril Heppleston (11 November 1912 – 18 September 1966)^[1][2] was an English cyclist from Bradford who broke the 100-mile, 200-mile and 12-hour competition records in 1937, and was the only man to beat 250 miles in 12 hours in open competition. He was regarded as 'among the greatest English unpaced time-trial riders.^[3]

Heppleston won the Best All-Rounder competition for 1937 with the record average of 22.348mph.^[3] His achievements were celebrated in 1938 when Cycling Weekly awarded him a page in the Golden Book of Cycling.^[3]

Heppleston was born in Bradford, Yorkshire in 1912 and worked as an electrical engineer.^[3] At 19, he joined Bradford Victoria CC and the following year moved to the Yorkshire Road Club. In 1934 he won his first open event and finished 55th in the 'Best All-rounder' Competition. In 1935, he came 23rd. In 1936 he was the only man to exceed 250 miles in 12 hours in open competition on the road.^[3]

In 1937, Heppleston broke the 100-mile, 200-mile and 12-hour records and was again the only man to exceed 250 miles in 12 hours in open competition on the road. He won the Best All-Rounder competition with the record average of 22.348mph: 50 miles in 2h 7m 29s; 100m in 4h 26m 9s, and 12 hours - 251+5⁄8 miles.^[3] Heppleston's world record 24-hours ride of 478+1⁄2 miles survived until Hubert Opperman beat it in Melbourne on 5 December 1939.^[4]

In 1939, as a professional for Hercules, he took 16 minutes off the Edinburgh-London record, riding on a diet that included a soup with raw eggs.^[5]

Cyril Heppleston's achievements were celebrated in 1937 when Cycling Weekly awarded him a page in the Golden Book of Cycling, now held in The Pedal Club archive.^[3]

• Norwood Paragon History of 1937

• Canberra Times, 16 August 1939. Record breaking English Cyclists. Image of Cyril Heppleston.