EVENT – Bicycle Feat Pontefract to Redcar

Accreditation The Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea Gazette 24/08/1877.

BICYCLE   FEAT – PONTEFRACT TO REDCAR.

On Tuesday night last (21/08), Mr. Tom Crossland, son of Mr. Councillor Crossland, of Southgate house, Pontefract, arrived in Redcar on his bicycle, having accomplished, the journey from Pontefract (nearly ninety miles) in one day. The route taken was Pontefract to York, thence Easingwold, and on to Thirsk, Stokesley, Guisborough, and Redcar. The journey was commenced a little after six o’clock in the morning, and notwithstanding the fact that the way was entirely unknown to the bicyclist, and the roads be exceedingly bad for bicycle travelling through the incessant rain of Monday (20/08), all so several steep and difficult hills, and, above all, the last 15 miles having to be done in the dark, (mainly the fault of a villager giving a wrong route from Stokesley to Guisborough, thereby causing some miles to have to be retraced). Yet the whole distance was accomplished by a little after eleven the same night, neither bicycle not bicyclist any worse for their long day’s journey.