The author of a book telling the true story of one of the world’s greatest cyclists, will be in Nantwich this weekend.
Godfrey Barlow will be signing copies of “Unsurpassed – The Story of Tommy Godwin, the World’s Greatest Distance Cyclist” at Nantwich Bookshop.
The book signing will take place this Saturday February 25, between 11am and midday.
Unsurpassed is based on a challenge laid down by a cycling magazine in 1910 to find who could ride a bicycle the greatest distance in one calendar year.
Barlow’s amazing book tells the true story of Tommy Godwin, a 27-year-old cyclist from Stoke-on-Trent, who responded to that challenge.
Godwin went on to set a standard so high that his record remains unsurpassed after more than 70 years.
He became and remains the ‘Greatest Long Distance Cyclist in the World’.
Setting out on January 1, 1939, Godwin battled through the snow, ice, hail and wind of a severe British winter, then a hot summer.
He suffered cuts and bruises from falls on poor roads, and had to deal with the restrictions imposed by the outbreak of the Second World War.
Riding everday except one, he achieved the unbelievable total of over 75,000 miles in the year – the equivalent of four times round the world or from Lands End to John O’Groats 88 times in a year.
Not satisfied with that remarkable feat, he continued to ride until he completed 100,000 miles by Whitsun the following year.
These two endurance records have never been beaten to this day. The book is on sale in paperback for £11.95.
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