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I also like the fact that he was a successful speed skater - https://www.britishskatinglegends.com/meredithleon.htm
I also like the fact that he was a successful speed skater - https://www.britishskatinglegends.com/meredithleon.htm
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SideshowBob
Leon Meredith
It's very noticeable that whenever you see a list of 'the greatest ever.......' (athletes, entertainers whatever) that the leading names are almost invariably recent. It seems as though whoever compiles these lists doesn't understand the word 'ever'.
So it is with Meredith, a name I've been familiar with all my cycling life. He was certainly one of the greatest personalities of the British bike scene, comparable with G.P. Mills, Frank Southall and trade figures like Claud Butler and Ron Kitchen.
Just one tiny example of his fame - Stan Butler, the 1932 olympian, father of Keith and proprietor of Allin Cycles, had the middle initial 'M'. This stood for Meredith, and it is recorded that Stan's Dad negotiated this with Stan's Mum, as it was a tribute to Leon.
The Classic Lightweight article is certainly interesting and informative, although I would like to take issue with some of the points made, but not in this post.
For me the greatest puzzle about Meredith is that he managed to escape accusations of professionalism when he was clearly de facto riding as a pro for Constrictor.