Pre 1950s rides of LFGSS: old bikes, vintage rats, classic lightweights

My first ever experience of bike racing was a Herne Hill Good Friday meeting in the late '50's - my grandfather took me.

My most vivid memory from that day ws the noise of the inch pitch block chains which nearly every rider seemed to be using - this 'Betteride' is still in the grip of that fashion.

I'm not really sure what the reason for using it was. Possible ideas were that it was somehow more 'positive', that it gave a better, more immediate response or that it was stronger (it's 3/16" wide). I've only ever heard of it being used on the track.

Since it's not possible to break a normal chain with pedal pressure, I don't think the strength argument is valid and I can't really see that the other suggestions have anything in them.

Even as a boy, it struck me that all the noise they made, exciting though it might have been, implied inefficiency.

I don't think block chains lasted much into the '60's - probably others thought the same way I did.

This is an interesting machine and it would be a shame to modernise it, but unless someone organises events for vintage track bikes, the only real use it has is to be admired as a collector's item.