Walter Greaves (cyclist)
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Walter Greaves Personal information
Full name         Walter William Greaves
Date of birth         April–June 1907
Place of birth          United Kingdom
Date of death         1987
Team information
Discipline         Road - Endurance rider
Role         Rider
Rider type         All-rounder
Amateur team(s)
Airedale CC
Major wins
World Endurance record for a single year
- 45,383 miles (73,037 km) in 1936
Infobox last updated on
13 October 2008

Walter William Greaves (April–June 1907[1] – 1987) was a British cyclist who set the world record for distance ridden in a year - despite having only one arm and falling off numerous times. Greaves rode 45,383 miles (73,037 km) in 1936.
Contents
[hide]

    1 Personal life
    2 The 1936 World Endurance record
       2.1 Record background
       2.2 Preparations
       2.3 The bicycle
       2.4 The 1936 record ride
       2.5 End of the record
    3 The Golden Book
    4 Life after the record
    5 Notes
    6 References

[edit] Personal life

Greaves was born in 1907, his birth was registered in the North Bierley district, Yorkshire. He lived with his mother in Newlands Place, Undercliffe, Bradford.[2] He lost an arm in a road accident when he was 14.[2] One account says his father owned a car with running boards. His father was driving after drinking and Greaves opened the door, stood on the running board ready to jump, but was hit by a tram. His arm was so damaged that it was amputated below the elbow.[3] Other accounts said that he had hung the arm out of a train window.

He developed an interest in communism which did little to help him find work as an engineer. According to the historian John Naylor, Greaves was unemployed and according to some, almost destitute. Unemployment in Bradford was high but "his reputation as a lefty troublemaker made employers reluctant to take him on".[4] Tim Teale, a Leeds cyclist who knew Greaves said "Walter tried to make you sign up for the young communists but nobody took much notice".[5]

Greaves was an outspoken teetotaller, a practice which had a sequel when he broke the record.
[edit] The 1936 World Endurance record
[edit] Record background

The world record for distance cycled in a year began in 1911, an era when bicycle companies competed to show their machines were the most reliable. The first holder was Marcel Planes of France, with 34,666 miles (55,790 km). The competition was organised by the magazine Cycling. The record has been established nine times.[6] A tenth claim, by the English rider Ken Webb, was later disallowed.[n 1]
Year         Record holder         Country         Distance
1911         Marcel Planes          France         34,666 miles (55,790 km)
1932         Arthur Humbles          Great Britain         36,007 miles (57,948 km)
1933         Ossie Nicholson          Australia         43,966 miles (70,756 km)
1936         Walter Greaves          Great Britain         45,383 miles (73,037 km)
1937         Bernard Bennett          England         45,801 miles (73,710 km)
1937         René Menzies          France         61,561 miles (99,073 km)
1937         Ossie Nicholson          Australia         62,657 miles (100,837 km)
1939         Bernard Bennett          England         65,127 miles (104,812 km)
1939         Tommy Godwin          England         75,065 miles (120,805 km)