The six-day race began to lose its 'charm' when it began to be regulated
in the late 19th century. Before then the format was directly copied
from that developed for pedestrianism, which enjoyed the same sort of
gate in the 1870s and 80s. Six-days solid with, as far as possible, no
rest, no sleep. Riders were kept going on coke (not the soft drink) as
this acts as a pain killer that will override cramp (as the UK largely
controlled the world's opium industry I suppose this was contributing to
the nation's wellbeing in its own small way). Often 'trainers' would
resort to physical intervention that would now be considered downright
assault to force riders to keep going. There was a lot of satire in
'Punch' and the like along the lines of 'Snooks was flagging until the
scientific application of a red hot poker to his legs acted most
marvellously to rejuvinate his muscles and he took the lead...'. While
the riders were endlessly circulating the punters were kept amused by
brass bands and stage acts conducted in centre of the ring. Refreshments
(along the lines of those mentioned below) were also served. As the
races were continual they attracted waves of visitors, most in the
early-mid evenings, of course, and getting rowdier as the nights
matured, with the largest gate on the final Saturday. As far as can be
ascertained, the audience was broad in terms of social class; like
music-hall, six-day racing was not quite 'respectable' thus making it
appealing to respectable middle-class folk who liked to think of
themselves as a bit daring. The near-death condition of the riders was,
of course, what the audience found most exciting, there was a real
chance of seeing one collapse completely with commensurate flurry and no
doubt many in the audience hoped for another to pile into the fallen,
although this was rare as the riders were usually well spaced. Of
course, such events were seen as the diametric opposite of the
'gentleman amateur' competition that the cycling clubs (particularly the
BU/NCU) believed cycling should be about. Riders were mainly drawn from
the lowest ranks of society attracted by the possibility of a
substantial cash prize. Notably the non-cash element of the prize was
usually a winners' belt, which equated the activity with the culture
surrounding pugilism. This was all in what Rudiger Rabenstein called
'the heroic period of doping' when it seemed perfectly right that if
machinery could be made to function better with chemical and mechanical
intervention, it seemed logical to extend the intervention to the rider;
something that is so ingrained into cycling culture and so much part of
its history that I find it strange that there is such a worry about it
today. Anyway, six-day events have never attracted so much public
interest in the UK as they did in those 'heroic' times when the sakes
were very high indeed, along with the profits for the promoters.
Nicholas Oddy
-----Original Message-----
From: Cycling and Society Research Group discussion list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kevin Hickman
Sent: 16 September 2013 11:43
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Six Day Races
Never been to a six day race? It cropped up in Llangollen when
discussing whether bike racing is entertaining. It is for some
obviously, but it wasn't until I went to the ZesDaagse in Ghent
(http://www.z6sdaagse.be) that I realised track racing could be pretty
much pure entertainment. It's got the same elements as the Olympics and
the World's but it's a bit like wrestling in that the MC and the riders
are also putting on a show.
Don't worry, you don't have to go every day, each night's rides are a
self contained event, but the results of the rides throughout the week
tot up to give an overall winning team (13 teams of 2 riders in Ghent).
It's another of those sports that seems to have begun in the UK/GB and
then been 'lost' to other nations who excel at it and keep it going. I
know guys that used to go to six day races at Wembley in the 70s but
presumably it wasn't profitable enough to keep it going. I think the
Wembley six day track is now at Calshot on the edge of the New Forest,
which if you're into track riding you should really go and try if you've
only ridden the 250m velodromes. Calshot's shorter at 142m and steeper
so you don't have to be Mark Cavendish to really feel the g force
pushing you into the track on the bends - it's an extremely thrilling
ride!
Hopefully it'll come back to our shores one day - it has the potential
to be a universally popular form of cyclesport in my view. My wife can't
stand 'racing' but she thought it was a great night out.
I can't make Ghent this year so I'm off to Amsterdam next month
(http://www.zesdaagseamsterdam.nl). There's Copenhagen too
(http://www.6-dages.dk). All great places to visit in themselves, add to
that observing your chosen subject with a beer and a hotdog (vege
options available), now that's my kind of research :o)
Kevin.
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