More pictures of my past work can be viewed in the Photo Gallery and on my Website. Links are in the navigation bar at the top 
The Higginson Twins: Update
Fri, October 16, 2009 
On May 1st this year, I wrote an article titled “The Higginson Twins: A Pedaling Phenomenon.”
I wrote about an event held on March 23rd, 1952; the Calleva 25 mile time trial, an event restricted to a single gear of 72 inches. (48 x 18)
This event would go down in history when the first three riders would complete the distance in less than one hour.
The first time the magic one hour had been broken for 25 miles on a 72 inch gear.
Stan Higginson was the winner with a time of 59min. 20sec. Stan’s twin brother Bernard Higginson was second in 59min. 48sec. Dave Keeler took third place with a time of 59min. 58sec. Les Inman was fourth in 1hr. 0min. 52sec.
As a result of my writing this piece, Stan Higginson contacted me. A recent picture (Above right.) shows a still fit looking Stan, now 78 years young. His brother Bernard is also well; they live some fifteen miles apart, in Worcestershire, England.
Stan also sent some pictures from that era, including one taken right after the Calleva 25 at the moment history had been made. The picture is below.
From left to right is Les Inman (4th.) Stan Higginson (1st.) Bernard Higginson (2nd.) Dave Keeler (3rd.) Extreme right is Ken Sparks who was the 3rd member of the winning Halesowen C&AC team. Stan and Bernard were the 1st and 2nd Halesowen club members. Sparks time was 1hr. 3min. 10sec. and gave the Halesowen Team a total winning time of 3-2-18
Stan also gave me some interesting tid bits of information. He and Bernard normally raced on a single fixed gear of 84.4 inches. (50 x 16) He said it suited their slight build of 5’ 9 1/2” (176.5cm.) weighing 129 lb. (58.5kg.) and their very low profile positions.
Throughout the winter they trained on 62 inch gear. (46 x 20) This no doubt gave the twins their fast pedaling abilities.
Between 1952 and 1955 they won seven British National 25 Mile Championship Medals. 3 firsts, 2 seconds, and a third. Stan Higginson broke competition record 3 times. Their team. Halesowen C&AC won 3 National Championships, and broke competition record 4 times.
Stan’s fastest 25 was 56min. 21sec. and Bernard’s fastest time was 57min. 05sec.
The caption under this 1953 picture (Above) reads: The fastest of the brilliant cycling twins now serving in the Royal Air Force, S. F. Higginson has won the 25 miles championship of the Road Time Trials Council for the past two years, and is the current record holder with a time of 56 min. 29 sec. In July this year (1953) he became the first rider to beat 57 minutes at the distance.
Picture above: Stan Higginson turning in the North Lancashire 25 (1955)
Picture above: Stan riding a pursuit race at Herne Hill, London Track, Good Friday Meeting 1952
An interesting foot note. The person who put Stan in touch with me was Lewin Chalkley, who is the owner of Stan’s old Holdsworth frame. The frame below, recently restored, looks very much like the one in the picture above
Reader Comments (8)
Just found your blog and read for about an hour. Thoroughly enjoyed my short visit, and look forward to learning more about you and your ideas. Thank you for constructing this blog, and sharing. I like your writing style.
Thanks Dave for the info on the Higginson twins, I raced many times against them in 1950-51 Then I went in the RAF for my two years, I could never compete with them EVEN if I shaved my legs and put Brylcream on my hair. My fastest time in 1951 was a 58+ min 25TT in a club event. I think in a 72"event best I ever did was a 1-5+ The twins where the best, In 1950 and 51 My club the Midland C&AC John Chance,Myself John Crump and the late John Bradbury DID beat the Halesowen club a few times and we did win the team in NCU centre champ 25 each year AGAINST HalesowenCC. I also used pretty much the same gears in those days, BUT I could never twiddle a 72" in a 25 at those speeds, AMAZING! John Crump NOW Parker, Co USA
Interesting. Could you fudge tire size in these events to change the gearing slightly? Or was that locked in as well?
Jeff,
To check gear a measured distance was marked on the road. Crank had to do at least one complete revolution when bike was wheeled between these two marks.
Dave
Dave,
I noticed fender lugs on both thefront and rear dropouts of the track frame. I can understand on the fork but on a track rear dropout? Were these standard issue dropouts used on any fixed gear bike?
Tnx,
Jim
Jim,
Yes that was pretty much the standard set up. People often had just one bike that they would ride to work on each day with fenders, then the fenders would come off at the weekends for a time-trial or even a track race.
Dave
Speaking formyself and most of MY team mates, we could only afford ONE bike So MY bike had to do the lot, Track TTs grass racing cyclosross. and club rides for training,So you rode with mudguards(WONDER WHY) bag lights the whole kit, Attached the sprints with Cyclo levers (that I still have) and off to the races! arrived and strip down the machine and away you went After the race on went to lot a quick cuppa and back home, OR as I usually did off with the lads for a few more miles,
I finally decided to write a comment on your blog. I just wanted to say good job. I really enjoy reading your posts.
I was used to race with my friends when i was 16 years old.