Freddie Grubb

Notice of Freddie Grubb’s ability was first posted when he finished second to Jack Bishop in the 24-hour race at Herne Hill in 1909, the first such race in Britain since 1896. Grubb, originally known as Fred but later widely called Freddie, won the Bath Road Club 100-mile time-trial in 1910, and by the end of the year was being labeled “the fastest cyclist in the world”. Between 1909 and 1913, Grubb set many un-paced records including the London to Brighton, and back, record of 5-09:41 in 1912. He also set the Irish 50- and 100-mile road records at 2-20:27 and 5-11:12 respectively. In Ireland, he also won the Irish 50-mile Championship three years in succession, 1910-12, and set a new record for the 102 miles (164 km) journey from Dublin to Belfast in 5-21:05.

Grubb won the Anerley 12-hour time-trial at Liverpool in 1911, and the following year represented England at the Stockholm Olympics. He returned with two silver medals as runner-up in both the individual and team road race. Less than a couple of months after the Games, Grubb turned professional. He set the British one-hour record (something he had also done as an amateur), but had very little success after turning to the paid ranks of the sport. He made history in 1914, however, as the first Englishman to compete in a major Tour, when he was part of the Atala team in the Giro d’Italia. Atala had won the race in 1909-10 and 1912, but in 1914 pulled out en masse at the end of the first stage, thus making Grubb’s one and only appearance in a major Tour a brief one. Grubb never liked the Continental style of racing, calling his fellow riders “dirty”, so he returned to England. As races were limited for professionals in those days, however, he effectively ended his racing career. With financial backing from his fellow Olympian Charlie Davey, Grubb started manufacturing lightweight cycles, “Freddie Grubb Cycles” just before World War I.

When the War broke out, Grubb originally worked in a London munitions factory before joining the Navy. At the time, he had been a committed vegetarian since 1907, hence his membership of the Vegetarian C & AC. When he returned to civilian life, however, he was no longer a vegetarian because the Navy’s menu never catered to non meat-eaters.