DHBC girl beats boys in competitive racing back in the 1960s

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marc2131
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Postby marc2131 » 02 Dec 2011, 21:24

Came across this article from the Australian Women's Weekly (dated May 1967).
The story is about Margaret McLachlan (nee Miller) formerly from the DHBC.
Margaret was an amateur racing cyclist but was so good often competing with and beating men. Consequently the NSW Amateur Cycling Union banned her from competing (with men) and withdrew her racing license. Apparently the DHBC disagreed with her racing ban. Click on the story below.
Anybody know what ever happened to her?
Regards
marc

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article ... *|||sortby

Eleri
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Postby Eleri » 03 Dec 2011, 04:55

Excellent story. How great is it that the club had a woman member like that. Go the Women's Weekly. I wonder where she is now?

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Trouty
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Postby Trouty » 03 Dec 2011, 06:13

Yeah what a fantastic article and to think she was from DHBC. Obviously I googled her and found a couple of interesting facts:

John McLachlan and his wife Margaret used to own Stanmore Cycles in Sydney in the 1980's and John built McLachlan frames back then. They then moved to Newcastle and ran Civic Bikes and John made frames in his workshop at Wangi, Lake Macquarie. John made racing and touring frames and also made some tandems.

Unfortunately John passed away around 2003. He and Margaret used to race out at Kooragang Island in Newcastle. Apparently his frames were sent around Australia and he and Margaret were well known in Newcastle. Civic Bikes was sold but apparently Margaret at the time the article was posted (2008) she was working as an employee for Civic

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marc2131
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Postby marc2131 » 03 Dec 2011, 09:07

That heaps of info on Margaret, Jo.
DHBC should invite her back for one of our functions as a guest and/or speaker, or something like that.
marc

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weiyun
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Postby weiyun » 03 Dec 2011, 13:03

She'd be in her 60-70s now.

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jbcow
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Postby jbcow » 03 Dec 2011, 14:36

Whoa what a rider! Sydney GPO to Melbourne GPO in 36hrs 33mins - elapsed time not ride time like our Garmins record for us on default settings.
I'd happily co-sponsor her travel costs to stop by the Club. Or we could ride up and back in a day in her honour. (OK, train it up and back and ride the last mile maybe).

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weiyun
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Postby weiyun » 03 Dec 2011, 16:46

Whoa what a rider! Sydney GPO to Melbourne GPO in 36hrs 33mins - elapsed time not ride time like our Garmins record for us on default settings.
And that would have been on the old Hume Hwy. Probably two or three times as hard compared to today's freeway.

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Postby mikesbytes » 03 Dec 2011, 20:42

Or we could ride up and back in a day in her honour. (OK, train it up and back and ride the last mile maybe).
I was considering that for an adventure ride

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weiyun
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Postby weiyun » 03 Dec 2011, 21:02

I was considering that for an adventure ride
That'll be an Adventure Trip. Just not in summer.

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simon.sharwood
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Postby simon.sharwood » 05 Dec 2011, 16:32

Margaret attended the DHBC centenary dinner. I shared a table with her.
She looked far younger than her years, lived in the Hunter valley IIRC and was full of beans and fond memories of DHBC.

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simon.sharwood
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Postby simon.sharwood » 05 Dec 2011, 16:35

Yay!

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weiyun
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Postby weiyun » 05 Dec 2011, 16:44

Margaret attended the DHBC centenary dinner. I shared a table with her.
She looked far younger than her years, lived in the Hunter valley IIRC and was full of beans and fond memories of DHBC.
There were quite a few characters at that dinner weren't there? Almost forgot.

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marc2131
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Postby marc2131 » 08 Dec 2011, 14:31

Harder than I thought; getting Margaret McLachlan's (nee Miller) contact details.
If anyone has any leads out there, please don't hesitate to try.
Regards
marc

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Trouty
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Postby Trouty » 08 Dec 2011, 17:47

Harder than I thought; getting Margaret McLachlan's (nee Miller) contact details.
If anyone has any leads out there, please don't hesitate to try.
Regards
marc
I just think she would be an interesting lady to chat to and write abit of a story on. Simon Sharwood - looks like a project for you!! I wish I knew about her at the centenary dinner. That would have been awesome to meet her.

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mikesbytes
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Postby mikesbytes » 08 Dec 2011, 17:52

I had a look for the centenary dinner photos but didn't find them, there were some dead links to news articles. Simon S, have you got them?

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Toff
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Postby Toff » 11 Dec 2011, 13:40

Huw was the official photographer for the Centenary dinner. He went to Canberra before he shared them. We should probably ask him for them again. I'm sure he's still got them.

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marc2131
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Postby marc2131 » 14 Dec 2011, 16:08

Found her!
She works at Civic Bikes in Newcastle. I just called the shop and was told she only works Saturdays.
Now that we have her contact number and she will be told the DHBC is keen to get in touch, what do we do from here?
Invite her for the next DHBC function? Guest speaker? Write a column on the website?
Regards
marc

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Postby PatW » 14 Dec 2011, 16:43

Such a great story - perhaps the best way to tell it would be in naming an annual event after her. Miller-McLachlan Cup? Track event for Junior Girls? Club-based teams Road event? Endurance event on the track or road? 36 hour teams endurance event to commemorate the Sydney-Melbourne feat? Or even just a community-event ride.
Wouldn't harm the club's profile.

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Trouty
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Postby Trouty » 14 Dec 2011, 17:51

Such a great story - perhaps the best way to tell it would be in naming an annual event after her. Miller-McLachlan Cup? Track event for Junior Girls? Club-based teams Road event? Endurance event on the track or road? 36 hour teams endurance event to commemorate the Sydney-Melbourne feat? Or even just a community-event ride.
Wouldn't harm the club's profile.
That is a great idea - a special race named after her. Maybe our publicity officer could write a story on her too? Maybe I can email her through the bike shop. Watch this space.

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marc2131
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Postby marc2131 » 14 Dec 2011, 19:01

The special race idea is a good one.
Jo, would you like to contact her on behalf of the DHBC? Feel it is more appropriate if someone with a longer history with the DHBC (i only joined in July this year) or a DHBC committee member does so.
Am not sure if she has an email address, but then havent had the op to ask her yet. PM me if you need the shop phone number. The youngish guy (at the shop) I spoke to seem to know of her early achievements at the DHBC.
marc

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mikesbytes
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Postby mikesbytes » 14 Dec 2011, 20:56

I've emailed Huw about the centennial photos

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Trouty
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Postby Trouty » 15 Dec 2011, 05:52

The special race idea is a good one.
Jo, would you like to contact her on behalf of the DHBC? Feel it is more appropriate if someone with a longer history with the DHBC (i only joined in July this year) or a DHBC committee member does so.
Am not sure if she has an email address, but then havent had the op to ask her yet. PM me if you need the shop phone number. The youngish guy (at the shop) I spoke to seem to know of her early achievements at the DHBC.
marc
I can contact the shop, maybe just try and make contact to ask her some questions for a story on the forum. I will have to ask Simon about the race, to make it all official.

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mikesbytes
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Postby mikesbytes » 15 Dec 2011, 22:06

I've emailed Huw about the centennial photos
Lindsay has a copy of the photos. Fouard also took photos

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Trouty
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Postby Trouty » 19 Dec 2011, 15:54

I spoke to this lady and said we would be writing a Forum Article on her and try and catch up with her face to face in line with Calga time trials some time in Jan, Feb or March. She has plenty of articles she has kept and will be interesting to have a chat to. She still rides today and still works on bikes via Civic Bike Shop. She told me in her youth, she used to ride on her own every Sunday, some times doing 300km most weekends - Coogie to Razer Back return. What a lady. Good motivation for some of our club woman. Watch this space.

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marc2131
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Postby marc2131 » 14 Mar 2013, 18:58

Can someone invite Margaret McLoughlin to the Sydney Classic Bicycle Show?
I dont have her contact details now but believe Jo T spoke to her back in Dec 2011.

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Trouty
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Postby Trouty » 16 Mar 2013, 09:46

Can someone invite Margaret McLoughlin to the Sydney Classic Bicycle Show?
I dont have her contact details now but believe Jo T spoke to her back in Dec 2011.

I have pm you her number

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marc2131
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Postby marc2131 » 16 Mar 2013, 18:23

Spoke to Margaret today. Told her about what the club is doing and especially that we'd love to have her over during the Classic Bike show. Unfortunately she has a prior engagement and is unable to make it this coming Saturday. She is very friendly and seems keen to keep in touch with the club and maybe it's activities.
marc


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