A Brief History of the 160 Year Old Cyclist

After over a century and a half in business, it still comes back to the same things - be kind and look after your customers. We’ve had one friend longer than any other, Fraser has been with us since the beginning, at the spritely young age of 160 there’s not much he hasn't seen.

A brief resume of the life of one of the world’s greatest cyclists:

  • Name: Fraser ‘On The Rivet’ Fothergill
  • Born: Aberfeldy, Scotland.
  • Date of birth: 20.2.(18)59
  • Currently residing: Sutton, England.
  • Married: Betty Turner 1879, died 1933
  • Married: Carol Dindle 1936, absconded 1968
  • Partnered: Collette ‘Cod Face’ Peck 1973 to date.

TEAMS

  • Professional Debut: Pearson High wheelers 1878-1887
  • Pearson/Dunlop 1889-1896
  • Pearson/ChaterLea 1896-1914
  • GREAT WAR
  • Pearson/British Army 1918-1939
  • WORLD WAR TWO
  • Pearson/Courage Best 1945-1951
  • Pearson/Ovaltine 1951-1959
  • Pearson/Old Mutual 1960-1971
  • Mills/Pearson – 1971-1985
  • RETIRED FROM COMPETITION

FAVOURITE BIKES

  • Pearson – The Dandy Penny Farthing
  • Pearson – Big Rimmer Penny Farthing
  • Pearson – Safety First Safety Bike
  • Pearson – Endeavour Road Rally
  • Pearson – One on One Road Bike
  • Pearson – Hammertime #1 Road Bike
  • Pearson – A Cunning Plan Touring Bike
  • Pearson – Wet as an Otters Pocket Commuter
  • Pearson – I Will Survive Utility Bike
  • Pearson – Hammertime #7 Road Bike
  • Pearson – Off Grid Gravel Bike
  • Pearson – Minegoestoeleven Aero Road

ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Around the world ride 1888 – 330 DAYS
  • President of the fixed wheel association 1895 – 1917
  • To the Bar Gentleman’s Cycling Club – Founder 1920
  • Three Peak Unicycle Challenge – 1946
  • USA ‘Mission to the Moon’ cycle to Florida – 1969
  • Brighton and Back x 5 in 24 hours – 1972
  • Silver Jubilee Ride Windsor to Balmoral to Buckingham Palace – 1977
  • ‘Miles to Mars’ award in recognition of miles spent on a bike – 1995
  • Golden Jubilee Ride Botswana to Buck House single-handed (one hand on the bar) – 2002
  • Brighton and Back blindfolded on ‘The Dandy’ for 150 year anniversary of Pearson – 2010
Fraser is fitter than ever and continues to ride most days. He recently turned down the presidency of ‘The Over the Hill’ club for the fourth time in the last decade, citing inappropriate selection for a person of such youth.