Happy Birthday Marshall Taylor

Reminder to give a toast, today, to the world’s best / fastest cyclist
ever; today being Marshall “Major” Taylors birthday.

Now some might argue that Zimmerman was equal, having one won some 1400
races* prior to *Major’s 14 year reign of dominance, but even Zimmerman, be
described as the best pedaler anyone had ever seen, likely would have
succumbed to Major’s raw smooth power. How much speed and power? It is
difficult to compare because of differences in bicycle and tracks. But for
example, we do know he set a paced mile record averaging 45 mph, the pacing
vehicle did not have any special fairings, and near the end he could
accelerate past, up to probably near 50 mph all by himself into the wind!

Knowing that every athlete has down days, that he won such a high
percentage of races is astounding.

It was easy, as mentioned by one recent author, researching for his book,
to know what and where Major Taylor was for all of those competing years,
because he was written about in a newspaper every day!

Especially considering the competition. With race purses so high that
winning a single race could set you up for life, the thousands of pro
cyclists, were tough and strong. (and many very smart and had trainers and
training plans that were on par with today’s pro cyclists). One advantage
to Major was that his mentor (Birdie Munger) was not that fast nor strong,
and thus had to rely on being smart and tactful. Birdie was also a master
(in every sense of the word) bicycle builder.

Cycling was such a tough sport, that some newspapers would quip how the up
and coming sport of football, in comparison, was a sport for sissies. It is
also interesting that some of the original High School athletics programs
were cycling. Meaning if you were a good athlete, you wouldn’t go into
football or basketball, etc, you would go into cycling.

Unimaginable to us in today’s society, these young men were coming out of a
manual labor based society. They were use to doing things like throwing 80
lb haybales on the end of the pitchfork up over their heads, all day long,
and thriving on it, that is, becoming stronger. (this is what my Dad did in
1960’s, so much so that when drafted into the army, the DI’s never did find
the end to his pushup capacity; they left him alone after 300. But as
strong and as great of work output as my Dad had, he couldn’t touch the
previous generation’s physical strength and work capacity, not even close,
I have heard many story...)

The point being Major’s competition was strong and fierce. And if plopped
down in todays peloton, I don’t think anyone could touch him. Happy
Birthday Marshall Taylor, the great one .