Francis William Shorland (29 September 1871 – 14 October 1929) was one of the dominant English

racing cyclist Cycle sport is Competition, competitive physical activity using bicycles. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, and cycle speedway. Non-racing ...

s of his generation, and triple winner of the prestigious 24-hours race for the Cuca Cocoa Cup that was disputed at the

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. He was a member of the North Road cycling club.

Cycling career

Shorland joined the North Road Club in London in August 1889 and would remain a member until his death in 1929. As a member of the club he would win the first three editions of its prestigious 24-hours race on the Great North Road. Having established himself as one of the top racing cyclists of the moment and he would confirm that status by winning the first three editions (from 1892 to 1894) of the 24 hours race at the newly created Herne Hill cycling track. As the race was sponsored by the Cuca Cocoa company, it became better-known as the Cuca Cocoa Cup.

Road Records

During his racing career Shorland was also a successful

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, and on different occasions he held the 12 and 24 hour bicycle records, London to

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and back record, the London to

Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after Newcastle ...

record (bicycle) and the London to

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record (bicycle and on a tandem with Monty Holbein).

Professional life

After his cycling career Shorland stayed connected to the bicycle and the emerging automobile industry. In 1909 he became the chairman and general manager of the

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automobile company.

References

* Along the Great North and Other Roads. A.B. Smith. {{DEFAULTSORT:Shorland, Frank 1871 births 1929 deaths English male cyclists Ultra-distance cyclists