Herne Hill - Pedals & Puddles

The adrenaline rush of a race at South London's famous velodrome at the height of a cycling boom.

The adrenaline rush of a race at South London's Herne Hill velodrome is captured in this newsreel, shot at the height of Britain's cycling boom. Some dexterous photography captures the awesome pace of this five-mile contest, with the camera's valiant efforts to track the speeding riders leaving the spectators - and us - all in a blur.

Throughout the 1920s and 30s the Herne Hill cycling track was at the peak of its popularity, with the velodrome attracting massive crowds. The winner, H. Pryor, was a member of Britain's most successful cycling club, the Manchester Wheelers.