100-year-old cyclist takes to Tour de Yorkshire route
A 100-year-old cycling fan from Scarborough is gearing up for this year’s Tour de Yorkshire by showing you’re never too old to enjoy life on two wheels.
With the help of an assisted cycle Stanley Chadwick, known as Stan, ‘cycled’ along Scarborough’s North Bay today and crossed what will be the finish line of Stage Three of this year’s Tour de Yorkshire in the process.
Stan has been riding a bike since the age of eleven and has never owned a car. He is the only surviving co-founder of Scarborough Paragon Cycling Club, which he set up in 1953 with two friends, Len Raine and Ken Atkins.
His lifelong passion for the two-wheeled pastime began in earnest when he joined Scarborough based Eagle Touring Club at the age of sixteen and enrolled with the Scarborough and District Cycling Club the following year. Stan actively raced until well into his eighties and enjoyed his last social ride at the age of 90. But the modest centenarian recalls that he has “only been a medium rider all his life” and “was never a star or anything like that.”
Today he was guest of honour of Scarborough and Ryedale Community Cycling, which provides cycling opportunities for everyone, including those with mobility issues. He was joined by a host of other cycling enthusiasts.
Up until recent years Stan was an avid reader of all cycling publications, newspapers, sports reports and books, keeping up to date with all the modern trends and developments in the sport. But for someone who worked in engineering for a lot of his life, he admits: “I can’t quite get my head around carbon fibre!”
Sir Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire paid tribute to Stan:
Stan recalls sitting outside his nursing home with a cup of tea waving his Tour de Yorkshire banner last year as the riders raced past during Stage One of the inaugural race. This year he's looking forward to welcoming them back to his home town.