Herbert Osbaldeston Duncan
Herbert Osbaldeston Duncan ( born November 22, 1862 in London, † November 23, 1945 in Le Vésinet ) was a British racing cyclist, cycling pioneer and journalist.
Herbert Duncan came from a distinguished family of the British landed gentry. His grandfather was one of the first sports stars of Great Britain, George Osbaldeston, who celebrated as a cricketer and obstacle rider success. End of the 1870s, Duncan became friends with the French cyclists Paul Medinger and Frédéric de Civry who had come to Britain to race. In September 1880 Duncan, himself to be a professional cyclist, which met with resistance in his social circles decided. He held therefore becoming more common in France, also because there are many professional races were held, all still on the unicycle. In 1883 he won the Grand Prix d' Angers, a then renowned sprint competition. For more race he traveled together with Medinger, De Civry and Charles Terront, which were, in their time as the best drivers to race in other European countries. 1886 Duncan won for the third time in a row the championship of Leicester over 50 miles in a record time of two hours and 49 minutes, the sprint race in Agen. In 1886 he ended his active career after a total of 91 victories.
In the same year the Rudge Cycle Company Herbert Duncan sent a Safety on a six-day trip from Paris to Montpellier; the way he visited unicycle clubs in order to inform them of the novelty. He was quick to realize the commercial possibilities offered by bike and brought not only the first safety to France, but also the first pneumatic tires. As the sole importer of the bicycle brand " Humber " and later director of the Rudge Cycle Company, he opened several bike shops in Paris and also worked as a journalist for several cycling magazines in France, as in his home country. At the first sweeps of Bordeaux - Paris and Paris -Brest-Paris he recognized the advertising effect of these races, paid driver with Humber wheels and was the manager of his friend Terront, who won Paris-Brest- Paris, as well as by George Pilkington Mills, which in turn was on top Bordeaux - Paris. Also organized Duncan Terronts voyage from Saint Petersburg to Paris. The journey ended in the Buffalo Velodrome, whose construction was initiated by Duncan. Subsequently, he published the book En suivant Terront and 1896, the book Vingt ans de cyclisme pratique about the history of the automotive industry.
Herbert Duncan cultivated a passion for all fellow that moved on wheels. So he turned to motorcycles in 1882 and acquired the production license for the machines of the German company Hildebrand & Wolf Müller for France and Belgium, " la Petro Lette " called, but landed a commercial failure. Later he was head of the English branch of De Dion -Bouton. In 1926 he released his two-volume work, The World on Wheels.
During the Second World War lived Duncan, who was still a British citizen, hidden in his home in Le Vésinet; his partner and he had to share a ration card. He died at the age of 82 and is buried in Le Vésinet.
Writings
- Pierre Lafitte: En suivant Terront de St- Petersbourg in Paris, 1894
- L' entrainement à l' usage of vélocipédistes, coureurs et touristes et des amateurs of sport athlétiques. Paris 1890
- Vingt ans de cyclisme pratique. Étude du cyclisme complète de 1876 à ce jour. Paris 1898
- The World on Wheels. A history of the automobile industry. Paris 1926