Oppy -- Sir Hubert Opperman 1904-1996

Fellow cyclists,

In my mail yesterday was a newsletter I receive from
the International Randonneurs, a group dedicated to
long distance cycling.  On the front page of the
newsletter, was a dedication to Sir Hubert Opperman,
29 May 1904 - 18 April 1996.

Oppy, as he was known, was an inspiration throughout
this century to those cyclists lucky enough to
know him or for those of us who just knew about him.

One of his exploits which inspired me when I learned
of it early in my own cycling experience was his
24-hour road distance record of 505.75 miles, set
in 1939.  It is possible this was wind-assisted,
although in 1940 he also set the track record for
24 hours, covering 489.3 miles.  These records
stood for many years.

It is clear from reading about him that he was not
only a great cyclist but a great human being.  
I will simply quote from the newsletter, as my way
to give honour to this leader of cyclists...

  Sir Hubert Opperman was born May 29, 1904 at
  Rochester, Victoria, Australia.  "Oppy" won the
  Australian road cycling championship in 1924 and
  dominated cycling in distance events for the next
  ten years.  He also won the 1928 Bol D'or race
  in France and the Paris-Brest-Paris marathon in
  1931.

From letter of sympathy addressed to Mrs. Opperman,
April 26, 1996:

  My dear Lady Opperman,

  It was with the deepest and reatest of sorrow
  to learn of Oppy's, Sir Hubert Opperman's,
  passing on 18 April 1996.

  His life devotion to you and your life devotion
  to him are most admirable.  He was the greatest
  of cyclists of his time.  The most dedicted and
  professional to his sport.  A great leader in
  public service.  His inspiration and model to
  International Randonneurs are unequalled.

                      International Randonneurs
                      James L. Konski


From Oppy's diary, 1931:

  The best effort in my cycling career was made in
  Paris-Brest-Paris, when, after 50 miles of chasing,
  the combining of Bidot, Louyet, Pancera and Decroix
  caught me three miles from the Buffalo track.  I
  realised that they were exhausted, but that a respite
  would possibly freshen them for the sprint on the
  track.  Therefore, it was vital to keep jumping.  I
  rode from cobbles and road to footpath, zig-zagging
  from left to right, always with the pace at maximum,
  but not giving shelter.  That's not easy after 700
  miles of continuous riding, but it had its reward,
  when the sprint took place, for the last half-lap
  found me in front and keeping there until the vital
  point had passed.


Testimony from Bruce Small, Oppy's lifelong friend:

  With all my admiration for [his athletic] attributes,
  I have an even greater respect for his sterling,
  unimpeachable character and his idealistic standards
  of life.

  Oppy adds to his quiverful of other qualifications
  a vivid and whimsical style as a journalist, a
  rare brilliance as an after-dinner speaker and
  marked ability as a business executive and
  administrator.  Best of all, despite his seemingly
  endless record of success, he has retained his
  unassuming personality and unfailing sense of humor.


Finally, let me quote from some of Opperman's letters
to the International Randonneurs...

  February 21, 1996:
  ...
  I was delighted to see Scott Dickson U.S.A. in the
  front bunch.  He is a marvelous human who has the
  will and stamina to face three Paris-Brest-Paris'
  in succession and complete the course with success.

  The Audax section is developing strength here which
  gives me great pleasure, considering I first brought
  it from the first English essay entry into international
  competition finishing at Horrogate.  I was there and
  presented the winners with their Brevets.

  The "Opperman 24 hours" finished at my country birthplace
  of Rochester and I enclose a letter addressed to the
  participants greeting them on arrival.  It's the way
  I feel about the participants in Audax.

  My wife has been critically ill for the past 8 weeks
  and several times I felt I had lost her, but she
  is progressing splendidly.  I like your bulletin.

            Yours sincerely, "Oppy" Hubert Opperman  


  February 4, 1994:
  
  Dear James,

  I was delighted to receive your issue No. 28 with its
  wealth of information concering preparation for long
  distance cycling.

  No wonder Paul de Vivie is considered the High Priest
  of pedalling propulsion, so fundamentally (from my
  perspective) correct in all his advice.

  I don't know what his opinion is on gears, but I would
  say I am in agreement if he stipulates that "keep the
  lowest gear you are comfortable in.".,  I think that
  riders on the average select too big a gear ratio in
  the belief that they are not making enough effort,
  because of the lesser resistance.  And, despite the
  more uneven roads of the prewar days, we never had
  the complaints of sore knees or bad backs!  For which
  I reproach the big gear ratios.

  Tour riders in the mountains asked for copies of
  journals from spectators as protection for their
  chests during the swoops down from the mountain
  peaks.  I begged one of the crowd on a bitterly
  rainy stage of the Tour to give me a copy of the
  "Match" when I missed taking my light waterproof.
  He willingly handed it over and I will never have
  erased from my memory the luxurious feeling of
  comfort from then on.

  I commend Scott Dickson for his continued
  enthusiasim in the P.B.P.  Should he win again
  it will be a bench mark for others to follow
  in retaining interest and fitness in preparation.
  I wish him well.

  Trust you are still holding your sight.  I am so
  diminished in the right eye and with the left one
  so low in vision from birth, Mavys has to drive
  me around for appointments, but I can still ride
  the bike for up to half an hour on enclosed village
  roads.

                    Yours sincerely in cycling,
                    "Oppy" Hubert Opperman

--
posted to USENET rec.bicycles on May 18, 1996
by Dennis G. Allard, cyclist