The Elgar Connection

A famous local cyclist

Elgar The Cyclist is a publication put together by Kevin Allen. Reprinted June 02, order from the author at 23 Benbow Close, Malvern Wells, Worcs, WR14 4JJ, £5.50 (inc UK p&p). Also available in Malvern TIC and the Elgar Museum (see below)

The following information is extracted from the book:

Elgar's first bicycle was 'sent for' on 10th July 1900 (a month after his 43rd birthday), presumably from one of the various businesses advertising in Malvern Link, just down the road from his house in Alexandra Road. In about a month he was sufficiently enthused and proficient to order his own machine. This was to be a Royal Sunbeam, which he collected on 29th August. The catalogue of manufacturer for that year gives a list prices of twenty one pounds ten shillings - not a cheap model. [Note - I'm not completely convinced on some of the bike data.]

Cycling lessons were given by Squire Little, the landlord of Birchwood Lodge, Great Storridge, where Elgar had a second home for a while. Wife Alice also had lessons, but did not have as much enthusiasm. There was no shortage of other cycling companions, however, and Alice's diary provides a useful source.

First ride of 1901 is recorded as 14th March via Hanley to Upton on Severn. The following year, 5th March was the start of the season, again via Hanley. 22nd June sees him pondering whether he ought to buy new tyres which were 'going on into their 3rd season: 1300 miles.' In 1903, struggling with composition of The Apostles, Elgar took to his bike on 30th January, for a 16 mile trip. In early February he hired one of the new fangled free-wheel (rather than fixed) machines and shortly afterwards ordered a Sunbeam version, which didn't arrive until mid-March, and proceeded immediately to have brake problems. It settled in after attention from the supplier.

On 29th June 1904, the Elgar household moved to Hereford, with Elgar pedalling most of the way.

Other Elgar articles

From CTC press release for 2001 Birthday Rides based close to the Malverns:

The composer Edward Elgar is one of the region's most famous sons and was a keen cyclist as well as brilliant musician. He was 43 when he first cycled, in 1900, spending £21 on a Royal Sunbeam fixed wheel model with hand polished black enamel finish. He toured regularly until he moved to London in 1910 writing in his journal that his cycling experiences had inspired many of his compositions.

From the Elgar Society web site description of The Robes Room at the Elgar Museum:

Around the turn of the century, Elgar took up cycling. Alice never really mastered the art so Edward was often accompanied on his cycling trips by friends. Rosa Burley remembered: 'Our cycling trips began in earnest after Gerontius... There cannot have been a lane within twenty miles of Malvern that we did not ultimately find ... to Upton, to Tewkesbury or Hereford, to the Vale of Evesham ... to the lovely village on the west side of the hills ... as we rode, he would often become silent and I knew that some new melody or, more probably, some new piece of orchestral texture, had occurred to him'. Though none of Elgar's bicycles seem to have survived, some of his cycling maps have, complete with the routes he carefully filled in.

From Local History pages at Wolverhampton, history of Sunbeam Bicycles:

Bicycle sales continued to rise and the 'Royal' Sunbeam was introduced. Over 1000 of these were sold in the first year. One customer was Sir Edward Elgar who purchased two of the machines with 28inch frames and three brakes. He called them both 'Mr. Phoe[b]us' and was an enthusiastic cyclist, often going to the works for a 'tuning'. The 'Gent's Royal' model sold for 16 guineas.

Elgar information

Elgar Society Includes info on local events, the Elgar Centre museum at Lower Broadheath (phone 01905 333224), Elgar Birthplace Trust and more.

Sculptor of the 'cycling Elgar' statue in Hereford (by the cathedral) Jemma Pearson has made a short film for the BBC's 'Video Nation' series about making it, and describes how Elgar cycling in the local countryside was part of his way of getting inspired.

An Elgar web site from a personal perspective has a 'tour' detailing some connections with local places. See Tourist Info Centre for leaflets giving routes to visit Elgar connected places - there's also a rough map and info on the BBC Here & Worcs web site Elgar section. Elgar In Hereford takes a look at the time he spent there immediately after moving from Malvern.

A full size bronze of Elgar and his Royal Sunbeam bicycle has been unveiled in Cathedral Close in Hereford. Ironically no cycling is allowed in the vicinity. See Cycle Hereford for picture, and there's a video on YouTube (better with the sound off).

Suggested further reading

Elgar: Child of Dreams sets out to connect the composer to his creative landscape. It also has a picture of him with bicycle on front cover. Buy from Amazon.co.uk.

Portrait of Elgar by Michael Kennedy from Amazon.co.uk.