Arthur Linton

Linton was born in 1868 in Seavington St Michael, Somerset in England to John, innkeeper of the 'Volunteer', and his wife Sarah.[3] There is disagreement as to Linton's date of birth, with many sources stating he was born in 1872, though this is challenged by the 1881 Census which returns the date of 1868.[4] The family moved to south Wales when Linton was three.[5] Linton grew up in the Welsh coal mining village of Aberaman, and at the age of 12 began working down the mine at the Treaman colliery as a door-boy, later becoming a haulier.[6] One of four brothers, his eldest brother John was also a coal miner, but it was Linton's passion for cycling that enthused his two younger brothers Tom and Samuel, both of whom were successful bike racers. Linton himself began making a name for himself as a cyclist whilst still a teen.[7] His first bike was a penny-farthing, but he later switched to a safety bicycle, a more suitable and lower racing bike.[6]

By 1890 Linton had entered and won several races both in South Wales and in England. His brother Samuel was also succeeding as a racer, but after a few accidents he gave the sport up. In 1893 Linton entered the 24-hour 'Cuca Cocoa Challenge Cup' in London, and despite leading at one stage he was forced to retire after coming under intense pressure from the eventual winner, England's Frank Shorland.[8] In the summer of 1893 Linton entered the 'Gold Cup' held at Fallowfield Stadium in Manchester. Linton overcame a strong field to be crowned champion and was spotted by ex-champion sprinter, James "Choppy" Warburton.[9] Warburton became Linton's manager and he accepted a professional contract with Gladiator Cycles.[3]

In the winter of 1893 Linton and Warburton travelled to France to undertake a season of competitive races at the Vélodrome d'hiver in central Paris. Shortly before leaving for France, Warburton had arranged for Linton to undertake a challenge for the world One-Hundred Miles Record at the newly built Herne Hill Velodrome in London. When Linton broke the record it raised his profile higher, even before his arrival in Paris.[9] Linton's time in France was a success, winning many races and beating several champion opponents.[10]

Linton (left) along with manager Choppy Warburton, fellow cyclist Jimmy Michael and brother Tom

In 1894 Warburton took on two more Welsh cyclists, Linton's younger brother Tom and cycling prodigy Jimmy Michael, who also came from Aberaman. Linton continued to build upon his early successes, and in the August of that year, in a 100 km race at the Vélodrome Buffalo where he faced an American rider, Linton broke several records. His time of 1 hour 58 minutes and 59 seconds over 50 miles beat the world record held by South Africa's Laurens Meintjes, and the same race saw him take the 100 km record from Frenchman and rival Constant Huret.[11]

Where 1894 had catapulted him to European fame, 1895 was a poor year for Linton. He injured his knee, saw a poor run of form and split from Warburton's management.[3] That year Tom Linton and Jimmy Michael struck up a public rivalry, which saw the normally media-shy Arthur Linton sucked into a spat between the two men.[12][13] Michael took offence at Linton's publicity title as 'The Champion of the World', and a challenge was laid down for the two to race, though the event never took place.[12][14] 1895 was also marred by the death of Linton's mother while he was abroad in France.[15] Linton also found himself out of favour with the cycling authorities in France, when after agreeing to enter a meet in Brussels, he was threatened with disqualification from future French races by the Societie de Paris over a permit issue. Linton agreed to their demands with his eye on the major competitions in Paris.[16] One of his few successes during 1895 was also snatched from him when he achieved a new world record in the 100 km which had recently been set by Jules Dubois. Although reported as having taken 13 seconds from Dubois time by a journalist from Sporting Life, the lack of an official timer meant that the new time could not be taken into account.[17]

In 1896 Linton continued to push himself in professional competitions both in Britain and in France. From March until the Bordeaux–Paris race in May, Linton took part in a long distance race every week. Amongst these races was the 1896 Paris–Roubaix, in which Linton finished fourth.[18] This result of this self-imposed heavy schedule saw his health deteriorate and he was forced to pull out mid-race in both the Catford Gold Vase and the 24-hour Bol d'Or in Paris.[19] Despite this he entered the Bordeaux–Paris race. The race was gruelling and Linton's race was besieged by accidents and mishaps. After taking an early lead from his main rival, Gaston Rivière, Linton's bike lost a nut from his back wheel resulting in a severe head wound and an unrideable bicycle. He walked ten kilometres, losing his lead, and then borrowed a bike from Constant Huret to allow him to continue.[20] Hampering him further was the fact that Huret's bike was fitted with a 64-inch gear, whereby Linton trained and rode on a bike with a 94-inch gear. It would be another 30 to 40 kilometres before Linton reached the next stop point where he could replace the bike for a model that suited him.[20] Over the following stages, Linton managed to gain on Rivière and retook his lead. In the final stretch of the race after he had entered Paris, Linton not realising that the course had been changed due to roadworks, took the wrong route over the Seine. While crossing the Seine he collided with another cyclist and suffered a more serious injury, gashing his knee and suffering another head wound.[20] With Rivière gaining ground Linton returned to his bike and pushed on and on entering the Veledrome witnesses, including fellow competitor Henri Desgrange, commented that Linton looked in terrible health.[5][7] Linton finished in a quicker overall time to Rivière and was awarded the win, but after it was discovered that Linton had not followed the organised route the title was given to Rivière. After an appeal, in which it was noted that the route change had been published in the French press and the riders not officially instructed, the two men were jointly awarded the title and shared the prize money.[7][20]