A Bike Ride Through My Life

About the Book

A Bike Ride through My Life chronicles the life of author Frank Clements with bicycles—following the twists and turns that his life has taken in pursuit of his passion for riding. Clements is the younger brother of Ernie Clements, winner of several British Cycling Championships and a Silver Medal in the 1948 Olympic Games Bicycle Race. Despite his love of cycling, he first chose to join National Service in the RAF to establish a unique place for himself—and spent virtually all of his final twelve months of service riding a bike. After his tour of duty ended, he began training to become the best cyclist in the world, his life’s ambition since his success as a potential world class cyclist as a teen. Clements has had many ups and downs in his cycling life. At a young age, he came in second in the British under-eighteen championships and just missed being a member of the British Olympic Cycling team for the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. He also designed, built, and loaned five special Cross country bikes to Roger Hammond and he won the World’s Cyclo Cross Championship with them. This memoir follows Clements from youth to retirement, offering a fascinating trip through an amazing life.

About the Author

Frank Clements has focused on cycling all his life—from competing in British cycling championships as a teen to working for world-class cycling manufacturers to operating his factory for over twenty years. He is now retired and, with his wife, Rosalie, has spent the last ten years building a house in sunny southern Spain.