Fred Wood (cyclist)

Born in Rushden, Northamptonshire, Wood was a keen cyclist as a teenager, and moved to Leicester around 1878 and joined Leicester Cycling Club to take advantage of better facilities and stronger competition. He won a string of championships in the 1880s over distances ranging from one mile to fifty miles and set several record times.^[1][2][3]

His success inspired N. Corah & Sons of Leicester to produce the 'Fred Wood Champion Suit' for cyclists in 1883.^[4]

In 1886, Wood competed in the United States, winning a one mile professional race and a five mile handicap at Roseville, New Jersey.^[5]

By 1887 Wood was the World Penny Farthing Champion, and visited Australia and New Zealand during 1887 and 1888;^[6][7] At Ballarat in November Wood won the professional championship, and in New Zealand he set a world mile record of 2 minutes 50.6 seconds.^[8][9][10]

Wood moved to South Shields in 1888, where he went into business, becoming a licensed victualler.^[11] He became a local councillor for St. Hilda Ward in 1914.^[2][12] He set up the catering company Messrs. Johnson and Wood with Thomas Henry Johnson.^[13]

In 1891, Wood toured Britain, competing in events at various tracks.^[14]

On 26 January 1935, Wood suffered head injuries in a fall down cellar steps at the pub that he ran, The Mariner's Arms, and died two days later in the Ingham Infirmary aged 73;^[2][15] A coroner's inquest determined that the death was accidental.^[16]