Records & Racing
As a radical design, the Moulton bicycle - the first small-wheeled adult bicycle - needed credibility in the market and Alex Moulton realised the importance of this when planning the launch of the bicycle in 1962. Aided by his Marketing Manager David Duffield, himself a record-breaking cyclist, several riders were actively supported by Moulton.
Coventry CC pursuit team were unstoppable on the track, their Moultons allowing them to keep in a tight group to reduce aerodynamic drag; road riders benefited from the reduced aerodynamic drag of the small wheels and, with reputation established, the Moulton became acceptable to the most discerning club cyclists. Following the introduction of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) rule 1.3.018, Moultons are not permitted in road-racing events - this is why you never see them in events like the Tour de France - but they are still used in time-trials and for ultra-distance events.
F-frame Triumphs
From the early 1960s, the F-frame Moulton proved its performance through record-breaking rides, race victories, and elite rider endorsement, establishing itself as a serious and respected bicycle.
John Woodburn Record
In 1962, just one month after the launch of the Moulton, John Woodburn (1937–14 April 2017) spectacularly broke the Cardiff–London record on a Moulton Speed by 18 minutes and 31 seconds. He covered the 162-mile route in 6 hours, 43 minutes, and 29 seconds, averaging 24 miles per hour. This remarkable achievement immediately established the Moulton as a serious bicycle in the eyes of the public, the press, and the cycling community. He is pictured here celebrating at Marble Arch with Alex.
The Butts, Coventry
In 1963 a four-man pursuit team from Coventry Cycling Club riding Moulton bicycles caused a memorable stir at The Butts track in Coventry. Spectators reportedly laughed when the team rolled up to the starting line on their small-wheeled machines, but the ridicule quickly turned to astonishment once the race began. In a promotional 4,000-metre pursuit event the Moulton team caught their opposition and broke the club record, outpacing a conventional-wheeled team from Leicester by a significant margin and demonstrating the unexpected competitive potential of the Moulton bike’s innovative small-wheel design.
Tom Simpson
In 1963, one of Britain's cycling greats, the late Tom Simpson, test rode the Moulton Speed at Herne Hill in London. He was so impressed by the bike that he stated he would be pleased to race on the small-wheeler 'next week' were he not already under contract to Peugeot.
Vic Nicholson Wins
Between 1965 and 1967, Vic Nicholson enjoyed a remarkable period of success on the Moulton Speedsix. In 1965 he won 15 major time trials, and two years later reclaimed the London–Cardiff record for Moulton Bicycles using the newly opened Severn Bridge route. Making full use of a strong tailwind, Nicholson completed the 151-mile course in 6 hours, 14 minutes, and 54 seconds—nearly 18 minutes faster than Brian Catt’s three-month-old record. The Severn Bridge reduced the distance by 10 miles compared with the route used by earlier record breakers, including John Woodburn’s epic December 1962 ride on a Moulton Speed.
Paris to Harrogate in 51 Hours
Daved Sanders completed the Paris-Harrogate 800km Centenary Ride in only 51hrs (officially ridding 531 miles with an unexpected detour). Daved was one of only 32 finishers from an entry of 108. He rode a Moulton MKIII and carried all his weekend luggage onboard! Daved noted “As we road through the narrow streets the MKIII suspension soaked up the poor road surface in the city of Paris and through the suburbs. The MKIII was completely reliable!”
Spaceframe Success
From the mid-1980s, the Moulton spaceframe proved its versatility and performance through world records, race victories, and exceptional endurance achievements, establishing itself as a highly advanced bicycle at the forefront of cycling innovation.
Elgar on AM7
On 20 June 1984, Elgar Vaivars won the Berolina CC's Criterium in Toronto riding a Moulton AM7, taking full advantage of the bike’s superior cornering capabilities over the 30-mile race.
World Speed Record
In the Autumn of 1985, at the International Human Powered Speed Championships, a fully-faired Moulton ridden by Jim Glover broke the 200 metres flying start speed record, at 50.21mph (80.79kph). Then on August 29th 1986, at the same event, he broke his own record at a speed of 51.29mph (82.54kph) which still stands today for the conventional riding position. The Moulton ridden was an AM SPEED with the fairing designed by Doug Milliken of Buffalo, NY.
Race Across America
Dave Bogdan rode the ultra-endurance Race Across America (RAAM) in 1987 on a pre-production AM-Jubilee, and in 1988 on a prototype AM SPEED. His 1987 time was 11 days, 8 hours and 2 minutes. In 1988 he improved on this by completing the 3,073m (4,944km) route in 10 days and 15 hours and 1 minute, averaging 289 miles (465 km) per day. He finished 8th out of 35 starters in what is not only the toughest, longest 'single stage' race in the world, but also the ultimate test of man and machine.
Richard Grigsby
Richard Grisgby of the Bath Cycling Club, riding an AM SPEED, came first out of 180 in the 1990 Fowey Triathlon in Cornwall. He also came third in the cycling split of the Kingswood Triathlon out of some 400 competitors and was only 9 seconds behind a 1st category roadman.
Paris-Brest-Paris
Chloe Williams, riding an NS SPEED, completed the 1,200 km Paris–Brest–Paris randonnée as the event’s youngest female finisher at 22 years old, and was awarded the Audax UK Merit Trophy for the most outstanding cycling performance of the year. Meanwhile, Dan Farrell rode Paris–Brest–Paris on a prototype TSR.
Suzuka Enduro, Japan
In 2007, Kazuhiro Yamamoto, of the Cannondale Diadora Racing team, finished an impressive 6th out of 320 competitors in the four-hour solo class at the Suzuka 8 Hours Enduro in Japan, riding an NS Double Pylon. Competing for the fifth consecutive year, he pushed the limits of the Moulton design to see how closely a small-wheeled bicycle could match a conventional road bike on a flat, high-speed circuit. Inspired by the Mini Cooper’s success at the Monte Carlo Rally, Yamamoto sought to show that intelligent engineering could overcome apparent disadvantages, believing a Moulton bicycle could do the same.
With a racing pedigree dating back to 1962, the Moulton bike combines small-wheel aerodynamics and high-pressure tyres for exceptional speed and efficiency, backed by world-record performance and proven endurance comfort.
