Coventry's Mighty Atom - record-breaking cyclist Eileen Sheridan
Cyclist Eileen Sheridan rose to fame in the 1940s and 1950s with her record-breaking rides around Britain. Her performances and diminutive 4 foot 11" height earned her the nickname 'the Mighty Atom'. She broke all the Women's Road Records. Born in Coventry in 1923, she still lives with her family in Middlesex. She has been described as captivating the public's imagination, and changing attitudes to women's sport.
Sheridan joined the Coventry Cycling Club at the age of 15, after displaying athletic prowess at school. She rode her first race, an informal 10-mile time trial, in 1940 and finished in 28 minutes 30 seconds - to the club's amazement. She first entered a formal race in 1945, a 25-mile time trial organised by the Birmingham Time Trial Association. She won the event and broke her club's record. She gave birth to her son in 1946, and resumed cycling seven weeks later.
Her success continued when she moved to a conventional racing bike in 1948. The Bicycle magazine wrote that she was responsible for 'setting up completely new standards for women's records'. She won the women's British Best All-Rounder time trial competitions in 1949 and 1950. Her ride in the Yorkshire Cycling Federation 12-hour race in September 1949 set a national record with 237.32 miles. Only four men bettered her distance, the winner of the men's event, Des Robinson, by only six miles. She also took national championships at 50 and 100 miles in 1950 - breaking records for both.
Official endorsement from the Hercules Cycle and Motor Company instigated Sheridan's professional career in 1951, when they signed her for three years to break distance and place-to-place records. She broke all 21 of the women's records by large margins and held all 21 W.R.R.A. records in 1955. Five have still yet to be beaten.
One of Sheridan's best-regarded achievements was breaking Marguerite Wilson's record for travelling from Land's End to John o' Groats - two tips of the British mainland. She rode the first 470 miles to Carlisle without a break, stopping to attach lights and change into wet weather clothing when it started to rain. Her time was over 11 hours faster than Wilson's professional record, at 2 days, 11 hours and 7 minutes.
Sheridan retired from competitive cycling in 1955. She was made a Life Member and President of the Coventry Cycling Club, and is also Vice President of Roads Records Association. The bicycle she used is on display in Coventry Transport Museum, along with papers, other equipment, trophies and medals relating to her career.
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