Harry Elkes Explained

Harry Elkes
Full Name:	Harry D. Elkes
Birth Date:	28 February 1878
Birth Place:	Port Henry, New York, United States
Death Place:	Boston, United States
Discipline:	Track
Role:	Rider
Ridertype:	Middle-distance

Harry D. Elkes (28 February 1878 – 30 May 1903) was an American cyclist. He was professional from 1897 until his death in 1903.^[1]

Elkes held the world record for "paced-cycle racing" during most of his career and just prior to his fatal accident had achieved a new 5 Miles World Record (going that distance in 6 minutes, 12 1/5 seconds) as well as achieving world's records for 10 and 15 miles.^[2] Major Taylor called Elkes in his autobiography "one of the greatest middle-distance riders that ever pedalled a bicycle."^[3]

Elkes died in an cycling accident at Charles River Track in Cambridge, Massachusetts, aged 25.^{[4] [5] [6]}

See also

• List of racing cyclists and pacemakers with a cycling-related death

Notes and References

1. Web site: Harry D. Elkes. www.cyclingarchives.com.
2. News: Harry Elkes Killed – Terrible Accident to Bicyclists at Cambridge, Mass. . Los Angeles Herald . 30 . 236 . August 14, 2019 . May 31, 1903. https://web.archive.org/web/20190907025520/https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=LAH19030531.2.119&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1. September 7, 2019.
3. Book: The fastest bicycle rider in the world: the story of a colored boy's indomitable courage and success against great odds. Major Taylor. Marshall W. Taylor. amp. Books for Libraries Press, Wormley Publishing Company. 1928. May 15, 2011. 978-0-8369-8910-6. https://web.archive.org/web/20170211213959/https://books.google.com/books?id=6l1LAAAAYAAJ&q=Harry+Elkes. February 11, 2017.
4. News: May 31, 1903. Harry Elkes Killed in Bicycle Race. The New York Times. New York. 1. August 4, 2010.
5. News: June 6, 1903. News of the Week...Elkes Killed in Cycle Race. The Summary. New York State Reformatory at Elmira. XXXI. 23. 3. August 4, 2010. 1903. https://web.archive.org/web/20170203111411/https://books.google.com/books?id=OgFLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR39#v=onepage&q=Elkes&f=false. February 3, 2017.
6. Mangan, p.127