| Joyce Beryl Barry | |
| Birth Date: | March 1919 |
| Discipline: | Road & track |
| Role: | Rider |
| Ridertype: | Endurance |
| Proteam1: | Malvern Star |
Joyce Barry (March 1919 – 23 November 1999) was an Australian cyclist who held numerous records for long-distance cycling, most notably the women's seven-day record.[1]
Barry was born in March 1919, the third daughter of Mr and Mrs James Barry.[2]
In 1936 the 17-year-old Barry announced her intention to challenge the Sydney to Melbourne record of 3 days 1 hour, set in 1935 by Billie Samuel,[3] and she soon came to the attention of Hubert Opperman.[4] Barry was sponsored by Malvern Star and the NSW Milk Board.[5] [6]
Her preparation for the Sydney to Melbourne ride included tackling the ride from Newcastle to Sydney in July 1937, covering the 104.6miles in 6 hrs 34 min 36 s, with a massage while on the ferry across the Hawkesbury River being sufficient to recover from leg cramps.[7] The next ride in her preparation was to tackle the 168miles from Orange in August 1937, which she completed in 10 hrs 19 min 26 s.[8] Along the way Barry completed the 131miles from Bathurst to Sydney in 8 hrs 2 min 56 s, which Malvern Star were quick to promote in advertising.[9]
12 months after her announcement, Barry succeeded in breaking the Sydney to Melbourne record, covering the 568miles in 2 days 2 hrs. Along the way established a new record of Sydney to Albury in 33 hrs 55 mins and Albury to Melbourne in 16 hrs 52 mins.[10] Once again Malvern Star were quick to promote her success.[11]
The following year Barry traveled to Tasmania, setting a record in May 1938 for the ride from Launceston to Hobart and return, covering 245miles in 17 hrs 30 min 30 sec.[12] In June Barry went to Queensland, this time to claim the record for Brisbane to Rockhampton covering the 483miles in 56 hrs 29 min.[13] followed by Stanthorpe to Brisbane in July, riding the 185miles in 11 hrs 46 min, continuing on to claim the Australian women's 12 hour record of 189.5miles.[14]
Returning to Sydney in September 1938 Barry established the women's seven day record of 1107miles.[15] Her record was eclipsed in November 1939 by the next Malvern Star woman rider, Valda Unthank who rode 1438.5miles.[16]
Barry died in November 1999, aged 80.[1]