It’s Tour de France time and this gives us an opportunity to remember a man who many consider was Australia’s best ever, competitive professional cyclist, Sir Hubert Opperman, or as he is more commonly, and affectionately known, Oppy.

Then we look at the life of Margaret McLachlan. McLachlan was a female cyclist who in the 1960s tried to enter the world of competitive cycling. But back in those days the cycling establishment was not a welcoming place for women. She was banned from competitive cycling despite the protestation from other cyclists. Margaret McLachlan with the support of her husband John then went on to set long distance records. Hers is an inspiring story of overcoming the odds despite discrimination against women.

Check out an article on Margaret McLachlan at: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/51771035?searchTerm=Margaret%20McLachlan%20AND%20%22race%22%20AND%20(cycling)&searchLimits=exactPhrase=race%7C%7C%7CanyWords=cycling%7C%7C%7CnotWords%7C%7C%7Cl-textSearchScope=*ignore*%7C*ignore*%7C%7C%7Cfromdd%7C%7C%7Cfrommm%7C%7C%7Cfromyyyy%7C%7C%7Ctodd%7C%7C%7Ctomm%7C%7C%7Ctoyyyy%7C%7C%7Cl-word=*ignore*%7C*ignore*%7C%7C%7Csortby