If you own a JF Wilson, you have more than a special bicycle: you have a story of an exceptional man.
Jim Wilson, my father, was an inspiration and a mentor to future world-class bike riders such as Tommy Simpson, Ken Russell, Ron Coe and countless other young and upcoming riders from the 1950s through four decades into the 1990s, but that does not even scratch the surface.
Making use of his first two initials, Jim Wilson created and designed his famous cycle frame JF diamond logo in 1948.
Nigel Wilson was born in Sheffield (1966) with a damaged right ventricular (ARVD). In spite of this and thanks to his father's gentle persuasion, Nigel competitively cycle raced for 22 years, whilst working fulltime - 6 days a week - in his family's cycle shop. During his time as a racing cyclist, he was able to win a series of diverse races, ranging from the locally prestigious "Sheffield City centre race" (1985) to the hellishly, fast and hilly Norfolk Park (Sheffield) circuit race.
His crowning achievement was when he became the Yorkshire 100 mile time trial champion, leading him to become the Peter Greenwood memorial trophy winner in 1989. Which was incorporated into the National 100 mile time trial championships, as the British event was held in Yorkshire that year. And Nigel only entered and raced in that time trial because there was no local road race on that day, riding on his road bike, with his Sheffield Phoenix jersey tucked into his shorts and his cotton cap turned around backwards, finishing only 3 seconds behind Eddie Atkins, a multinational time trial champion and national time trial record holder.
This effort was closely followed by his silver medal in the North Midlands Division road race championship in 1989, which he was able to achieve with no team mates, placing in front of National road race champion Simeon Hempsall and Commonwealth Games bronze medal winner Wayne Randle.
Not too shabby, given that from a very early age Nigel hated cycling. To such an extent that at around the age of 7, in a silent protest against going on the weekly Sunday Sheffield Phoenix club run (cycle ride), Nigel recalls hiding the keys to the house and shop under the living room carpet. This ultimately left his parents key hunting for the day, leaving Nigel to play "innocently" with his toys. Fortunately for Nigel, his father was a very understanding man, where over the years, through a gentle and patient persuasion, he was able to spark the passion he felt for cycling in his son.
Although Nigel did not quite realise it at the time, his father was a cycling genius, and he credits all of his aforementioned accomplishments to his father's inspiration and light handed guidance. But with age and wisdom Nigel has now come to realise the epic depth of his dad's character, prompting him to write this biography on the inspirational life of his father Jim Wilson that he wishes to share with the reader.
