Early cycle races James Moore (14 January 1849 – 17 July 1935) was an English bicycle racer.

He is popularly regarded as the winner of the first official cycle race in the world in 1868 at St-Cloud, Paris, although this claim seems to be erroneous.

In 1869 he won the world's first road race Paris–Rouen sponsored by Le Vélocipède Illustré and the Olivier brothers' Michaux Bicycle Company.

[6] One report said: It was in 1865 that Moore became the owner of his first bicycle, having purchased in that year a heavy wooden velocipede or boneshaker from the famous pioneer cycle-manufacturing firm which had then been founded by Ernest Michaux.

The French historian Pierre Chany wrote: In Paris, 'pedalling machines' proliferated, characterised by wheels of 1m or 1m 10 in front and 80cm at the back.

Seeing these demonstrations, the Ollivier brothers, who controlled the Compagnie Parisienne,[9] decided to hold a race on 31 May 1868 in the Parc de St-Cloud, made available to them by their Imperial Majesties[10] Cycling Record reported that the event started on the stroke of 3pm in the presence of the aristocracy of Tout-Paris,[11] all thrilled at the idea of seeing these men rival each other in strength and virtuosity.

[12]Although Moore's race has been widely considered the first, the Dutch historian Benjie Maso says it was the second and that the first was won by a rider called Polocini.

At half way James Moore took the lead, breaking clear "at the speed of lightning", according to Cycling Record, and won in 3 minutes and 50 seconds to the "frenetic hurrahs" of the crowd.

Moore and Polocini were presented with gold medals worth one hundred francs awarded by the Compagnie Parisienne.

[12] What is believed to have been the first cycle race in Britain took place at the Welsh Harp the day after Moore won in the Parc de St-Cloud.

The race was won by Arthur Markham, who for many years had a bicycle shop nearby at 345 Edgware Road.

[13][15] Among those present were Godfrey Haggarel, British consul-general in Paris; Géo Lefèvre, vice-chairman of the Association of Sports Journalists and the man who thought up the Tour de France, officials from the town hall of St-Cloud and the Touring Club de France, and the racers Henry Debray, Lucien Louvet and Rodolf Moller, and Victor Breyer, the deputy organiser of the Tour de France.

Of suggestions that Moore had invented the story after rising to fame by winning the Paris–Rouen race (see below), his grandson John said: For a long time no contemporary sources could be found to support any of the claims.

This race was very amusing; the riders tried their best not to go fast, without stopping; their contrary movements made them fall except for Mr. J. Darenty, student of the Grand Gymnasium, who won the prize.

[24] Moore's son, James, recalled: To win Paris–Rouen, my father had to show muscular power, courage and determination and intelligence.

The average of only 13 km/h (8 mph) can be attributed to poor roads, lack of tyres, weight of the machine and the low gears.

[16] The runners-up were Jean-Eugène-André Castéra, sometimes described as a count (comte) even though the title had vanished with the Revolution, and Jean Bobillier from Voiron, on a farm bicycle weighing 35 kg.

Bonneville said that Moore was riding a Suriray bicycle specially built by Tribout, fitted with ball bearings, rubber tyres 48¼-inch and 15¾-inch wheels with metal rims.

The anonymous authors of the series 'Pioneers of the Cycle Industry' in Bicycling News said that Moore rode a heavy wooden Michaux fitted with solid rubber tyres which were secured to the wheel rims by means of sheet-iron braces screwed to the latter, and his machine embodied a type of ball bearing which had been more or less handmade by a Parisian manufacturer...In The World on Wheels, H. O. Duncan, wrote: 'The machine ridden by James Moore in the Paris–Rouen race was manufactured in the prison of St-Pelagy, just outside Paris, under the direction of J. Suriray.

H. W. Bartleet wrote: 'Moore won... on a Michaux bicycle with rubber tyres and ball bearings, the latter made (against the advice of Michaux) under Moore's own supervision, the balls being ground circular by prisoners in a Paris prison, who could not rebel at the hard work.

[25]Moore received a gold medal at the Compagnie Parisienne office on 21 November but it is not in the collection on show at Ely museum.

But according to Nick Clayton, Moore preferred races in which he faced lesser competition and stood to win medals rather than money.

[18]Moore later (in 1873) set an hour record of 14 miles, 880 yards (23.331 km) at the Molyneaux Grounds in Wolverhampton.

[28] He raced in France and England, and it is a peculiar fact that he was acclaimed as the 'Flying Frenchie' on your side of the Channel and l'Anglais volant on the other.

[29]Nick Clayton wrote: Clifford[30] maintained that Moore was certainly the first and foremost cycling athlete of his day.

Kobayashi makes a more moderate claim for him as the third best rider in France at this time after Edmond Moret and André Castéra.

That is how I heard father rode his races, like a racehorse never swaying or losing rhythm and balance, with a strong final surge.

His grandson, John Moore, says the whereabouts of his grave is unknown but may be in the area of the Welsh Harp reservoir near Cricklewood in north London.

The part that James Moore played in the history of cycle racing, while of brief duration, was historically of the greatest importance.

In 1933 he was the guest of honour at the triennial dinner of the Road Records Association.In 1966, the Saddle Club of London suggested the British Post Office produce a commemorative stamp for the 100th anniversary of the St-Cloud race.