Karl Austins funeral took place yesterday July 14 2011 at Bradwell Crematorium in Newcastle u Lyme. The funeral procession was led into the crematorium by about 50 of his clubmates and friends on bikes. Hundreds of others awaited their arrival.
The funeral was followed by a “cyclists tea” at Allostock Village Hall, which is often used by the club as a TT HQ. More than 100 cycled the 17 miles back to the hall, which made an impressive sight on the road.
Bob Norton paid the following tribute to Karl at the funeral service.
Karl was the very heart of Congleton Cycling Club. He was a friend to us all. There will not be a time trial enthusiast within 100 miles of here who has not been touched in some way by Karl’s friendliness and generosity of spirit. When you told any cyclist, that you are a Congleton Cycling Club member their first sentence would be that they knew Karl Austin. He was synonymous with the club.
The news of Karl’s death was one of those moments, which none of us in the club will ever forget. We will always remember where we were and what we were doing at that time. Everyone in the club is in a state of shock.
On club runs you would often find Karl at the back with the last rider. He had the wonderful quality of being able to soft pedal and still makes someone who was struggling, feel good about themselves. He was a role model to younger and older riders alike. The club has been experiencing an upsurge in the last few seasons. I know Karl was pleased about this, and he played a key part in this upsurge. He was our Racing Secretary as well as participating in every aspect of the clubs life.
Karl first joined the club in 1975, 36 years ago at the age of 11. He was the first of the Austin family to join. He rode his first club 10 that year, and I am pretty sure that he never missed a season since. I could talk for a long time about Karl’s racing successes, about his PB’s , a 54 min 25, many sub 2 hour 50’s, a sub 4 hour 100, his dozens of 12 and 24 hour time trials. Karl was so strong. He was a part of nearly every Congleton Cycling Club team win for as long as I can remember. Who can ever forget that fixed gear, the size of which made our eyes water.
Karl’s prowess at long distance time trialling attracted other riders of similar ambition. This made our reputation as one of the top long distance clubs in the country. Karl was part of the team that finished third in the season long National BBAR competition last year. He established a superb reputation as a 24 hour rider. He won the Mersey Roads 24 hour event in 1999 and was part our club team that won the national championship gold medals in 2000 and 2008. In all I think he completed in 19 Mersey Road 24 hour time trials. This year would have been his 20th. He passed 100, 100’s back in 2008 and would do 2 or even 3 twelve hour races in a season.
The time trialling forum on the internet showed just what the wider cycling community thought of Karl. Within 24 hours there were around 140 messages of condolence posted. There are many more by now.
I have picked a few quotes
“He was what we would all wish to be as cyclists, a damned good clubman.”
“He had cycling in his blood but particularly time trialling. He was probably the most popular cyclist of his generation.”
“A brilliant all rounder, a truly nice chap”
And from a fellow club mate
“Deeply saddened, We have all lost a dear friend. He achieved so much as a cyclist. He was hugely inspirational, yet so modest in equal measure.”
Looking around, I must say, Karl would not have thought of himself as a leader, but he had a lot of followers.
Karl we miss you.