Ernest Bainbridge
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ernest Bainbridge |
| Born | June 1891 Northcote, Victoria |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Weight | 139 lb (63 kg) |
| Team information | |
| Role | Rider |
Ernest "Ernie" Bainbridge (born 1891), also known as Ern Bainbridge, was an Australian racing cyclist, who is best known for competing in the 1928 Tour de France with fellow Australian Percy Osborn and Hubert Opperman and New Zealander Harry Watson.
Bainbridge did not meet with success in his early career. In 1911 he competed in the Warrnambool to Melbourne off a handicap of 30 min, finishing 65th in a time of 9h 11' 10". In 1914 he rode in the Cycle Traders 100 over 100 miles (160 km) finishing 87th off a handicap of 18 min.
In 1916 Bainbridge, then aged 25, enlisted as a private in the Australian Imperial Force. In April 1917 he was wounded in action in France, suffering a gunshot wound to the left arm and was discharged from the AIF in 1919.
Bainbridge returned to cycling in 1920, finishing 18th in the Goulburn to Sydney Classic. The prestigious road race of the era was the Warrnambool to Melbourne, where the fastest time carried the title of Long Distance Road Champion of Australasia. Bainbridge set the third fastest time in 1923 and the second fastest time in 1924. Bainbridge finished well back in the field in 1925 and 1926.
The Warrnambool was not held in 1927 as it was replaced by the Dunlop Grand Prix, which at the time was the biggest cycling race in the British Empire and the richest race in the world. The race was held in four stages from the 14–19 November 1927, covering 690 miles (1110 km). Opperman dominated the race, winning all four stages. Bainbridge finished 4th in stages 1 and 3 and 2nd in stage 4, finished third overall, behind Opperman and Watson. The Dunlop Grand Prix carried the title of Long Distance Road Champion of Australasia.
One consequence of the Dunlop Grand Prix was the public subscription, organised by the Sporting Globe to send Opperman and an Australian team to the Tour de France. Writing after the Dunlop Grand Prix, Opperman paid tribute to 3 riders, Watson, Bainbridge and Osborn and these were the riders selected to travel with him to France. Bainbridge was captain of the Preston Cycling Club.
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