Edgars Račis
Edgars Račis is one of the oldest members of our association, who will turn 95 years old this year.
His respectable age is no obstacle for Edgars to ride several dozen kilometres a day on his bicycle. Cycling was his childhood dream, and fatefully, in 1945, at the age of 15, following his mother’s instruction (“go and work instead of wandering around”), Edgars began working at the bicycle factory “Sarkanā Zvaigzne” (“Red Star”) as a bicycle assembler.
In the very same year, the newspaper “Padomju Jaunatne” published an article praising the work of Edgars and his brigade: while working on ball cup pressing, gear assembly, mudguard preparation, and front fork installation, the brigade fulfilled the production plan by 104%, producing 1,900 bicycles, while the monthly plan was exceeded by an impressive 300%.
For exceeding production norms, the brigade received a 120-ruble bonus, and soon after, Edgars purchased his first bicycle. He recalls with a smile that there were four people in the brigade who shared production quotas among themselves to increase workshop productivity, receiving free lunches as an additional reward.
Every working day during lunch breaks, they took their bicycles and rode at a fast pace to the nearby Lake Ķīšezers, went for a swim, and then returned to the factory. During these rides, Edgars trained his endurance and speed.
Soon, together with the cycling “greats” of that era – Aleksandrs Jurjevs, Alberts Džarcāns, Alma and Voldemārs Lassi, Jēkabs Vilsons, and others – under the supervision of coach Kipels, Edgars started competing in cycling races, until he was drafted into military service in 1949.
During competitions, Edgars became acquainted with Harijs Japiņš, a future cycling legend and two-time USSR champion in track cycling. They became close friends, training together and sharing many adventures. At the coach’s request, Edgars persuaded Harijs to move from the “Dinamo” club to “Spartaks”, for which both received new equipment – jerseys, shoes, and other items that were considered a major luxury at the time.
After completing his military service, Edgars became actively involved in tourist clubs as a leader of cycling tourism groups. Trips took place every two years – to the Carpathian Mountains, the Estonian islands, Georgia, and the Pamir Mountains. In preparation for these journeys, Edgars organised seminars and created route descriptions, building an extensive library of practical experience.
Even today, Edgars gets on his bicycle almost every day, covering up to 30 kilometres daily. His monthly goal is at least 1,000 kilometres. He actively participates in cycling events organised in Latvia.
“You must not let your joints rust. Once you go out riding, nothing hurts – sleep and appetite improve. Others walk their dogs, but my dog is my bicycle.”
We would also like to present Edgars Račis’s personal records, in which, since 1998, he has meticulously documented weather conditions, precipitation, and the number of kilometres ridden each month (see the attached video).
A 1946 Riga Film Chronicle Studio newsreel
(the segment starts at 2:00 minutes):
Watch the newsreel
Note: at 02:41 minutes, the young Račis is mistakenly referred to as Dundurs.
Watch the video on Facebook📸 Photo Gallery
Please note: copying or use of the photographs without written permission from RSB “Latvello” is prohibited.
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