The Solitary Cyclist

Miss Smith, I never guess.

Violet Smith (Barbara Wilshere) hires Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) because she is being stalked on the road to her employer's house, by a strange bearded man on a bicycle. Frightened for her safety, Smith tells Sherlock and his friend Dr. Watson (David Burke) of her recent life since being left penniless. She was offered the large amount of 100 pounds per annum to teach music to the daughter of Mr. Carruthers (John Castle), late of South Africa. There is also Carruthers' house guest, the odious Mr. Woodley whose clumsy attempts at proposing to her only disgust her.

Holmes at first takes little interest in the case, and Violet Smith decides to quit her job and head for home. Thinking about the case, Sherlock changes his mind. Now he fears a confrontation and together with Watson, he rushes to Miss Smith's rescue, but they are too late. They find Miss Smith, fainting and gagged by Woodley. There is also Williamson, a disgraced former priest, who has just performed a marriage ceremony between the scoundrel and the young lady.

Cast:

Jeremy Brett ... Sherlock Holmes
David Burke ... Dr Watson
Sarah Aitchison ... Sarah Carruthers
(Paul Annett ... Director)
John Castle ... Carruthers
Ellis Dale ... Williamson
Michael Siberry ... Woodley
Rosalie Williams ... Mrs Hudson
Barbara Wilshere ... Violet Smith

Bibliography » Books:

Bibliography » Web:

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Bakerstreet journal - The manuscript of The solitary cyclist
Science museum - Bicycles in the 19th century

Trivia

Bicycles were the hot new trend in the late nineteenth century. The girls of the period, a term used for modern young women who worked for a living, lived independently, and embraced more modern behavior like riding bicycles.
Source / More (Web)

Almost twenty years after writing the story, Arthur Conan Doyle decided to sell the manuscript of The solitary cyclist . He sent it to New York where it was sold at auction by the American Art Association on 27 January 1922 for $120. Their catalogue noted that the manuscript was the property of Conan Doyle. On 16 November 2004 the 40-page Cyclist manuscript sold at its high estimate of $300,000 and realized $344,000 including the buyer's premium.
Source / More (Web)

The first version of the original story was refused in 1903 by the editor of Strand Magazine because Sherlock Holmes was not very involved in the plot.

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