The Solitary Cyclist

John Castle. If he had gone and based himself in the USA when he was younger, I am convinced he would had an Oscar to show for it.

Castle plays Carruthers a man who has arrived from South Africa along with the more brutish Woodley.

Carruthers has hired young Violet Smith to be the music teacher for his daughter. Carruthers knew Violet's uncle in South Africa and he makes sure that it is a well paid job.

Violet has consulted Sherlock Holmes because she thinks that she is being followed when she cycles to and from the train station when she visits her mother in London. Each time the strange looking man is there keeping a distance.

Holmes sends Dr Watson at first to keep a lookout and is most disappointed with his endeavours. Then Holmes goes to the country pub and meets Woodley where he engages in a fight with him. He also finds out about a nasty defrocked priest.

Holmes also reckons that Violet Smith is in danger and it is all to do with her uncle in South Africa.

Although this is in some ways a simple tale it is terrifically realised by Alan Plater. You have a sense of who the cyclist following the young lady might be but it takes Holmes to put it all together.

There are some lovely countryside scenes but you also get a sense that Jeremy Brett is already comfortable in the role and the way he shows his irritable side to Watson.

This is one of my favorite episodes in the entire series of Sherlock Holmes.

This episode has all that is good in the ITV Classic.

The beautiful Barbara Wilshere as the cyclist in peril, A vile villain in Michael Siberry as Woodley.

As always the costumes and places are simply stunning as is the acting from all.

What stands out for me is the excellent comedy from both Jeremy Brett and David Burke.I always laugh out loud in 2 scenes in paricular. Holmes explaining to Dr Watson hi utter failure in his stake out. And then Watson talking to himself unaware of Holmes earwigging

"Go to the nearest public-house. That is the centre of country gossip" - Watson

"Capital idea Watson ! " Bellows Holmes in sarcastic tone.

The only thing that tops this is the altercation in the Public House where the brutal thuggery of Woodley ( backfists Holmes sending him hurtling across the room )

Is given a lesson in gentlemanly pugilism ( "Only a ruffian uses the back of the fist ! "..... " and i sir am a gentleman " - Holmes and is quickly dealt with and is then given a round of applause by the patrons of the house.

My favorite ever Holmes line !

For me this is not one of the top episodes, although I cannot put my finger on why it doesn't work as well as it should: The story is not bad (Sherlock stories never are) the acting is great as always (well, mostly) but something is missing: Although I would really hate to admit it, the fact is that a man disguised with a fake beard is hardly exciting or thrilling for the modern audience.

A very young lady contacts Holmes and asks for his advice: She's been employed as a music teacher for a widower's daughter, but she has noticed that a man has been following her on the road to her employer's home.

The episode somehow doesn't work, but the dialogue is great. Also watch out for the inn scene, where Sherlock is hit with what is probably the most awkward punch in the history of television. Nevertheless, it's not totally unworthy of the series, just not one of the best additions.

The Solitary Cyclist is a classic Sherlock Holmes episode. I do prefer just The Crooked Man, The Dancing Men and The Final Problem of the Adventures series, but this is easily one of the better episodes of that series to me. It is an evocatively made and visually splendid adaptation as usual, and the music is of hauntingly beautiful quality. The story is not too complicated and has some very pleasing twists and a great atmosphere, while the writing is sophisticated and sometimes droll in the banter with Holmes and Watson, the altercation in the Public House is one of the single best scenes of any of the Granada Holmes adaptations. The acting is great, Barbara Wilshire, John Castle and especially Michael Siberry are very effective in supporting roles and David Burke is a composed and playful Watson but Jeremy Brett superb Holmes again proves to be the main attraction. Overall, a classic. 9/10 Bethany Cox

A beautifully simple, well crafted story. In the back of my mind it was how I thought it would end. But, even still a wonderful watch filling in the total story. John Castle is creepy good seeing him in "A Touch of Frost" & "Midsomer Murders".