The Solitary Cyclist

"The Solitary Cyclist" is a most unusual story and involves what seems, at first, as a most mundane sort of mystery. It seems a piano teacher has been followed while she cycled to and from the train station. However, the bearded man never approaches too close and the young lady wonders if he means to do her harm, so she approaches Sherlock with her strange story.

This is a good but not great story...one with a mystery that is relatively easy to solve (at least a portion of it) and the resolution pretty much the same. But it's made so well that even a second-tier Holmes story is still wonderful and entertaining. It also is rather humorous in spots AND you get to see Sherlock involved in a most enjoyable pub brawl!

Jeremy Brett's first season as the great detective was excellent on the whole, but the standout episode from the first run has to be The Solitary Cyclist. A dark and sinister tale, full of mystery, suspense and intrigue, it has a really dark, nasty tone, some quite disturbing moments, and a genuinely good cast, Barbara Wilshere is delightful as Violet, soft and sweet, the perfect victim. Michael Siberry plays South African Woodley with true villainy, he is somehow repulsive in the role, such a contrast between the two characters. As for John Castle I have never seen him in a bad role, a truly competent and consistent actor, he is outstanding in this also.

The scenes of Violet being followed on her bicycle journey look really effective, you get a true sense of menace. Violet's meeting with Holmes and Watson is a great moment too, even the great and cool Sherlock Holmes succumbs to Violet's charms. The fight scene in the pub is really well done, you cannot help but enjoy it.

Everything you could possible want from 45 minutes of TV. 10/10

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

But having said that, it still keeps you baffled until Holmes clears up the whole mystery by deduction with just a little help from Watson. Jeremy Brett and David Burke are excellent as the sleuth and his doctor friend who are charmed by a young woman who tells them an intriguing story about being a solitary cyclist who is being followed by a strange man with a beard. She also tells them how she happened to meet two men, with a flashback showing how the younger man proposed marriage to her and became angry when she refused his advances.

John Castle and Michael Siberry are the gentlemen she describes as inviting her to teach Castle's daughter music lessons, but it turns out that there is an ulterior motive behind their seeking her to come and live in Castle's home. Some nice twists toward the end will keep the viewer engrossed in the story.

Nicely photographed in usual high style with lots of English countryside on display and some amusing banter between Holmes and Watson. One of the better entries in this series.

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.