Paddington Cycling Club?

Just thinking about John Austin and the Sunday club runs. While my school friends were doing sensible things on a Sunday like having a lie in or meeting for a few games of pool, I was up at the crack of dawn to get to the roundabout in Harrow.
I recall the agony and the ecstasy.
The agony consisted of headwinds and mid-winter icy rain, fingers numb on brake levers, aching lower back, cramping calf muscles and a hill to test your manhood!
The ecstasy was the long hot bath and steak and chips dinner from mum!
My teachers never believed that a 13 year old could, or would, cycle 120 miles for pleasure. I'm inclined to think like them 40 years later.
I enjoyed the Moberly weight training and gym sessions.
So much energy! After a day at school. Amazing.
No regrets.
Character building I think it's called.
Very few people understand what physical punishment and mental strength is required to be a successful racing cyclist.
So, hats off to the Froomes and Dumoulins and Nibalis of this world.

There was talk of reincarnating the club jersey a few years ago. Shouldn’t be too hard to recreate; blue jersey with white stripe across the chest and red sleeves IIRC.

Hi Yoav,
I actually remember cycling with you. It was on the track, possibly on a Sunday club run too.
I had cycling jerseys, helmet, tubs and so on in my dad's garage in Shirland Road, but over the years he threw my stuff away.
Do you still have time to cycle?
Middle age, work and family commitments tend to create obstacles in our path, but the joys of cycling never cease.
I spend half my year in a village near Andorra called Ribes de Freser. If any Paddington CC veterans are ever in the area and fancy a ride, please get in touch. One word of warning, the roads are very steep!
To anyone who can remember me, best regards. Ian

Hi 'freshideas'
I certainly was a rider at Paddington CC. Although my real name is Chino, I used my middle name Ian.
I rode from 1976 to 1979 and was a pure sprinter, unbeaten on Paddington track, but a disaster in road races!
I remember a lot of people. My age group contained Geoff Chase and Peter Simpson.
In a group a year older were Gary Orange, Nick Faint, Andre Wagner and John Freitas.
Of the older riders, I recall Paul Robilliard doing well, in a group that included Barry Ford, Carlo Bordi, Guy Lipscomb, Paul 'Italian Stallion' Dodd, Simon Holden (who sold me his Condor frame), Paul Shuttleworth and a few others.
I had a great time on the track, but struggled on the slightest of inclines!
I miss the camaraderie of the Sunday rides, the thrill of the elbow to elbow sprints, polishing my silver Sidi chain, the drilled seat pillar (!) and so on.
Regards to anyone who remembers me.
Ian Isern

Hi Ian,
Sometimes it helps to have an unusual name :-). I have to apologise but your name doesn’t ring a bell with me but I am terrible with names but better with faces, so if I saw a picture of you from the 70’s I’d probably remember.
I rode with the club from 75 to 79 and raced the track for some of that time. I’ve never stopped cycling and stepped it up over the last 10 years or so. I even started riding the track again (Manchester and more recently Glasgow - I live in Carlisle now), although only for fun, so far.

Here’s a few more names
Neal Hambridge (me)
Chris Revill
Chris Hariades
I am also trying to remember the name of the young Anglo/Nigerian who was a promising novice worked as a cabinet maker.
Good to read the names of guys whose wheels I followed in races and training rides.

Yes, that was me.. I think I’ll get some done soon. A small batch and see who’s interested in them.

I’m definitely interested.

Just noticed the similarity between the Paddington CC jersey and the jersey of Team Total Direct Energie in the vuelta

https://teamtotaldirectenergie.com/

Hi all,

This thread has been a fascinating read. Glad to hear you all found each other? Did a reunion take place? Did you get new shirts made?
Just to let you know that whilst it’s not a velodrome, westminster are looking to install a cycloPlay facility to help kids learn to ride, back at the Rec.
https://idoxpa.westminster.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=details&keyVal=QK9EI1RPG7K00

Also the Carlton Tavern was illegally demolished or at least part of it and the council made the developers rebuild it. It’s reopening again soon:
https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/carlton-tavern-hopeful-new-landlords-rebuild-6886220
Regards,
Sagar

Sadly John Austin died recently after a short
Illness.
He was a great inspiration to so many people
beginning their cycling journey.

Simon Holden

Sorry to hear that. I have fond memories of John. How old was he?

Sad news

John was 92, he came to London to celebrate his 90th a couple of years ago.

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I’ll always remember John and Paddington CC for turning me from a teenager on a bike into a cyclist.

Just for info there’s a Paddington Cycling Track group on Facebook with lost of interesting stuff about the club and track.

That’s sad news about Johns passing..
I have fond memories of our trip to Spain in’89.