The Golden Age

I needed a club with ECCA affiliation to compete in certain events at the time, and unfortunately the ECCA mentioned in their paperwork was not the Eastern Counties Cycling Association.

And I was going through a phase of drifting through various clubs (this tends to be ongoing).

And their kit was disgusting.

One of their riders was very friendly and encouraging though in correspondence - Steve Something, I think - he does very well in the Rudy Project TT series and stuff.

I'm still a veggie, but currently a Rollapaloser.

And their kit was disgusting.

Hm, I don't like it much, either, I must admit, and haven't got it yet. I'll go second claim, anyway, and get the forthcoming Cycling Club Hackney kit instead.

One of their riders was very friendly and encouraging though in correspondence - Steve Something, I think - he does very well in the Rudy Project TT series and stuff.

Steve Wigglesworth?

That's him.

Paddington Rec.

I'll delete and post in the Olde Photos thread, if someone can actually tell me the proper thread title? Cheers.

I think it's already there?

Actually, I was thinking of the Paddington CC thread, but that photo isn't in it (anymore?). Definitely seen it somewhere.

Just tried the Teasure Trove thread, but it wasn't there either. I guess it will just remain here until further notice.

Rather late, only just saw this thread. The Vegetarian Cycling and Athletics Club still exists:

http://www.vcac.vegfolk.co.uk/

Proud member

Very much later I've now seem this thread.

I was a member of the Veg in the late eighties. I was invited to join by Sid Ferris who pointed out that it was only necessary to be second claim to be eligible for their club awards and trophies (which are extremely impressive).

I gather that the cycling side of the club has not been very active in recent years, and I can say that when I met the cycling members it was noticeable that they were not in the first flush of youth. I have not had any contact with the club recently, but I would be surprised if those trophies are not still there, waiting to be won by a vegetarian rider wanting to add his name to a very illustrious list.

It's true, they're not very active right now.

Re-On the A1 and overtaking a lorry!!!

That was me. I am now eighty five but remember that event clearly. It
was 1953 and was a thirty mile event, only partly on the A1 and then on the York road. I was riding a Bates cycle. This was a time when the roads were clear- not many lorries and they were limited to 20MPH so had to be passed.
I won the club junior BAR that year for 10, 25 and 30 mile events. After doing national service in the RAF I started running which took me into marathons and then Triathlons. I aquired a Maurice Woodrup cycle with simplex 5 gear and Wiennman Brakes. I enjoyed putting cycling and running together and did my last competative event when turned seventy. I have only recently given up cycling. I came across this article by chance and it has brought back
happy memories.
Gerald Finlay. Hambleton, North Yorks.

Riders of my era;
Reg Harris
Ray Booty
The Higginson twins
Eric Britton
Jimmy Clifford.

Thank you for this wonderful insight.

Loved reading this.

Welcome, Gerald, and thanks for the post. We have other threads on here that might interest you, e.g. one dedicated to restoring old bikes:

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/238801/

We do try to honour the legacy of older riders a bit, e.g. with the Hard Day in January, inspired by @clubman:

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/140570/

We also have a couple of threads dedicated to old cycling clubs, some of which don't exist any more, e.g. the Paddington. Lots of former members have found each other again that way:

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/159590/

You don't say which clubs you rode with, if any?