Pickwick Bicycle Club (Hackney, London) Founded 1870

This from a little book called "The cyclist's Companion"

Which straw boater wearers amongst the forum are secretly party to these proceedings? we should be told............

"The oldest cycling club in Britain was formed at the Downs Hotel on the 22nd of June 1870, just days after the days of Charles Dickens. The building where the first meeting took place is marked by a historic plaque.

One of the most unusual aspects of the club is that its 200 members take sobriquets from characters in Dickens’s novel, the Pickwick Papers. As the club is an all male preserve even the female characters in the book are allotted to men. Membership is by invitation, and new places become available only when an existing member dies; perspective joiners generally face waits of up to 7 years for an opening.

Members are mostly leading figures from the bike industry (the U.K boss of Specialised, Richard Hemington reportedly joined as a ‘The Convict’ in 1999). With a good smattering of city Gents from the worlds of banking and law. The club organises rides at home and abroad, including one called Mr Pickwick goes to France.

But it could be argued that the main focus of activity is fine dining and hobnobbing at the legendary bi-annual luncheons, at the New Connaught Rooms in London’s Covent Garden, which members attend in the Pickwick uniform of brass name badge, straw boater and club tie.

One of the few insights into the secretive meetings for club members and their guests was given by Godfrey Smith, Sunday Times columnist in 1995:

“I spent last Thursday in a time warp. The Pickwick Bicycle club was holding its 125th anniversary lunch, as befits the oldest bicycle club in the world and the oldest Dickensian association extant, did it in splendour. After the steak and kidney, the punch was ceremoniously wheeled in by two Chelsea pensioners while we sang The Boys of the Old Brigade. Trumpeters of the Grenadier Guard serenaded us”

A clay pipe and Pickwick shag was place before every one of the four hundred men there, for need I say this was stag do, and indeed one of the most disgracefully politically incorrect rave ups it has been my pleasure to attend for many a long year."

Sausage fest...

Large from" little and large" was the guest speaker this year. fact

I believe that some of the older members of my club are members. It seems to have the same 1st two rules as Fight Club.

I think I remember not hearing that conversation as well.

But it could be argued that the main focus of activity is fine dining and hobnobbing at the legendary bi-annual luncheons

Sound like lfgss but classier and with less Rapha.

Large from" little and large" was the guest speaker this year. fact

Photos or it didn't happen.

Two friends of mine are members. The annual lunch is one hell of a piss up by all accounts.

Sounds ghastly.

If I ever get to go, I'll bring in a spy cam

David Duffield is a member: never a suicide bomber around when you need one is there?

Are you volunteering?

Well done Will, taking a hit for freedom.

Unfortunately my girly figure precludes the wearing of any sort of explosive belt and there is* no way* I am wearing a vest; simply hideous darling.

Take the bomb in a package, a la Blazing Saddles "candygram for Mongo"

Unfortunately my girly figure precludes the wearing of any sort of explosive belt and there is* no way* I am wearing a vest; simply hideous darling.

You are so old-fashioned. 'Mould them to your genitals' inside your underwear, obv.

This club sounds absolutely splendid

"The oldest cycling club in Britain was formed at the Downs Hotel on the 22nd of June 1870, just days after the days of Charles Dickens. The building where the first meeting took place is marked by a historic plaque.

Well, it's obviously yet another feather in Hackney's cap. The Downs Hotel is now, sadly, flats, though. Before it closed its doors, I remember we had a couple of meetings there in 1999. But yes, the Pickwick Club are now a bit like the Cycling Freemasons. They have their own special Madison handsling and special symbols hidden in the head badges of their bikes. Dan Brown's already working on the sequel to his current book. It'll be set in and around Hackney and take in such secrets as the tunnel from Sutton House to Tan House and Leyton Parish Church, as well as the real purpose of the Mole Man's work. More material will be drawn from Iain Sinclair's 'Hackney, That Rose-Red Empire', although Dan Brown will have to have it decrypted first. All this will be set against the merry backdrop of fixie-skidders skidding and secret bicycle bell signals ringing out throughout Hackney. It'll be a hoot.

You are so old-fashioned. 'Mould them to your genitals' inside your underwear, obv.

I'm afraid that wouldn't produce a bomb big enough even to blow the head off a goose. Though having been away for three days and having forgotten to pack any underwear it's possible my pants alone have lethal potential.

Oliver for a Germany person you're pretty funny (racist?)

Supremacy doesn't have to be all doom and gloom.

I think I remember not hearing that conversation as well.

It was the brothers talking was it not?

I'm going to the Christmas do on Thursday. WIN

If David Duffiled is there could you knock him to the ground and ask him if he has learned to pronounce Vinokourov yet and if Pantani is still a hero to him?