Central London CTC blog

A bunch of us met up at Smithfield to have a beer / coffee and watch the evening’s racing. The folder races were good fun for both spectators and participants – we spotted more than a few clipless pedals and lycra shorts hidden by innocuous office attire. The fixie-skid event was obviously for aficionados only. It was good to see a women’s race - a high attrition rate amongst the club riders testament to the skill and sheer speed of the leading bunch, the winner flying round the last two laps. And then as dusk fell, the elite men’s race starring European pro rider Ben Swift, along with Britain’s best. Again, an aggressive pace shed riders quickly until about two dozen were left snaking round the market in a long and sinuous line, one then another trying to launch themselves off the front but never quite managing to get away. It came down to a sprint for the line, Russell Downing, Tony Gibb and Swift fending off the rest. A great evening of racing right on our doorstep.

Michael Belcher presents Paul Krebs with his retirement award more »

Inez and I saw 3 films on the programme, and would definitely recommend the event for an outing next year. It is always in the first week in October, and you know that you’ve come to the right place if you see rows of fixed wheel bikes, some sans brakes with brightly coloured rims tethered outside. more »

A very successful party was held on Saturday with some 45 new and long-established members enjoying themselves and the virtually continuous supply of wine. Old friends were warmly greeted, new friendships made and absent friends remembered.  Old photographs were discussed and the array of old club t-shirts and jerseys admired.

Pat Strauss as our founder cut the cake. Fuzz Edwards made the journey by bus from Fulham with the welcome news that Mary is recovering well from her recent accident. Our youngest member, Fay, aged 6 months, was bright-eyed watching everyone imbibe themselves.

This was followed on Sunday by the anniversary rides, with one, two and three star riders converging on Blackmore at lunchtime. Altogether 49 riders (and a few who travelled by other means) gathered in the sunshine to continue the previous night’s reminisinces.

Fuelled by The Big Chef’s toast and marmalade, those following the basic plan broke out of suburbia and shot north. By Potters Bar there was a steady trickle of early competitors and spectators heading home, and once onto the B158 and course proper, a vast array of bikes and riders to distract us. more »

8 o’clock Saturday night, Shoreditch is warming up. A gaggle of secretaries from the ‘burbs, a muscle of lads up town. Wallowing stretch limos, glowering doorman. And mingling amongst, cyclists in civvies. Heading towards the Classic Car Club, a fantasy for those with unrequited childhood dreams of continental exotica. Even a Ducati 250 Desmo – if this means nothing, let it be. Inside the gates rack upon rack of bikes, guarded by a grunting sentinel. As per the moment, most are one cog machines. Deep rims, gaudy colours, tiny bars. Brakes an afterthought or absent. more »

So, the yellow fever that gripped London in July didn’t last long.

Crystal Palace, sarf London: two men and a dog. The sponsors were struggling to give sun-hats away. A smattering of locals, a few clubs in kit, and, I suspect, most of the rest were friends and family. And us, thanks to a last-minute plan to have a short roll round Kent. No big screens, no enlightening commentary – even the riders, as they stormed over the line and turned to check their time, could see only a garbled mess of numbers.
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Criterium racing Saturday evening June 23rd

A pretty (good) crowd, sporting more than a little Rapha, and with a fair few Condors in evidence. A spectacular pile-up in the Regional race, and a creditable show of 4th by Ben Johnson, at least technically of Central London, in the All Stars. I arrived just in time to see the couriers do complex and secretive things, emerging occasionally for a dash around the square. Racing, but not as we know it. They do have a reputation to maintain. Then the heavens opened, more »