Central London CTC blog

CLCTC is not a racing club, and very few of us would contemplate riding a banked track. But a good number turned out to watch the racing at this traditional Bank Holiday event.As ever, this heralded one of the first really sunny days of the year, and the meeting was packed – CTC groups, LCC groups, Club racers, the couriers and wannabe couriers, L.O.Gs with tells of the past, enthusiastic fans of the current competitors, families, friends and fans.

The morning heats pass as all amble round the circuit, greeting acquaintances, examining the stalls, queuing for food, queuing for drink, and queuing for the toilets. The symbiosis of the race bikes contrasts with the extravaganza of spectators’ bikes – many fixed or single-speed, but also tourers, tandems and trikes.

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On Friday night, over 30 Central London members, plus assorted other interested parties, squeezed into the Calthorpe Arms for a somewhat fraught AGM – the anuual festival of ‘The Picking of The Nits’. But sanity prevailed. matters were sorted, and we moved to a second meeting, at which we did at last decide to seek DA status. My heartfelt thanks to all of you for your support and timely interventions. We can now move on to that which we do best of all – promoting cycling.

As if in celebration, 16 turned out for the Stevenage End of Summertime Audax – amidst a field of 359. If the trains, as usual, worked against us, the weather was perfect – the early chill soon left as the late autumn sun warmed us up. The controls processed riders at speed, even the Saffron Walden cafe queue was manageable. If we were a ragged group before lunch, the long gradual grind to Geat Chishill and on to Reed split us further. But we managed to gather a fine group to ride in to the finish together. Maybe not a true Purple Peloton, maybe more an intermittent stream of purple p…, but for a while it looked great.

PS the Central London ‘Winged Wheel’ stickers are now ready. I’ll be selling them on rides, or send me an SAE and a cheque (£1 per sticker)