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Cycling clubs in Kent

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Smiffy:
What routes did you take for these tours and trials Dave?
 
Colin, would the cycle shop in Rochester be Chambers?

Dave Smith:
No, I don't think advertising was the reason, just a follow on from the early days but with a more modern, reasonable outlook. However, the Veio did wear gaudy clothes in line with the Continentals but again, not advertising in those days for who would pay them. Later of course, sponsered teams appeared & advertising took off.e.g. Ken Joy road for & was paid by Hercules Cycles.

Smiffy:
Perhaps the "non gaudy" clothes were a way to discourage attempts at advertising?

Colin walsh:
Got a feeling I remember the Velo club ,most Sunday mornings in and around the cycle shop under the arches in corporations stree rochester,can't recall the shop name but understood it was very well known I the cycling world,even made there own frames,and built racing bicycle parts,drop handlebars were the thing to have,very racy,trouser bottoms tucked into our socks,us kids thought we were the bees knees.

Dave Smith:
In the original KHF, there was a section devoted to clubs, etc. & I put " my pennyworth" on it, along with a few others. For posterity, I will reiterate. When I went home to Gillingham in 1948-1950 - on leave from the RAF-, in the Medway towns, there was an active branch of the Cyclist Touring Club- probably 30 members- who went on club runs every Sunday.( Safe as very little traffic then). After a couple of years with them, I joined the Medway Road Club. Along with the Medway Wheelers, they were the only club devoted to racing "time trials"- individuals against the clock, as well as touring in Medway. Then in 1950 the Medway Velo, was formed, cyclists who were keen on "mass start" racing as done on the Continent. Time Trialing was a very sombre affair- before WW2 you had to wear all black so that you didn't upset the motorists! - & you were required to wear " non gaudy" clothes as dictated by the governing body, the RTTC. The other body that we were affiliated to was the N.C.U. The Velo was affiliated to the B.L.R.C. & was started by a few friends, including my cousin Eric Smith. The Wheelers rose to fame as they had the winner,( Pete Beardsmore), runner up ( Ken Joy) & Team of the RTTC Championship ( 25, 50 & 100 miles) for 3 years running. 

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