For the March meeting Jeremy Ford was both a newly enrolled member and the speaker. We are confident that Jeremy will be a great asset to the club, particularly because he has recently retired from his twenty five year conventional career (marketing of elite legal services) and now intends to devote his energies to his passion – the promotion of African cycling. He has a longstanding involvement with the Qhubeka Charity and Team Africa Rising.
The subject of his talk was the growing success of African cycling. The best known name currently is Biniam Girmay (an Eritrean), the first African to win a European Classic (Gent-Wevelgem, 2022), and various grand tour stages, taking the Green Jersey in last year’s Tour de France. He quoted Girmay as saying ‘I have opened the door’ and this is clearly true. Girmay is by far the best known African rider today, but it seems almost certain that others will have gained prominence by the end of this season.
One surprising factor in the advancement of the African cause has been Covid. When there was no actual racing Zwift scores became an important measure of new talent, and as with all things digital, location is unimportant. In this way a rider in Africa who capable of a high wattage could come to the attention of European team managers.
Members were interested to hear of the progress of Trhas Tesfay, the young Eritrean women’s champion, who has come under Jeremy’s wing. When Trhas was invited to the Club in April 2024, it was Jeremy who brought her along and made sure that communication was possible (no other Pedal Club members spoke Tigrinya!). Trhas benefited from a collection by members on that occasion, particularly useful since she is an asylum seeker.
She now has a pro contract with the WCC Team (controlled and run by the UCI) which has improved her position, but unfortunately her asylum claim is still unresolved. So although there are international events which would welcome her as a competitor, she cannot leave this country because she would probably be denied re-entry. It is hard to understand Home Office thinking in this case.
It may be that Jeremy Ford came to the door of African cycling when it was ready to move, but it is clear that his talented advocacy is having a beneficial effect in getting that door wide open.
The lunch was attended by thirty nine members and guests and was again held at the Civil Service Club.
Chris Lovibond March 2025.
Government to spend almost £300m on cycling schemes through new funding package
Posted on 17 Feb 2025 in Business News , Cycles News
A £291m funding package from Active Travel England is set to be used for cycle lanes and improved junctions, while also supporting local businesses and making it easier to cycle to work, the UK Government has announced.
Cycling Investment Government
The new funding will also help provide bike training for hundreds of thousands of children, as well as walking and wheeling routes across the UK.
The investment will deliver around 300 miles of new cycle lanes and walking routes, with the improved ability to cycle and walk to work expected to boost the economy by £9 million per year.
National Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman said: "Making it simple and safe to walk, wheel or cycle to schools, shops and workplaces is one of the most effective actions we can take to improve the nation’s health, economy and get to net zero, all in one.
Full Story ....Click Image
Why don’t more women cycle?
In London, less than 1 in 3 cycle trips are made by women.
In the Netherlands, it’s over half.
“Get off the road, b*tch!” women cycling in London told.
We surveyed over 1000 women in London to ask what barriers prevent them from cycling. The responses were shocking. We received countless reports of harassment, aggression and even physical and sexual assault directed towards women cycling. The resulting report, ‘What Stops Women Cycling in London?’ reveals shocking levels of abuse faced by women cycling in the capital. It sets out our recommendations for the Mayor, Transport for London and London boroughs to overcome these barriers so that women can cycle any of their daily journeys without fear.
It is unusual for Pedal Club members to be in contention for current sporting honours, but it
is certainly not unwelcome.
Sunday 12 th January saw the second day of the championships at the Gravesend Cyclopark and our member, Hope Inglis rode in the Senior Women’s and Under 23 event.
She finished a hard fought race in fourth position overall and took the bronze medal in the U23 category.
Since Hope is still only nineteen, she must be in with a good chance of taking this title in the near future.
The Championship itself was well organised and drew a big crowd. The course itself was excellent and made good use of the muddy slopes which are a lot more challenging than one might realise just by riding round the road circuit. At least one other club member,
Bruce Sandell, was present busy helping with the organisation.
Pedal Club members have made a significant contribution to the creation and work of the Cyclopark and it’s great to see it hosting such an excellent event.
Chris Lovibond
January 2025.
Under-23 women
Cat Ferguson (Movistar Team)
Imogen Wolff (TEAM VISMA - LEASE A BIKE)
Hope Inglis (Spectra Racing p/b DAS)
INEOS Grenadiers and Gobik unveil 2025 Kit
The INEOS Grenadiers and Gobik are proud to unveil the team’s 2025 kit, a reflection of their dynamic partnership committed to innovation, performance, and a relentless drive for excellence.
Building on a successful collaboration that has redefined technical garment development, including breakthroughs like the Singularity 2.0 TT Suit, Gobik, and the INEOS Grenadiers continue to set new standards for apparel designed to meet the demands of elite competition.
INEOS Grenadiers CEO, John Allert said: "New kit day is always an exciting moment for any cyclist. For our riders and our partners at Gobik, this year is no exception. The collaborative approach we've taken with Gobik to design our team's kit ensures our riders not only look great but also feel great, and can perform to their optimum. This strong partnership has been the foundation for developing our fresh look for the next season."
As Gobik and the INEOS Grenadiers embark on another season together, both partners are driven by ambitious goals and a shared vision for success. With innovation at its core, Gobik will continue to push boundaries, ensuring the team’s riders have the most advanced technical clothing to support their performance at the highest level.
The new INEOS Grenadiers jersey builds on its iconic design with subtle but impactful updates that enhance its elegance and functionality. The refreshed look reinforces the team’s distinct visual identity, ensuring it remains a standout in the peloton while addressing key performance and safety needs.
INEOS Grenadiers CEO, John Allert continued: "For 2025, we've introduced added details and changes, including moving the orange accent to the left arm to enhance visibility during training. Safety remains a core principle for our team, and this updated design reflects our ongoing commitment to it. Gobik’s unwavering support and commitment to innovation have been invaluable during this exciting period for the INEOS Grenadiers. Looking ahead to 2025, we’re eager to further deepen our partnership and continue supporting each other’s ambitions."
José Ramón, CEO and Co-Founder of Gobik: "The new INEOS Grenadiers jersey refines its iconic design, enhancing elegance and prominence in the peloton. A bolder white stripe strengthens the team’s identity, while bright orange fabrics in rain and cold-weather jackets improve visibility in harsh conditions. Subtle updates reflect a commitment to safety and performance, blending aesthetics, functionality, and technology for an exceptional rider experience."
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Gobik and the INEOS Grenadiers are ready to rise to new challenges with ambition and determination. United in their commitment to excellence, they aim to deliver not only top-tier performance for the team but also inspire cyclists around the world with innovative apparel designed for success in every race.
Also Stows Cycles, based in High Street West, has closed after 80 years. Reacting to the news online, residents commented that the closure is a 'real shame'
Tour de France 2025
The first weekend of the tour
(July 5,6,& 7th) is in the North.
Chris Lovibond has a house in the area (Torcy, 62310) and some contacts.
If the PC wishes he can try to organise accommodation, but we'll need to make a commitment quickly, because, probably, everything will get booked very soon.
if you want to ride. The exact tour route doesn't yet appear to be on the official site, but everywhere in those first three days will be accessible by car (well, as near as you can get your car to the tour route!).
The whole area is excellent cycling country, with a network of well surfaced country lanes, good scenery and, when the Tour isn't in the area, not many tourists.
If you're interested, contact Chris (address in handbook). Some sort of deposit will be necessary, but the most important thing is toact quickly.
SNP spends more than £4m on free bikes for children in two years
SNP ministers have spent more than £4 million in less than two years on a pilot scheme that gives school children free bicycles.
The scheme, announced in the party’s 2021 manifesto, was designed to provide “free bikes for all children of school age who cannot afford them”. It added that the SNP would “ensure every child in Scotland leaves school with the ability to cycle safely”.
The total cost of the pilot, from August 2021 to March 2023, was £4,006,785, according to a freedom of information request. Some 3,800 bikes were supplied during the scheme, meaning each cost about £1,000 on average.
Steve Wright donated this GB kit to Team Africa Rising who sent this video and pictures thank Steve and the club for our help . They look really pleased and their enthusiasm is infectious
The club’s speaker for September wasJez Cox, a former competitor in cycling and duathlon, who is now a commentator and presenter. He is freelance and has worked for all the leading sports channels including GCN, Eurosport and ASO.
Jez’s cycling career started at the age of thirteen with the Twickenham CC where he came under the wing of Graham Macnamee and the Pedal Club’s former president Doug Collins. Starting in cyclo cross he moved on to road racing and by 1998 he was racing in France with the C.O. Chamalieres, an elite team, where he achieved good results.
By 2003 he had returned to Britain to compete in duathlons (bike and run), a discipline which suited him very well since he had many victories over the next decade, including being ranked as the top British duathlete in 2007.
But no one can be a professional athlete until reaching pension age and by good fortune Jez found a new metier at the Rebourne (Hertfordshire) fete where, in the absence of any other speaker, he was handed the microphone and discovered that he was a natural as a presenter; his commentating career developed from this moment.
Alongside his journalism, in 2015 he set up a cycling academy in St Albans (Oaklands Wolves Cycling Academy). When he suggested this project to British Cycling he was told it was doomed to failure and this made him determined to prove them wrong. Perhaps BC didn’t know that he already had his foot in the door at Oaklands College, having done some consultancy work for them, but it is impressive that the academy is now flourishing nine years after its foundation.
Unlike many other speakers (with the exception ofJohn Dutton!) Jez was relatively optimistic about the current state ofBritish Cycling. He feels that the departure of Team Sky has benefited the organisation, that the strong growth of women’s racing is an important advance and he believes it will be possible to bring at least some of the middle aged ‘mamils’ into cycling proper. Another hope is that facilities already existing in schools could be better used by the cycling world.
Perhaps the most encouraging point for the Pedal Club is that this career started from an ‘old fashioned’ local club (theTwickenham CC, founded 1893 has produced many stars in the past). The great majority of Pedal Club members started in this way, and I’m sure we were all pleased to hear that this path can still lead to success in the twenty-first century.
The Lunch was again held at the Civil Service Club in Whitehall and was attended by 34 members and guests.
Chris Lovibond,
September 2024.
Great Britainis set to host the Grand Départs of the 2027 Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes according to the BBC and Yorkshire Post. The men’s race last visited Britain in 2014, when Stage 1 and 2 took place in Yorkshire and Stage 3 went into London. Those reports have suggested the men’s Grand Départ will be in Edinburgh, while the women will start from Leeds.
UK Sport said, ‘We have made no secret of our ambition to host the Tour de France Grand Depart in Britain – to inspire more people to enjoy cycling and bring lasting benefits to communities.
‘However, we respect this is a matter for the ASO and we remain committed to working hard to develop opportunities that can bring the joy of cycling to everyone.’
It comes off the heels of the fact there will be no free-to-air TV coverage of the Tour from 2026 after the double blow of ITV losing broadcast rights and Discovery+’s coverage moving onto the £30.99 a month TNT Sports subscription.
Cormac Nisbet is not a professional cyclist...and that, surprisingly, was the main point of interest when he spoke at the Pedal Club’s February lunch.
However, Cormac has had a pro career, but has taken early retirement – at the age of twenty. He explained to the club that living that particular dream turned out to be less desirable in reality than it had seemed beforehand.
Cormac started his cycling life at the age of ten when his Dad, found a new enthusiasm for the sport. The younger Nisbet rapidly showed a talent, tackling Alpine and Pyrenean climbs (recreationally) at this early age. Back home and riding at Minet Park he came
under the wing of Ray Kelly who put him on the road to success as a schoolboy with theWillesden CC.As a junior he moved to the more race oriented Welwyn Wheelers where he rode mostly on the track. However, up to 2020 he was also active as a runner but the
arrival of Covid caused him to favour cycling.
By 2022 (aged seventeen) he was racing on the continent as a member of theAG2R development team. He did not find it easy to fit in with this francophone outfit and to be realistic, there can be very few British teenagers whose French would be good enough to
cope with a big step like this. He had a painful crash in the Junior Liege – Bastogne –Liege and although no bones were broken was off his bike for a couple of weeks.
Although his team mates and D.S. were supportive, it was disappointing that the team management seemed only to be interested in when he could go back to racing.
This team clearly wasn’t working out for him and he returned to England and for the 2023 season raced with theZappi team. With them he achieved a stage win and third overall in the Junior Tour of Wales and then the second place in the prestigiousTrofeo Buffoni(juniors).
These results were good enough to get him a place with the Soudal Quickstep
development team, a Flemish speaking outfit where English is widely understood and used which made Cormac more comfortable.
Unfortunately he began to find that to ride as a young pro now requires an obsessive single- mindedness which he did not possess. It seems that this is a feature of the professional cyclist’s life which did not exist in the past, and for some one who had actually enjoyed racing previously, it took all the fun out of the sport. Then there is the question of actual danger – as mentioned Cormac had been injured during the 2022 season but so far had escaped permanent damage.
There have been a worrying number of fatalities recently and it does appear that, for some reason, road racing has become more dangerous. Putting these thoughts together, and with a good career offer outside the sport, Cormac
has decided to withdraw from professional cycling. Triathlon beckons and we wish him well with his new career.
Keith (1938-2019) is probably now best remembered for his excellent work in founding the Surrey League, but he did have an excellent career as a rider. From 1964 – 66 he rode for continental teams, scoring 11 victories in Belgium and winning the British pro championship in 1964. He also rode for British teams in 1967 and 68. He made a
significant contribution to Tom Simpson’s 1965 World Championship victory.
The meeting was again held at the Civil Service Club and was attended by forty members
and guests
Chris Lovibond
February 2025.
Seven of Britain’s best cycle trails, whatever your level
Add some adventure to your winter with a weekend on two wheels. These are our expert’s picks, with a lovely place to recover (and store your bike) afterwards.
As any cyclist will tell you with great zeal, to cycle is to get fit by accident: you ride for scenery, camaraderie and perhaps to clear your mind. If this sounds like a good way to add cheer to your winter, you’ll be pleased to find that the road and mountain bike rides we’ve picked are doable by most riders; we’ve included options for first-timers along with a few tricky alternatives for those who fancy a challenge. All loop back to a nice hotel that will happily store your bike and, as three hours of cycling is our limit in winter, we’ve factored in a stop en route. GPX navigation files are also available online for most. Warm gloves, socks and a buff? That’s your responsibility.
Prostate cancer has overtaken breast cancer as the most common form of the disease in the UK. A record 55,000 men were diagnosed with it in 2023, up from 44,000 in 2019. These are frightening numbers. Should all midlife men demand that they have a screening test?
Cycling Time Trials, the National Governing Body for time trials in England, Scotland and Wales has revealed a new website and full rebrand.
The existing website, in commission since 2016 has now been upgraded, something the brand says brings a modern, user-friendly experience that reflects their vision for the future.
With its new functionality, the new website should offer an enhanced experience for riders and event organisers.
Anti-cycling stories are bad for the UK’s health, says Chris Boardman
The UK’s public health is being directly harmed by anti-cycling coverage in parts of the media, Chris Boardman, who heads the government’s main active travel organisation, has told the Guardian.
Boardman, a former champion cyclist and businessman, leads Active Travel England (ATE) and is at the forefront of government efforts to help people switch from car trips to healthier and more sustainable travel.
Set up in 2020 by Boris Johnson to help councils to create well-designed schemes, ATE endured a difficult time as Rishi Sunak’s government battled against bus lanes and 20mph limits as well as low-traffic neighbourhoods.
While this culture war has abated since the election, Boardman says that pushing for better walking and cycling routes remained “very politically noisy”, which could particularly put off local politicians.
Boardman is openly angry about what he sees as misleading media coverage that presents cyclists as reckless and dangerous when, in a statistic he uses regularly, more Britons are killed by cows or lightning every year than by bikes.
“At the moment we have a very consistent, non-evidence-based, negative narrative to stop any change. It is stopping people wanting to put their heads up and do difficult things,” he said in an interview.
This was a popular event with sixty four members and guests attending – pretty well the
full capacity of our current venue.
There was no speaker, but a raffle was held to raise funds for theJohn Barclay Academy.
This represented a lot of work on the parts of Mike Clark and Keith Penfold who acquired
and wrapped the prizes – on the day Carlton Kirby held the microphone as master of
ceremonies. The sum of £440 went to the Academy.
Two new members were presented with their club badges: Steve Cave and Ellen Inglis.
Both of these reduce the average age of the membership, although Ellen has a greater
effect in this department.
Chris Lovibond
December 2024.
Accell Group returns to UCI World Tour team sponsoring
DIJON, France- The news came out already earlier, but was only published officially today. Accell Group's brand Cycles Lapierre is making a return to the to the UCI World Tour as the official bike sponsor for Team Picnic PostNL. The team will compete on Lapierre bicycles for the next four years.
Meet cycling’s new golden couple — romance in the velodrome
Emma Finucane,21, andMatthew Richardson, 25, won six medals between them at the Paris Olympics. Now the new Jason and Laura Kenny reveal what it was like finding romance in the velodrome and how they dealt with the controversy when Richardson left Australia for Team GB
100 Women in Cycling
CYCLE INFLUENCER
Hope Inglis
Cyclocross and road racer, cycling advocate
At the age of 15, Hope secured a personal interview with Brian Facer, the then CEO of British Cycling, to ask for more resources for women in cycling. Now, at 19 and studying at the University of Birmingham, she is working with current CEO Jon Dutton towards setting up a women’s working group with the intention of getting more women involved in cycling and improving equality within the sport. She also races and has promoted a series of road races for the university.
“I love the feeling of racing, but also the incredible community at events. Cycling has taken me so many places around the UK and beyond as well as introducing me to amazing friends.”
Sir Chris Hoy is putting his faith in AI and new treatments to extend his life after receiving an incurable cancer diagnosis.
The six-time Olympic gold medallist has been told by doctors that he has between two and four years to live after discovering he had stage four cancer.
Hoy, 48, from Edinburgh, released a memoir last month called All That Matters documenting his life since the diagnosis.
Mark Cavendish wins final race and officially retires
'I couldn't have wished for a better send off,' says 39-year-old after sprinting to victory at the Singapore Criterium
Lille is calling!
Get ready to immerse yourself in the heart of the Tour de France as we return to Lille for the Grand Départ Classic 2025. This vibrant city has a special connection to cycling, and we're excited to share it with you.
Discover a unique cycling experience:
Pedal through history: Lille’s rich agricultural heritage offers stunning countryside views as you ride along quiet rural roads.
Embrace the spirit of competition: This flat stage is perfect for speed demons and leisurely group rides alike. Feel the adrenaline as you tackle the same roads as the pros.
Be part of the Tour de France fever: Lille knows how to host a cycling event. Experience the electric atmosphere as the city gears up for the Grand Départ.
Ready to make unforgettable memories? Secure your spot now and join us in Lille for the Grand Départ Classic 2025.
The 21 best cycle routes and bike trails in Scotland
Take your pick from one of these beautiful trails steeped in history and heritage, taking in mountains, monuments and lochside views
The January lunch and AGM saw the appointment of a new president when Bill Houghton
handed the chain of office over to John Wheatley.
John is on the point of retirement from his day job, so he hopes that his new ‘work status’
will allow him to have an energetic year on the club’s behalf.
The meeting also included the presentation of the R.H.Williams cup which is awarded to
the Club Member of the Year. It went to Gordon Fisher for his excellent work on the club
website. Gordon has created a lively and readable place to promote the club and its
activities, a site which the club can now be proud to show to the world!
The AGM was quickly and efficiently completed, there being no rule change proposals or
any alteration to the composition of the committee.
The meeting was attended by thirty members and was held at the Civil Service Club.
Chris Lovibond,
January 2025.
Brompton profits plunge more than 99% amid bike industry turmoil
Boss of bicycle maker says discounting after Covid boom means ‘sad state of affairs’ in global market is likely to go on
The boss of Brompton Bicycle has predicted that 2025 will be another year of turmoil for the bike industry after profits at the British folding bicycle maker dived by more than 99% amid a wave of discounting by rivals.
Profits fell from £10.7m to £4,602 in the year to the end of March 2024 – less than the cost of Brompton’s top-of-the-range T Line Explore bike – as riders sought cheaper options during a cost of living squeeze.
Sales at the company based in Greenford, Middlesex – whose cheapest model costs almost £1,000 – fell 5.3% to £122.6m as it sold 8.2% fewer bikes, according to accounts filed at Companies House this week.
Will Butler-Adams, the managing director of Brompton, said the dive in profits was primarily down to selling fewer bikes than planned amid “a really sad state of affairs” in the global bicycle market. The sector is awash with overstocks after overestimating demand since the coronavirus pandemic.
“The industry is still in turmoil and will not get better this year. It will not be as bad as 2024 but there is still excess stock,” Bulter-Adams said.
Bike businesses across the world, but particularly in the US and Europe, have been hit by poor sales and discounting after a boom during Covid lockdowns prompted overoptimistic production, leading to excess stock in warehouses and stores.
A number of bicycle brands and retailers have collapsed into administration in the past two years, including the online retailers Wiggle and i-ride.co.uk, and the British bike makers Mercian, Orange Mountain Bikes and P Bairstow.
Butler-Adams said Brompton had been hit by widespread discounting by troubled businesses trying to clear stock, particularly in Europe and the US. The industry has also faced competition from electric rental bike schemes, such as Lime, and the rise of cheaper Chinese rivals and the British startup Gocycle.
He added that the “retail environment has been decimated” for UK bike sales with the closure of independent chains including Cycle Republic and Cycle Surgery, while even bigger players such as Evans have reduced in size.
Brompton has put plans to shift to a new headquarters in Ashford, Kent, on hold and cancelled the dividend to shareholders after paying out £1.2m a year before after profits dived. In early 2024, it also raised £16m from BGF, a fund set up by banks including Barclays, HSBC and Lloyds after the credit crunch that specialises in funding small- and medium-sized businesses, in return for an 8.5% stake in Brompton.
Brompton used the funds, with about £3m raised from existing shareholders including Butler-Adams and the founder, Andrew Ritchie, to pay off debts.
Despite the industry’s troubles, Butler-Adams said Brompton was protected by offering “more utilitarian” bicycles that people turned to for commuting. He remains optimistic about the industry’s long-term prospects as governments around the world recognise the importance of cycling for health and environmental reasons. Cities such as London, Manchester, Paris, Shenzhen, New York and Vancouver have been building infrastructure to encourage more cycling.
“London, Edinburgh, New York, Seville, Paris all have the momentum of getting people more active for air quality and trying to get people fitter. In the macro picture things are going in the right direction. The industry shot itself in the foot but that will roll out,” Butler-Adams said.
He said Brompton was positive about the launch of its more rugged G Line model, especially the electric version, saying there were “opportunities on the other side” for those bike businesses still able to invest during a tough period.
Mark Cavendish wins Lifetime Achievement award after BBC Sports Personality of the Year snub
Sir Mark Cavendishis set to receive a Lifetime Achievement from the BBC after he was left off the broadcaster's shortlist for Sports Personality of the Year 2024.
The 39-year-old called time on a career spanning two decades last month, retiring as the all-time stage win record holder at the Tour de France, and with the accolade of being the greatest sprinter to have ever lived.
After winning a record 35th stage in July, Cavendish was among the bookies’ favourites to win this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year, an award he previously won in 2011. He was left off the six-athlete shortlist, announced last week, but his career will still be celebrated during the ceremony on Tuesday.
for businesses producing and distributing lithium-ion batteries for eBikes, as the latest step in tackling fires caused by unsafe eBikes and associated products.
There were at least ten fire-related fatalities in the UK involving eBikes or e-scooters powered by lithium-ion batteries in 2023 (and almost 200 fires recorded). Poorly designed or poorly manufactured lithium-ion batteries used in eBikes and e-scooters present a risk of thermal runaway which can result in a serious fire or explosion. These guidelines mandate that lithium-ion batteries must contain a safety mechanism to address that risk.
A group of cyclists took part in a 70 mile (113 km) ride across London to create an artwork of Children in Need mascot Pudsey on a cycling app, in order to raise funds for the charity.
Fashion designer Nico Georgiou, from Hither Green in south-east London, spent a month planning the complex route before leading the ride through the capital on 1 November.
It took 12 hours and many twists and turns to replicate the famous bear, along with his eye patch, as accurately as possible on the Strava Art app.
“It’s hard riding so slowly but you need to in order to stick to the route,” Mr Georgiou told BBC London.
Tour of Burundi:
The Meteoric Rise in African Women's Cycling
What a week last week! This entire issue is dedicated to the amazing women of African cycling. These women are quickly exhibiting their prowess on the bicycle and their fierceness as competitors. This year's Tour du Burundi hosted women from Benin, Uganda, Sierra Leone (the first professional international event), Senegal, Kenya, Burkina Faso, and Burundi.
Phil Liggett giving an impromptu talk on bygone TDF hero's at the VP's tea run for Finsbury Parkers
Paddington reunion
Friday 9th August 2024
-updated Michael Clark
Situated by the gates of Paddington Recreation Ground, Carlton Vale, NW6 'Carlton Tavern' has been an integral part of West London cycling scene for over 100 years and past-owners Charringtons supported racing as well as quenching thirsts after a hard evening's track acing on Tuesday & Friday during summer months.
Built in 1920 the pub survived heavy bombarded in WW2, coming away fully intact however suffered partial demolition in 2020 from new owners who applied to Westminster Council to demolish and rebuild as flats. Westminster refused stating 'Carlton Tavern' was a historic feature in a landscape of high-rise flats surrounding it and would be awarded Grade 2 listing immediately.
Next day locals awoke to the sound of a contractors wrecking ball smashing into the upper floors and contacted Westminster immediately who ordered an immediate halt to proceedings. The new owners were taken to court and ordered to rebuild the pub brick by brick back to it's former glory.
'Carlton Tavern' opened for business in April 2021 under ownership of two local people (one attended
Brad Wiggins old school St. Augustines although they never met).
Paddington's final meeting was held on 9th August 1988 and the first reunion last year to celebrate 35 years. It proved to be very popular and recently repeated again this year. Tuesday's track League provided hard racing for riders in and around London however Friday's '100' races gave an opportunity to rub shoulders with World class riders like Hugh Porter & Les West in a series of 4 x 25 mile races sponsored by Charringtons which led to future sponsors like Curry Sark whisky, Chrysalis Records and Pernod getting involved.
Paddington Track has disappeared (part of the banking coming into the home straight is still here) but memories remain and can't be erased as long as the yearly reunion continues which is already being planned for 2025
