Page 10 - PBCMarch2021

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Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 18 No.1 March 2021 10
Justice Stareleigh Reminiscing on a Life of Cycling
It was just an idea I’d been considering for a while that we
should ask our longer serving members about their life in cycling
and how they came to be part of our glorious Club. Not quite
sure how this would work out, I approached our illustrious
member Ron Gray/Justice Stareleigh, and gently persuaded him
that he could say/write whatever he wished in response to a
few probing questions. And so here we are-imagine that JS and
I are having a convivial lunch somewhere in the foothills of
Hertfordshire.

So Ron, How old were you when you got your first bike and what was it?
At 11 years old, a second-hand kiddies bike with rod brakes, but gave me the freedom to carry on train
spotting further a<ield at Hemel Hempstead and Welwyn Garden City. My <irst real bike at 12 years old,
was an Armstrong Moth, <ive-speed Benelux with a rod change double clanger, GB brakes and 27x1/4
pressures. 15 bob a week over a year from a local bike shop!
When did you start riding seriously, or is that still to come! AND did you ride much
before you joined a club?
We formed a cycling club at school, which was against the grain, because it was a footie and cricketing
sports school, and cycling was very much a Cinderella sport. We organised a couple of 10 mile time trials
and camping trips to Hastings, Southend and the Isle of Sheppey.

Was it a touring club or straight into a racing club and if so which one?
I joined the Verulam CC (St Albans) at the age of 13 (1959). Still a member 62 years later, all be it as a
life member! At the time, a good all round cycling club for racing and touring. Actually it still is, and with
nearly 500 members and 10 Sunday Club Runs, plus various weekly rides, track training and induction
rides, Club events and open racing, it really is a very good all round club, in pre-Covid times, and I'm sure
it will be again in the post-vaccination era.

Did you go for club runs/holidays etc,and if so, where and what sort of distances did
you go?
First club run, Northampton at 120 miles, aged 13, <irst YHA trip to Winchester Youth Hostel, <irst over-
night ride was at Easter to the Isle of Wight - great times! In fact, one of my earliest friendships was
forged with John Graves and we are still mates now and ride out 2 or 3 times a week, with Boris's
permission.

When did you take up Time Trials, Road Racing or both?
Time Trials - West Herts Combine - schoolboy champion, South of England schoolboy CycloCross champs
2nd, London schoolboys Track champs, 3rd overall.