Page 27 - PBCMarch2023

Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 20 No.1 March 2023 27
He was latterly in the Sydenham Wheelers, and he did of course have a team kit
from all these clubs to satisfy all seasons! 13 bin liners to be precise! The bottom of
one of these bags was his amateur SKOL 6 Jersey from 1967.

In recent years Alan joined the Pedal Club, where he was treasurer and recently the
Club President; Alan was also a member of the Pickwick Bicycle Club and we spent
many hours on vintage bike rides together. Alan and I were also the only two
members south of the river of the GSLR, a club you can only join if you can prove you
were last in at least one event! Both Alan and I were spoilt for choice in this dept.
At these clubs Alan was affectionately known as ROMMEL!

You may know he was of French decent, but where was the fun in that. Alan and I
took the ‘mickey’ out of each other constantly; about cars, bikes, football,(he had no
time for it) Barry White,(he was more of a Metallica fan) and who had contributed
most effort in our many Tandem events (Alan said it was 34/3 in his favour). But all
of this doesn’t make up the sum of what Alan meant to me and probably you. He was
my cycling partner, my banter partner for sure, but more than any of all that - he
was my best mate. He showed up for me any time I ever needed him and for that I
am eternally grateful, and he would have done that for any worthwhile cause.
A true gentleman! RIP old Mate! Nick

Did You Know Time?

“In 1883, at 222 The Strand, the building (now Lloyds Bank) was home to one of
the first air-conditioned restaurants in London. It was only in business for three
years, during which time a pair of ladies were recruited from a local cycling club
to pedal a tandem bicycle in the basement. This powered a pair of giant bellows
forcing air into the dining area above. It closed shortly after the owner, the worse
for drink, fell off his chair and broke his neck.”

I wonder which cycling club these ladies came from as cycling for ladies was still in
its infancy in 1883, and what were they paid for their efforts? ….Ed