At 10:13 PM 16/05/2007 -0400, P.C. Kohler wrote:
>One wonders if there is a comparable period documentary on the "other"
>side of classic British cycling that I personally the most appealing:
>time trialing. Early Sunday mornings with the dawn mist still around the
>hedgerows, all black cycling kit and very often all-black lightweights
In the mid-fifties, British club cycling fell into three groups; touring (CTC), time trialing (RTTC) and those renegade road racers (BLRC). Most clubs were affiliated with both the RTTC (Road Time Trials Council) and the CTC (Cyclists Touring Club). The purpose of the dawn time trials and black clothing was to not attract attention. By the mid-fifties most clubs had coloured jerseys, but I didn't own one. I rode a time trial before leaving the UK and somebody gave me an old black jersey to wear. That would really be something to have now.
John Betmanis
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada