St Leonards character, Maurice Carpenter, is one of the town’s best known racing cyclists.
As far back as 1952 Maurice, at the tender age of 19, recorded over 225 miles in a 12 hour race and took the Hastings & St Leonards Cycling Club record that had stood in the name of J F Mackie since 1935! Continue reading Still Going Strong at 82
Roy Humphries pushes off the first man in the 1964 East Sussex Cycling Association 12 Mile Hardriders event.
Some of the riders taking part included Gary Booth, Chris Parsons, Peter Miles Dave & Jon Ashdown, Mike Ashdown, Bob French. Continue reading ESCA Hardriders 1964
This piece of film will be mainly of interest to grey haired racing cyclists from the 1960’s.
John and Dave Ashdown are featured in the first race, with Richard Wall doing a cameo appearance after a face plant.
Bob French and Lynn Chambers of the Hastings Club and Gerald Maryann of Tunbridge Wells appear in the second race, which finished on Brighton Sea Front. Continue reading Cycle Racing in East Sussex 1960
In over 120 years of Rye cycling there can have been very few time trial championships as hard fought and competitive right down to the wire. Continue reading Rye & District Wheelers 100 Mile Championship
Esther Carpenter, one of the best known cycling organisers in the South-East, became President of the East Sussex Cycling Association at the Annual Luncheon and Prize Presentation held at the Roebuck Continue reading New Cycling President
Adventures of the Rye & District Wheelers. Past and Present
WHEELERS WILL SUPPORT MAYOR’S CHARITY WITH “LANDS END” ATTEMPT
Rye Wheelers will be supporting the Mayor’s ARRCC appeal fund for their annual charity raising event this year. Continue reading The ‘Sprocket’ Page
John and Dave Ashdown joined the Rye Wheelers in 1957. They came from a bike racing family, their uncles had been grass track riders before the War. Soon John and Dave were joined by a third brother, Edward. The trio made up a very important part of the Wheeler’s Grass Track Team. They also rode time trials. Later Mike Ashdown, a cousin, joined the club. Mike was a sprinter of extraordinary talent. He won the Sussex Sprint Championship at his second attempt and went on to lead the Wheelers in a never equalled three time triumph in the Gasson Team Competition at the Rye Sports Festival.
John Ashdown makes a last mile effort in a 1960’s Time Trial.
Mike Ashdown (left) with Celia, John and Mr & Mrs. Wall at a 1967 time trial.
With membership steadily growing and more and more riders getting out on Sundays the New Year looks good for the Rye & District Wheelers.
Starting from Tuesday 6 January and every Tuesday, there will be a short afternoon run, taking at the most two hours including a stop for a cuppa. A run that can be managed by beginners and novices of all ages and sexes, young and old alike. A good starting point for those that want to get fit and lose a little weight while enjoying companionship and the beauty of the countryside.
Sunday Morning runs cover more ground but are split into two separate groups if need be, both groups meeting up at eleven for breakfast.
The racing contingent are looking forward to another good season with seven riders already preparing for the first races. Roy Fritchley, the 25 mile record holder, threatens to take his record down ‘under the hour’. Barry Goodsall the present 25 Mile Champion also has this target in mind. It should be quite a contest.
After last year’s great effort in the East Sussex Cycling Association “100” mile race both Barry Goodsall and Mark Nash are planning to have another go at the distance, it may be that a third rider will be willing to ride with them and make up a team.
The evening “10” competitions will be hard fought again with Mark Nash defending his points competition championship. This event, spread over fifteen races, requires a high attendance percentage and allows the slower but more regular competitors a chance to be in at the finish with possibilities of winning.
The Club A.G.M. will be held at the Riverside Restaurant, Riverhaven Hotel at 7.30 on the second Thursday in February. All members are requested to attend along with anyone else interested in the Activities of the Rye & District Wheelers.
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Four riders represented the Rye cycling club in the first race of the season, run off over 12 torturous miles of Sussex roads near Battle, three of the steep hills had to be climbed in this time trial event, aptly named the Hard-riders Twelve and organised by the East Sussex Cycling Association. Continue reading Success for the Wheelers
