Early season training; David remains as Touring Secretary in the new club committee; club run crash on ice on a snowy and cold run.

531 miles

Tues Jan 1st 18 miles Sunny but cold. Went to Eastcote in the morning. Saw New Year in last night. Went to Prangley's to buy a new head set in the afternoon. I took the head set round to Brian's in the evening.

Wed Jan 2nd 6 miles It rained during the night and in the morning it was cloudy and cool. I went to Eastcote to buy some potatoes. I phoned Tony and he came round in the afternoon and we planned our Easter tour. Went to the pictures in the evening.

Thurs Jan 3rd 94 miles Left at about 10.00 a.m. with Roger [Bingham] out through Watford to the ˜Shanty" for elevenses where we met Geoff Madgewick. We then went on through Berkhampstead and Aylesbury to Winslow where we found a new cafe for the annual Winslow bash [in March] as the Nevada cafe has now closed. We had a sandwich lunch somewhere between Aylesbury and Winslow, and then came home the same way, stopping for tea at the Shanty, apart from turning off and going home through Rickmansworth and Croxley Green. A nice day; sunny but a cold wind in our heads going out.

Fri Jan 4th 12 miles Sunny, frosty and a cold wind in the morning, rain by evening. Tony came round in the morning and when Roger joined us we tried to adjust his gear but only ended by wrecking it and then "selling" him a new block, chain and gear! I went round to Tony's in the afternoon and helped him to fit his new headset.

Sat Jan 5th 20 miles Went to Ruislip and Pinner in the morning, bought an adjustable spanner and some batteries. Tony came round and I went to Pinner and Eastcote with him. Mild and cloudy. Tony called round in the evening and we went to Alan's and Brian's and then for a short ride around Ruislip.

Sun Jan 6th 85 miles Warm and drizzly. Left Northwood Hills at about 9.30 a.m. through Rickmansworth, Croxley Green and Hunton Bridge to the Shanty at Bourne End for elevenses. We then went on to Berkhampstead castle which we had to break into as we could not gain legal access. We then continued through to Tring for lunch via Ashridge and Aldbury. We strung Tony Tucker's bike up in a tree! After dinner we continued along the Icknield Way through Ivinghoe, Dunstable and Redbourne to Cowper Cottage at Harpenden for tea, and the home through St Albans and Watford. Met Brian and Alan [Stratman] at tea. A very nice day with plenty of burn-ups!

Mon Jan 7th 16 miles Cloudy and mild. Cleaned bike after yesterday's club run and went to Eastcote twice in the morning. Club night; took bookings for Sunday's run and ordered the club dinner photographs. I bought a new tyre and some brake blocks today for my father's bike which I am overhauling.

Tues Jan 8th 5 miles Colder. Cleaned Dad's bike and went twice to Pinner. I was going to go out in the evening, but it rained.

Wed Jan 9th First day back at school. Committee meeting at my place in the evening.

Sat Jan 12th 12 miles Went to Pinner and Eastcote several times, shopping etc.

Sun Jan 13th 70 miles Out at 9.20 a.m. with six club members through Rickmansworth and Chorleywood to elevenses at Fred's cafe at Amersham. After elevenses (and locking Brian in the bogs and climbing trees) we turned right up the lanes to Chesham for dinner. We then rode up White Hill to Berkhampstead and then through the lanes to the Cricketers at Redbourn for tea. Visited Berkhampstead castle [again!]. We met the Harp Road Club at tea, and then came home through St Albans and Watford in the teaming rain. Very cold and frosty in the early morning

Mon Jan 14th 12 miles Club night. Went up via Ruislip and over Duck’s hill. I did not take any bookings for Sunday as it is the club's AGM. Played darts - and won!

Tues Jan 15th 25 miles Started a bit of "early training". Left at 6.30 p.m. down through Rayner's Lane, North Harrow, Wealdstone and Stanmore and then nearly to Mill Hill. Here I turned left down the Watford by-pass to Watford and then home via Northwood. A very nice night for my first training ride.

Sat Jan 19th 12 miles Went to Pinner and Eastcote several times during the morning. Tony came round and we booked a few hostels for our Easter tour [to Cheddar Gorge]. Went to the pictures in the evening.

Sun Jan 20th 10 miles Did not go out today until the afternoon when I went to the club’s AGM. Colin Turner took the chair at 3.00 p.m. The new committee is as follows:

Chairman Fred Reynolds

Time Trials Secretary Tom Simpson

Open Events Secretary Colin Turner

Track/Massed start Secretary Brian Major

Treasurer Alan Stratman

Junior Representative Len Chapman

Ladies’ Representative K. Meredith (Mrs)

Social Secretary ditto

Touring Secretary me

Road safety Ken Meredith

Press Secretary Bob Harvey

Mon Jan 21st 10 miles Club night. Took bookings for Sunday's run to Leatherhead.

Thurs Jan 24th 8 miles Went over to Tubbie's to have a meeting with the South Ruislip C.C. and Uxbridge C.C. to make arrangements for a proposed "100 in 8" [a reliability ride: 100 miles in eight hours].

Sat Jan 26th 16 miles Went to Pinner and Eastcote in the morning and to the pictures in the evening.

Sun Jan 27th 75 miles left at about 9.30 a.m. in the bitter cold with snow and ice everywhere down through Ruislip, Ickenham and through Feltham and Hartington to "Betty's" cafe at Walton-on-Thames. After elevenses we crossed the Thames and went down through Church Cobham and Stoke D'Abernon to dinner at the "Old Forge" at Leatherhead. Near Cobham, Bob Harvey, who was in front of me, slipped on the ice and brought the club down! Len [Chapman] broke his handlebar extension which we managed to replace in the village. After dinner we left the main road, up a lane (3" snow) to Ranmore common where Tom [Simpson] brewed up some tea on some burning paraffin. We then descended a really treacherous hill, covered in ice, to Ripley, Pyrford and Woking to the King's Head" at Cobham for tea. We then came home via Staines. We had five stack-ups today, but apart from that it was a smashing day!

Mon Jan 28th 10 miles Club night; took bookings for next Sunday's run to Aylesbury.

Wed Jan 30th 5 miles Committee meeting at Tom's. We are not going to compete in the proposed 100 in 8 on Saturday. We are going to weigh the scrap paper we have collected.