This report is from the Ruislip & Northwood Gazette, Wednesday 26 April 1989, and is a brief look back at the Northwood Wheelers.

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In 1948, Northwood and Northwood Hills boasted a thriving cycling club.

Known as the Northwood Wheelers, members would meet in the small annexe of a church in Hallowell Road, moving later to The Garage in Rickmansworth Road.

During the early years of the club, prominent members were Roy and Colin Turner, Tome and Colin Simpson, Roy and Ken Meredith, Gordon “Boffin” Empson, Bert Mills, Alan Brown, Stan Boyes, Bob Harvey, Ken Dopson and Ada Stratford.

Northwood Wheelers faced tough competition from such clubs as the Uxbridge Wheelers, South Ruislip Cycling Club, Yiewsley Road Club and the Harrow and Rickmansworth Cycling Club.

Most Saturday mornings, Gordon Prangley would play host to the Northwood cyclists at his Northwood Hills High Street cycle shop. As a member, Gordon supplied his friends with equipment.

The shop, which was once Prangleys, is now the the Northwood Hills Lighting Centre.

After a hard training session on the road the cyclists would gather at Northwood Cafe in the High Street, popularly known as Nell’s.

Among the list of annual races, where both experienced and novice riders took part, was a ride from Batchworth, near Rickmansworth, to Harefield. The start time was 4.30am.

Competitors were banned from displaying any form of advertising on their clothing or bicycles.

Some also took part in track events, racing at Slough. Top track rider was Brian Huggins, who, to the great elight of his team-mates, beat Olympic cyclist Dave Handley, from the Harrow and Rickmansworth Cycling Club, on several occasions.

By 1960, enthusiasm for cycling was at an all-time low. Northwood Wheelers began to lose members. In 1962, the club was forced to close.

Five years later, South Ruislip CC amalgamated with Uxbridge Wheelers to form Hillingdon Cycling Club, which is thriving today.