New fancy cover, advertisements - the newsletter has come along really well since it started; club run list; odd Malaya article, maybe connected with the Malaya '25' trophy; beauty hints for lady members.

Issue 17 brings some changes: a new title ("The Wheel"), a new smaller page size, and some professionally printed advertisements (for Gordon Prangley's bike shop and the Northwood Cafe). The cover says this issue is 'March', but actually issue 16 was the March issue, this is April 1954. To add to the potential for confusion, both issues 16 and 17 use the same cover picture.

Page 1-2

Editorial. Bob Harvey refers to the 12 months since the first news sheet appeared. He’s underestimating the elapsed time! The second Newsletter was dated March-April 1952, so at least two years must have elapsed. he’s right that there’s been quite some progress, and I’d add there’s been a development in club identity reflected in the pages of the newsletter.

Bob goes on to spread a bit of credit to thers involved - Fred Reynolds, Sheila Johns, Dick Houston, “Boff” Empson and Ken Meredith.

Then there’s a reference to a perennial issue for bike clubs - are marshals appreciated by the racing men?

And another plea for club members to take a bit of care when out and about on club rides.

A not too subtle plea for the club’s pursuit team to do a bit more trainign together. It seems they came a bit unstuck at Herne Hill track!

Three new members are welcomed.

Page 3

Club runs May-June - a fair mix of time trials and club runs there.

Page 4

Club run list continued.

Some evening training rides announced. [I can’t help feeling that May and June is a bit late for this, but probably that’s a modern view!]

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Another lighthearted ‘letter’ - follows from the grammatical correction in the previous issue.

Pages 5-7

The British Soldier in Malaya

I have to confess I find the presence of this article in a cycling club newsletter somewhat bemusing. I guess the Malaya situation might be a bit of a concern to a group of young men looking at National Service, but I also wonder whether there’s a deeper connection with Malaya, given the reports of the Malaya Trophy presented to the club by a Malaya Rubber Planter a year or so ago. It’s not a bad article by the way, and it’s followed by a short poem.

Page 8

Racing Results

The ’30’ on 11th April had 10 entries, six started, three of whom retired due to the cold conditions (Saunders, Standing and Stratman). Paul Stratman took the win by a meagre 3 seconds from Colin Turner.

The ’50’ on 18th April had 6 starters, with 2 DNF. The event was won by Alan Stratman (2:20:27), Brian Major and Colin Turner in second and third places respectively.

Page 9

The Bard returns with “Ode to all Racing men”

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And an anonymous riposte to Ivor Storey, who is apparently “a fool, like a monkey on a stool”. This can’t end well!

Page 10

Oh, I appear to have scanned page 8 a second time!

Page 11

Health in our Time, by “Dr Hardcastle MBChB”, who replaces Dr T Simmo (aka Tom Simpson, who’s emigrated to Canada). Essentially a thank you for all Tom’s efforts!

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Household Hints - appears to be aimed at confirmed bachelors, and is continued next page.

Page 12

The conclusion of the somewhat bizarre Household Hints is followed by the possibly even more bizarre “Beauty Hints for Our Lady Members”!

Page 13

This issue finishes with a couple of portraits, or (more properly, ‘sportraits’), of Bob Harvey (Sir Robert “Slasher” Harvey) and Rocket Stratman. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the portraits!