The King (George VI) died; several wet club runs; marshalling the cross country race (cyclocross); the Bedfont 100 mile reliability trial, for which it was thankfully sunny.

672 miles

Sat Feb 2^nd 20 miles In the morning I went to Pinner and Eastcote, shopping, and then came home and thoroughly cleaned my bike. In the afternoon I went over to Roy [Turner]'s house with the scales. Met Bob [Harvey] in Northwood and after going to Prangley's and fetching Tom [Simpson] and Boff [Empson] and all his paper we went to Roy's. We fetched some more scrap paper from Fred [Reynolds] old 1951 RTTC handbooks, mostly, and then weighed it. It came to nearly 8 cwt in all! Went to the pictures in the evening.

Sun Feb 3^rd 85 miles Left Northwood Hills at about 9.20 a.m. down through Northwood, up Mount Vernon hill to Harefield, West Hyde and the Chalfonts to Fred's cafe at Amersham for elevenses. Len Chapman had a puncture. After elevenses we continued up through Great Missenden where we turned off towards Princes Risborough. We held the free-wheeling contest which was won by Len. We then continued on to Aylesbury for a 4/6d [expensive!] dinner at the 'Clock Tower' cafe. We then went on through Tring and Berkhampstead via the 'Shanty' at Bourne End (cup of tea), Hemel Hempstead to the 'Cricketers' at Redbourne for our ‘proper' tea. Then home through Watford. Met Alan Stratman and Tony Standing at tea. A very nice day.

Mon Feb 4^th 10 miles Club night; did not take any bookings for next Sunday as it is our cross country race [now called Cyclo-cross].. Played darts and table tennis, and gave out new runs' list.

Thurs Feb 7^th 35 miles The King died yesterday at Sandringham. In the evening, I left home at about 5.40 p.m. on a training ride through Ickenham, Gerrards Cross and along the Oxford road to Beaconsfield. Here I turned right to Amersham and then home via Chorleywood, Rickmansworth and Moor Park. A very nice evening - back in two hours (17.5 m.p.h.).

Sat Feb 9^th 26 miles Did the usual things in the morning and then in the afternoon did a bit more ‘secret training'! Left at about 2.15 p.m. through Pinner Green, over to Watford and then left into a headwind through Rickmansworth, over the '10' course and home via Ickenham and Ruislip. Went to the pictures in the evening.

Sun Feb 10^th 55 miles In the morning I marshalled in the cross country, and got my bike so muddy that I had to scrub it when I got in. Had dinner at home and then we met in the afternoon to ride out through Harefield, the Chalfonts and Jordans where we got lost. Finally found our way through to Beaconsfield and High Wycombe for tea. Had a ‘burn-up' for about 5 miles and I actually got into Wycombe second! After tea we streaked back with a tail wind and had a 'cuppa' at Tony's. A very nice day indeed!

Mon Feb 11^th 10 miles Club night. Took bookings for Sunday's run to Hatfield and Bourne End, and entered for a ‘reliability' trial (the Bedfont Cycling Club's 100 miles in 7½ hours) on February 24^th.

Tues Feb 12^th 25 miles Out training with Brian Major and Alan Stratman. We left at 7.30 p.m. and called for Tony Tucker, but he had only just got in so we went without him through Wealdstone, Kenton, Staples Corner and right down the North Circular nearly to the Western Avenue before returning via Wembley and Harrow. A cold night.

Thurs Feb 14^th 33 miles Training again! Out at about 5.40 p.m. through Ruislip and Ickenham, down the viaduct to George Green and Slough. Here I turned right along the Bath road to the Southdown (cafe) and then turned right into the lanes about a mile from Maidenhead. Rode on through Burnham Beeches, Farnham Common and Fulmer to the A 40 and then straight home. A nice evening.

Sat Feb 16^th 10 miles Last night I stripped down and completely overhauled my bike. Finished it this morning. Put my gear on. Went over to Alan Stratman's and then to the pictures in the evening.

Sun Feb 17^th 52 miles It poured with rain all day! Nevertheless, we left at about 9.30 a.m. through Watford with Len, Roger, Ken [Dopson] and Geoff Madgewick, and then on through Aldenham and Radlett to elevenses at the 'Marshmoor' cafe at Hatfield. We then retraced our wheel-tracks to Colney Heath and then to the 'Shanty' at Bourne End via St Albans and Boxmoor. We were so wet by this time we decided to go straight home and not continue to Marlow for tea.

Mon Feb 18^th 10 miles Club night. Made arrangements (meeting times etc) for the Bedfont 100 miles in 7½ hours on Sunday. I hope that it will be drier than yesterday!

Thurs Feb 21^st 16 miles Went for a ride round Ruislip, over the hills to Northwood and then back through Pinner. Went to the committee meeting at Alan's in the evening.

Fri Feb 22^nd 38 miles Out training with Brian Major through Ickenham, Chalfont St Peter, Amersham and Chesham to Berkampstead, then home via Kings Langley and Watford. A nice evening but cold.

Sat Feb 23^rd 20 miles A warm and sunny day. In the morning I went to Pinner and then over to Prangley's to buy a mud-flap. In the afternoon went out (in shorts!) through Eastcote, down Field End road to Hayes, along the A 40, left through Greenford, over Harrow-on-the-Hill and home via Pinner. A very nice ride indeed. I hope that the weather continues like this for tomorrow's 100 in 7h.

Sun Feb 24^th 130 miles The Bedfont "reliability' 100 miles in 7" hours. We left Eastcote at about 7.45 a.m. and reached the start at Hounslow with about 10 minutes to spare. Our group started at 9.10 down through Staines, Sunningdale to Bagshot, where we picked up a big fast bunch, on to Basingstoke to the first check at Whitchurch. We stopped there for elevenses and then turned right up to Newbury into the wind, right again through Thatcham to Mac's cafe on the Bath road near Theale for a compulsory stop (¾ hour). After some food we continued through Theale and Reading back to the finish via Maidenhead and Slough. Stopped in Reading for refreshment. We had about 20 minutes to spare. About 10 of the Northwood Wheelers rode but only four finished in the allotted time (Roy Turner, Alan Stratman, Brian Huggins and myself). [We got certificates to prove it: see here]. A very fast day apart from the return which was a bit 'bonky'. Sunny all day.

Mon Feb 25^th 10 miles Club night.

Tues Feb 26^th 14 miles Went out with Alan Stratman and Brian Major to the Herige Wheelers' clubroom. A very cold night.

Thurs Feb 28^th 58 miles Half term. In the morning I went over to Prangley's and ordered some shorts. I then went out after lunch through Uxbridge, Iver and Datchet to Windsor, and then home via Slough and Ickenham. Sunny but not so warm as of late. I went out again in the evening, out through Watford and Hunton Bridge, and then through the lanes to Chipperfield, Sarratt and Flaunden. Down the notorious hill in dark and fog to Chenies & nearly stacking up on every corner! I then turned left at the main road and came home through Rickmansworth and Northwood.

Fri Feb 29^th 10 miles Went for a short ride in the morning through Northwood and Pinner.