The month began with a 130 mile overnight excusrion to ride the WLCA '25'; registered at King's College, London; becoming a student may just limit opportunities for cycling; annual Freewheeling Contest; 

472 miles

Thurs Oct 1^st 18 miles Met Tony in the afternoon at Ickenham and we cycled around. In the evening we ended up at Nell’s to see the club; then over to Alan’s and home early.

Sat Oct 3^rd – Sun Oct 4^th 130 miles We left Hillingdon at about 3.00 p.m. with Brian Major, Brian Hamer [there were too many Brians in the club!] and the South Ruislip boys to ride in the WLCA ‘25’, our last event of the season.. We stopped several times on the way down to Theale, and reached our digs at about 7.00 o’clock. Got our bikes ready, had dinner and went out for a drink.

Brian Major was up first as he was off number 1; he did a 1.06. I was off number 67 and did 1.09.32. I did not really expect to do any better. Brian Hamer did a 1.07. The event was won by Mick Gambrill of the Clarence Wheelers with 59.32. We came home the same way, meeting the club for tea at Egham. A nice weekend.

Mon Oct 5^th 10 miles Spent the day in London, and registered at King’s College, University of London. In the evening it was club night. Took bookings for Sunday’s run. We are going to watch the club hill climb championship. Roy Turner did a climb in 1 minute 3.8 seconds yesterday in the Oak event and beat Jim Farrell.

Tues Oct 6^th 14 miles I met Tony in the morning and collected Roger’s new Ephgrave frame from Prangley’s. Went for a ride over to Wealdstone. I am starting College tomorrow.

Sat Oct 10^th 13 miles Spent the evening at the “Hills” – [apparently consuming 7 pints!].

Sun Oct 11^th 64 miles A nice sunny day after a foggy start. About 20 club members out to watch the hill climb which Tony Standing won on his new track iron. Roy Turner was second. I had a monster blow-out in my back tyre and mended it with two layers of canvas, a huge patch and half a reel of red tape. I got home safely but did not trust it further to go out after lunch. Roger Bingham’s new bike [Ephgrave] is very nice.

Mon Oct 12^th 10 miles Club night; I got up there late because I don’t get home from College until after 6.00 p.m. on Mondays. I took bookings for next Sunday’s run.

Sat Oct 17^th 15 miles I put a fixed wheel back on my bike and cleaned out my room. I then went up to Gordon’s, got the forms to order my Ephgrave and had coffee with the boys. In the afternoon I went to the pictures with Brian Major and then finished up at Nell’s.

Sun Oct 18^th 75 miles Left at about 9.15 a.m. with the club, out through Beaconsfield to High Wycombe for elevenses. We tried to get into the Ball Tower at West Wycombe but it was closed. Tony Standing’s front lamp fell into his wheel coming down the hill! We then walked up Bledlow ridge, rode along the top, and then dropped down through some delightful woods, all brilliant orange and red, to the Silver Wings café at Chinnor for lunch. We met the South Ruislip here.

After lunch we went via Princes Risborough and Longdown hill to Great Missenden and Chesham to Bovingdon. The Bull Inn was closed so we continued on to the Shanty at Bourne End for our tea. Came home the usual way through Watford and the lower road. Took about 4 photos with my new camera.

Mon Oct 19^th 10 miles Up to the club in the evening. Took dinner bookings for Sunday’s run to Princes Risborough, and also the names of people wanting to go on the annual weekend to Cleeve Hill . It is the free-wheeling contest on Sunday.

Sat Oct 24^th 14 miles Did the usual things including the weekly visit to the Northwood Hills hotel – now to be called the Northwood Wheelers’ hotel, as we had 11 club members up there tonight!

Sun Oct 25^th 83 miles Annual Free-wheeling Contest Left Northwood Hills with 14 club members on a lovely sunny morning. We rode out the usual way to Amersham (elevenses at Fred’s café in the High Street), then on through Great Missenden, where we sheltered from a violent rain storm, and through the lanes to the hill where we held the annual free-wheeling contest. Roger Bingham won the event but fell off in the gravel only about 10 yards short of Brian Huggins’s all-time record! We had dinner in the Limes café at Princes Risborough. After a pint at a local hostelry we continued on through the lanes to High Wycombe via Loosely Row and finally to West Wycombe where, this time, we found the Ball Tower open to the public. After tea we came home via Beaconsfield and the viaduct. I took 12 photographs (7 of the free-wheelers) and the bulb in my rear light blew on the way home.

Mon Oct 26^th 10 miles Up to the club rooms; took bookings and made final arrangements for the annual Cleeve Hill weekend in early November.

Thurs Oct 29^th 5 miles Committee meeting at Dick Houston’s. We discussed awards, the club dinner, magazine etc.

Sat Oct 31^st 8 miles Up to Prangley’s and to Len Chapman’s early, and then up to London. It was the South Ruislip club dinner last night – some of us went to the dance.