In delving into the history of The Balham Rough Stuff we’ve got our hands on medals, race reports, race cards, photos and route descriptions but never a route map. Not until now that is. Continue reading MEMORABILIA: Rough Stuff Route Map
The final extract from the memoirs of former Balham CC secretary and Gazette club magazine editor Ken Smith, covering the post war years. A revealing look into club life and the lives of a group of young men from the Balham and South London cycling community in the 1940 and 1950s. Continue reading KEN SMITH MEMOIRS: Care free and Car free – The ’40s and ’50s South London cycling club scene
One of the most famous rides in London cycling history returns to the sporting calendar. Continue reading Balham Rough Stuff returns 92 years after first ride
The 1935 Balham Rough Stuff race report in Cycling Magazine is clearly written by a frustrated novelist. Read on for fine use of the words ‘dint’ and ‘gambolled’ Continue reading BACKPEDAL: The Season Begins – SM Butler Again Wins the Balham Rough and Tumble ‘25’
An extract from the memoirs of former Balham CC secretary and Gazette club magazine editor Ken Smith, covering 1936-1939. With little editing, it gives an insight into the lives of a group of young men from the Balham and South London cycling community having fun before the second world war would change their lives forever. Continue reading KEN SMITH MEMOIRS: Cycling offers a great escape from 1930’s South London
The big names can’t topple Stan Butler who claims his fifth Balham Rough Stuff title in the glorious Surrey/Kent sunshine Continue reading BACKPEDAL: Butler dominates ’38 Rough Stuff in glorious sunshine
A swirling blizzard that raged for nearly two hours, reducing visibility to almost a few yards, was the lot of the riders in the 1937 Balham Rough Stuff 25 Continue reading BACKPEDAL: Raging blizzard reduces visibility at 1937 Balham Rough Stuff
London’s traditional “pipe-opener”, the Balham CC Rough Riders’ “25” proved to be 25 muddy miles of thrills and spills won in rather runaway fashion by East Londoner FT Devonald of the Viking RC. Continue reading BACKPEDAL: Mud and snow make for tough first Rough Stuff since WW2
Cheryl Button, the daughter of former Balham Cycling Club (BCC) secretary Ken Smith, was in London in November and she had a surprise gift for the soon to be relaunched club. Ken was a member of the BCC between 1936 and 1957 and before his death in 2013, compiled a scrapbook of his most treasured club mementoes and photos. It also included his memoirs spanning 21 years of life as a South London cyclist. Continue reading 21 years of momentoes, photos and memoirs presented to Club by family of former secretary
In only its third year, the Balham Rough Stuff was already firmly established in the racing calendar. Several interesting names figured among the 100 on the starting card, including HEG Ferris and T Chambers, the Douglas rider, who had made the trip from Scotland specially for the race – his second in Southern England. Continue reading BACKPEDAL: Vegetarians dominate at the 1928 Rough Stuff
