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 family of former club champion Ken Figg has got in touch with us to share some amazing mementoes of his time with BCC including 14 medals, 2 club record plaques, a photo, certificate, club badge, a 1932 Club Handbook and one great photo. Continue reading MEMORABILIA: 1931 Club Champion Ken Figg
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
Four and a half months on from the club heading out on its first ride, the first kit has been ordered and is in production.
The new kit is inspired by the club’s jersey designs of the 1940s and 50s and incorporates the original logo on the family photograph that started this whole project in November 2015. Continue reading Kit inspired by club’s heritage launched for the summer
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
An extract from the memoirs of former Balham CC secretary and Gazette club magazine editor Ken Smith, covering the World War Two years. They give an insight into the lives of a group of young men from the Balham and South London cycling community – some of whom never came back from war to ride again. Continue reading KEN SMITH MEMOIRS: Pedallers keep wheels turning in Asia during WW2
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
A year into our quest to tell the story of a forgotten cycling club, we’ve got our hands on the oldest item of club memorabilia to date. Continue reading MEMORABILIA: Photograph of Balham Cycling Club from 1913
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
