Mountain Biking and St. Christopher’s
St. Christopher’s and the origin of Mountain Biking
Mountain biking has its origins in different ways:
1902 Cyclo cross racing in France.
1930s Walter MacGregor Robinson popularised off road cycling in the “Cycling” magazine.
29th May 1955 Inaugural meeting of the Rough Stuff Fellowship.
Late 1960s Early 1970s Tamalpas Marin County, California Manufacture of Mountain bikes with Aluminium and light weight materials.
The Rough Stuff Fellowship
Objects.”The objects for which the Fellowship is established are to unite those cyclists who in pursuit of their pastime, traverse the rougher and less beaten ways and to promote their common interests in that direction”.
Membership. “Applications for membership must embody a declaration that the applicant has traversed three rough routes, short details to be given. The decision of the Executive Committee on what, for this purpose constitutes a rough route shall be final”.
In 1956 North Staffs and Birmingham Sections were enthusiastic clubs combining off-road cycling with Youth Hostelling. Peter Hambley was introduced to the R.S.F. and became the 59th member after completing three of the quallifying routes.
Wayfarer Pass, Nant Rhydwlym, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog to Cynwyd. December 1956.and 3rd October 1957.
Cannock Chase and Sherbrook Valley. 6th October1957
Hayfield to The Snake Inn via Jacob’s Ladder, 26th January 1957
Lathkildale, 27th April 1957.
Monsaldale, Now these are popular walking paths for tourists.
Eunant Fawr, Bwylch y Groes to Lake Vyrnwy.
Cwm Hirnant, Rhos-y-gwaliau to Lake Vyrnwy, 2nd March 1957. In the 1950s these were dirt paths
North Staffs enthusiasts included Mike Evans, Reg Carter, Martin Johnson John Hogarth, Charles Sampey, John Hogarth
Martin Johnson, Charles Sampey, Reg Carter and Peter Hambley.
Jacob’s Ladder 27th January 1957
Peter Bowyer and Jean Twigg.
Radnor Forest 8th June 1957
Birmingham lead by Peter Swinden included Pat Kenny, John Withers, Barry Blagg, and Barbara Swinden (nee York)
Pat Kenny leads Barbara York
Bernard Heath of the Huddersfield Star Wheelers was a founder member of the R.S.F. and had attended the Inaugural Meeting at Leominster on the 29th May 1955.
He joined Peter at Brussels and rode with him for 49 days to Salonica. See “Pilgrimage to Jerusalem 1962” In Tito’s Jugoslavia the roads were very rough particularly in the Velebit Mountains.