For March we’re back at the newly refurbished Floreat Athena clubrooms, yay!

Some other good news; the club has been the recipient of some quality donations, and we’re back to our usual auction format. The March auction features items donated by the family of noted Perth racer Robin Cassidy, as well as a nice refurbished Healing, an 80’s Raleigh Bomber and an ex Des Williams Capo. Photos of all the items are available on Flickr. `

Bidding is now open to members on Bidding Owl. All items will be at the clubroom for inspection and collection at the meeting. Members will be able to bid in person at the meeting.

Founding member Alan Naber is an engaging speaker. He is also well travelled. Please join us for what promises to be an entertaining trawl through his archives.
From Alan; “Sorting my fifty years of photos relating to biking, I have found some good and bad bike parking ideas and some memorable incidents that happened to me on my bike.”

Members, please check your email for details of the event.

Happy new year and all that. Like me, I reckon you’re really looking forward to our January meeting, which was due to happen this Monday, the 15th.
I say ‘was’ because we’ve just been informed by Floreat Athena that the clubrooms are undergoing some major works. The works, commissioned by City of Vincent, proceeded without Floreat Athena’s knowledge.
Anyway, the long and the short of it is that we can’t meet at FAFC this month or in February. Time is too tight to organise an alternate venue so the January meeting will be on Zoom (check your email for details ). I hope to see you there and please keep your eyes peeled for the Jan/Feb newsletter out any day now.
Rob Frith, club chairperson.

Our popular and successful exhibition Nullarbor Crossings - A History of Challenge, originally slated to run at the Museum of Perth until the end of January 2024, will close on Wednesday, December the 13th.

We’ve been excited to be able to share with you the results of club members’ research efforts, which has turned up some remarkable new material.
Please join us on Saturday, December 9th at 11am for backstory floor talks by Frank West and Robert Frith.

• Frank will run you through the discovery and renovation of the Billy Read and Gordon Jones’ Aussie Tandem.

• Robert will take you on a tour through recently uncovered photos of Hubert Opperman’s 1937 crossing.

Rod Evans describes his 1989 Around Australia Record attempt as a ‘baptism by fire’. In setting the new record, Rod rode an average of 278 km each day for nearly 50 days. For the next of our ‘In Conversation’ series Rod will be joined by Colin Ottaway, the first rider to finish the 2022 IndiPac, an informal, unsupported transcontinental crossing. Toby Hodgson will host this in-depth look into life behind bars day after day.

Join us at Burswood Park for the Seniors Recreation Council of WA’s big day out.

Ken Norris was cycling coach on Bruce Hunt’s 1975 record trans-continental ride. Join us at the Museum Of Perth for first hand account of the trials and tribulations of putting together a record attempt.

Supported by WestCycle, the RAC and the Dept. of Transport as a part of Bike Month.

Curtin FM Car Show's tagline is 'more than just a car show', and indeed it is; there will be bikes there too! Come on down and see the past, present and future of personal transportation !

Friday August 4th sees us back out at the Speedome in Midvale to exercise the bikes that we can’t ride on the road.

The inaugural vintage track night last year was great fun and well attended.

Aside from admiring and riding bikes from members’ collections that rarely see the light of day or have their pedals turned, it’s great opportunity to try out track riding on a world class indoor velodrome. It’s also a great little social outing, so please consider joining the riders as a spectator (with pizza rights!)

This year riders must have a minimum "LifeStyle" membership/ insurance through AusCycle.*

Not an AusCycle member? You have the option to sign up on the night for 3 months complimentary cover. You will require your smartphone to process the online QR code.

$25 for ride and pizza, $5 for spectator and pizza.

Don't have a track bike... or don't trust your old tyres? Your $25 covers the use of a hire bike supplied by Track Cycling WA.

You can book your spot on the club's webshop
All enquiries to Frank West treasurer.wahcc@gmail.com

A short flat ride from Point Walter around to Heathcote and return. Ice cream if you’re good.

As usual we’ll be spicing up the AGM with a club auction. Star of the show is the Raleigh Superbe (see below). Visitors are always welcome to our meetings but you must be a member to bid!
In-person at 41 Britannia Road, Leederville or online Zoom

Once a year a couple of members open their shed doors and invite the rest of us in out of the cold. This is a member only event - please check your July / August newsletter for details.

Our regular monthly meeting!

Join us at Toodyay's annual colonial festival celebrating the life of the infamous bushranger, Moondyne Joe.

The Toodyay locals dress in 19th century costume and encourage everyone to dress in period outfits and contribute to the festival's atmosphere, street theatre and fun antics. Join in the fun and festivities as Moondyne Joe and his gang re-enact various escapes throughout the town, his arrests and mock trials while being a general menace. Cheer on the Swaggies, "Floozies" and Temperance Ladies. If you get lost, the Toodyay Crier will direct you to all the attractions.

With FREE entry and entertainment all day, the town comes alive with colour, sound, song, dance and laughter. Don't forget to pay The Old Gaol Museum a visit and enjoy the authentic surroundings and original artefacts. Retrace Toodyay's colourful past .....you may discover some secrets?.

Check out the programme and accommodation options here.

The easiest access for participating club members is via Charcoal Lane at the rear of the Old Fire Station.

Sunday March 26 EARLY START 9am - less traffic - safer road & pedestrian traffic

Meet in front of Round House tunnel, High Street West End Fremantle. An easy stroll and slow ride around Fremantle stopping regularly

Bring a bike you would like to photograph - in a FREO ARty WAY or just join us for the walkabout/rideabout. Bring your smart phone or simple pocket camera.

There are so many quirky photo opportunities within easy walking distance. See Bob’s Facebook page for recent examples www.facebook.com/bob. sommerville.77/

A WAHCC social event - plenty of opportunities for a chat - and it will be fun ALL WELCOME - friends & family

No restrictions on taking bikes on trains on Sundays. Park out for free - train into Freo

We’ll end the tour with a Sunday lunch together at a central Freo café - please RSVP asap so we can liaise with owners to provide us with menu choices at a value price.

RSVP to Bob Sommerville 0411 123 936. bobsommervl@amail.com

Come along to the next Royal Western Australian Historical Society talk and hear Alan Naber recount a social history of cycling.

The talk begins with the first attempts at two-wheeled travel, and the initial disbelief and fascination of being able to balance on two wheels in the early 1800s. Then follows the development and impact of faster bicycles in the mid-1800s.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries cycling's popularity grew as the mass population adopted bicycles when they became safer and cheaper. Alan's account of cycling's history covers Britain, Europe and the US. For Australia, changes in urban, rural and Goldfields lives are discussed.

Alan started his cycling career with a trike when he was about two years old. Later he rode his bicycle to school on the quiet roads of a 1950s London suburb. He rode to work in both England and Australia, only stopping for a 10-year break in Zambia, Central Africa, where the roads were too dangerous for bikes. He has cycle-toured many countries, particularly Germany, Holland and Denmark where cycling is a normal part of life for many people.

Now retired, Alan has a collection of vintage bicycles and rides with the Over-55 Cycling Club and the WA Historical Cycle Club.

Our regular monthly meeting with all the usual sheanigans.
photo of Don Hill’s Swansea by Matt Wikstrom

Our regular monthly meeting

Join your fellow club members and Retro Riverloopers around 6pm on Thursday December 29th at the South Perth StrEAT Markets. We’ll have something to eat before we set off on an inspection of the bridges…

Causeway, Matagarup, Narrows? Route and stops to be decided on the night depending on who shows up.

This ride is strictly ‘party pace’ - not a heroic!

The StrEAT Markets are at the Coode St foreshore - see you there! And don’t forget your lights, be they vintage or moderne.

Bob Addy won the 1963 British National Road Championship, represented England at the 1962 Commonwealth Games and later, Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the 1964 Olympics. He went on to represent Great Britain in well over 100 races including many of the most prestigious events in the cycling calendar, including the 55th Tour de France. 'Retiring' to WA after his competitive days were thought to be behind him, he went on to become a National Veteran series Time Trial, Criterium and Road Race Champion.

Fresh off the press, Bob has just published a book, ‘The Driller’, about his career. Bob will speak about his life on the road; his career, his bikes and his passion.

Visitors always welcome. Vintage British racing bikes and memorabilia on display - bring your thoroughly British bikes!

Aaaannd a reminder - our November meeting is the last for the year. (Aside from Christmas lunch on Dec 10th)

We’re back at the always popular Have A Go Day for the 2022 edition. The past few years have seen a fantastic turnout of members and their bikes. It’s a great opportunity to find out more about what we do without having to leave town!
You’ll find us at Site 64. See you there.

Club members please download the participant info pack here

The WAHCC is hosting the Gibbs St Community Ride - Gibbs Street was recently upgraded in line with the Cannington community’s vision to create a quieter, more connected, greener and safer street.
Club members will be riding and showing bikes from the 1800's to the 1980's.
Look for our marquee near the corner of Gibbs St and Whitlock Rd Cannington

The club has been asked to assist with the sale of bikes, parts and workshop tools from the collection of a vintage and mountain bike enthusiast who sadly passed away last year.

Most of the bikes are rare, collectible and in good to excellent condition, something that is reflected in the asking prices.

There will be three start times for the sale;

8am for club members volunteering their time to help

10am for other club members

11am for non members

3pm finish for all

Due to the value of the collection the address won’t be available until the day of the sale. Club members will be emailed at 9am and non members subscribed to the club’s email list at 10am. Suffice to say it’s not far from the Zig Zag in Kalamunda.

Part proceeds the sale will go to the WAHCC and Sock it to Sarcoma. Cash and EFTPOS payments only on the 25th. Sales prior to the day are welcome to pay via direct bank deposit but there will be no inspections or pickup prior the 25th.

See the bike photos and details here; https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA6sSi

Sign up for an email alert here; https://historicalcycleclub.com.au/newsletter-subscription