Chapeau Mr. Harrad
The Gemini Bicycle club has long since been one of the most established cycling clubs in Greater London. With many national champions and some prolific professional riders passing through our ranks, the likes of Dave Akam and John Clarey to mention a few. (Both of whom completed grand tours during their racing careers).
However, there is one particular member of the Gemini BC who stands out above all others. Originally a member of the Mercury, (before it combined with the Eltham Paragon to form the Gemini), Ray Harrad has been riding bikes longer than I have been alive. His contribution to cycling, both within the club and to the South East cycle racing scene in general has been enormous. It is with a huge debt of gratitude that he should be acknowledged in this articale for his relentless effort and enthusiasm within our sport.
Anyone who has passed through the Gemini in the last 40 plus years, will have at some point experienced the support, direction and advice provided by Ray. However, we now have an influx of new members who may not know of, or who have yet to meet Ray. So this is to keep you in the loop… and to maintain the tradition in cycling of tipping your cap only to those that really deserve it.
Now riding into his 80’s, Ray is by any standards a unique and selfless individual. A long time racing cyclist in his own right, who in his day was not shy of a 12 hour.... But he is also a man who has helped generations of young riders find their feet in the cycling world, always regardless of their ability and background. It is without a doubt that the South East London racing scene would have been a vastly different landscape if it wasn’t for the time and effort Ray has handed out in bucket loads.
From driving a car full of riders to numerous events around the country, to cooking for them at week long national track championships, he has always been there to help riders achieve what they can. He has made it possible for so many of us to compete in events that would have otherwise been out of our reach, and he has done so without ever being pushy or egotistical... never once expecting any recognition for his efforts.
Over the years many of the cyclists he has supported have ridden to success at national championships. Invariably with bikes, wheels and equipment that he had arranged or borrowed from other club members. On countless occasions he has gone out of his way to ensure that young riders could compete on a local or national stage without any disadvantage.
I remember first meeting Ray at the back end of the 1980’s at the then Gemini BC club night, held in a hut behind Welling football ground. My first impressions of him was that his knowledge and enthusiasm for everything cycling was almost overwhelming. In short, he was very serious about cycling. He also seemed very patient with the general hi-jinx that we as the younger members of the club at the time, caused every Thursday night. As it transpired, during that period Ray was a PE teacher at a tough London school and was more than use to youngens causing chaos… his antidote was to take his students to Herne Hill for their PE lessons and exhaust them on laps of the track. Pre dating British Cycling's efforts to recruit new riders by decades and still progressive even by today’s standards!
Having now met Ray, The following Sunday I remember arriving at Welling Cycles as an keen, green 12 year old, to meet the Gemini BC for one of my first club runs. Waiting outside the shop amongst the bright orange jerseys and shiny racing bikes, the conversation mainly seemed to concern the route we were about to take and involved a rowdy discussion between Ray and John Clarey. Eventually with the route decided it appeared that Ray was definitely the man in charge (I'm sure many of you have fond memories of Ray and John sitting on the front and arguing with each other about nothing in particular, for what seemed like miles on end).
There were a couple of other young lads there, and while they were not quite as green as me, they still looked pretty nervous. While everyone else carried on chatting, Ray came over and gave us the low down on the ride we were going to do, and what to expect...... There was no mention of us not being able to ride all the way. He seemed so confident that he would get us all the way round, and never appeared to worry about or question our abilities. I think that’s where Rays influence really had an affect on the riders he met. His confidence made you keep fighting your way round without giving up, even when you were dead on the bike. If Ray rode everyday, we road everyday, if he went out in the snow, we went out in the snow. No one wanted to let him down.
At the club room earlier in the week, Ray had explained what club riding was all about and what we would need kit and clothes wise, he also explained about joining the then 'BCF' and what sort of racing we could do. He was keen that we weren’t intimidated by riding bikes, not wanting us to be blown out of our first club run never to return. ....Back in the day, it was generally accepted by most clubs that new riders were given a sound kicking and then never darkened their door again. The Gemini was different though, in so far as for Ray it was very important that we were not put off. It was like he knew something about bike riding that we didn’t know yet, but he really wanted us to find out.
Ray was (and still is) a proper cyclist. ......He knew that the freedom of the country lanes, come rain or shine, would set us up for life. I think he wanted to show us that riding bikes would make our worlds bigger.
I realise now how rare it is for someone to want to teach something so valuable without expecting a pay check or even any guarantee of appreciation. That really says more about the character of Ray Harrad than I can possibly put into words here.
So, each week through my teenage years we would trundle away from Welling Cycles, riding two abreast in empty streets, learning more and more about bike riding from Ray. When to eat, how to ride on a wheel, how to signal for holes and other dangers and most importantly, how to race! Any question you asked he had the time to answer properly.
I remember a few club runs in, I was riding up Star Hill not really knowing where we were and barely moving fast enough to stay up right, when I wavered into a ditch and fell off. While I lay there feeling really stupid, Ray rolled up and released my toe straps so I could get out from under my bike. He probably won't remember it but I do. Vividly. ...He could have just ridden on by (I would have freed myself eventually!), but he didn’t…. and nor did he take the piss. A rare thing for hardmen cyclists of the 80’s. He just casually explained that 'everyone’s done it', and got me up and going again, showing me how to zig-zag a bit when a hill gets really steep and your over geared, or not strong enough.
From my first introduction to the Gemini Bicycle Club, I quickly realised Ray Harrad was ‘The Boss’. He opened the door for so many of us, helping us find our way in the weird world of cycling and to a greater extent life in general. From ferrying car loads of riders to and from races, to lending us kit and picking us up off the floor after crashes...I don't we ever said thank you enough.
Its fair to say that as bike riders and what ever we have achieved since as people, all of us have at some point been helped up a hill by Ray. If anybody in cycling deserved a lifetime achievement award it is without a doubt Ray Harrad.
Chapeau Mr. Harrad. Thank you, and see you on the road.
However, there is one particular member of the Gemini BC who stands out above all others. Originally a member of the Mercury, (before it combined with the Eltham Paragon to form the Gemini), Ray Harrad has been riding bikes longer than I have been alive. His contribution to cycling, both within the club and to the South East cycle racing scene in general has been enormous. It is with a huge debt of gratitude that he should be acknowledged in this articale for his relentless effort and enthusiasm within our sport.
Anyone who has passed through the Gemini in the last 40 plus years, will have at some point experienced the support, direction and advice provided by Ray. However, we now have an influx of new members who may not know of, or who have yet to meet Ray. So this is to keep you in the loop… and to maintain the tradition in cycling of tipping your cap only to those that really deserve it.
Now riding into his 80’s, Ray is by any standards a unique and selfless individual. A long time racing cyclist in his own right, who in his day was not shy of a 12 hour.... But he is also a man who has helped generations of young riders find their feet in the cycling world, always regardless of their ability and background. It is without a doubt that the South East London racing scene would have been a vastly different landscape if it wasn’t for the time and effort Ray has handed out in bucket loads.
From driving a car full of riders to numerous events around the country, to cooking for them at week long national track championships, he has always been there to help riders achieve what they can. He has made it possible for so many of us to compete in events that would have otherwise been out of our reach, and he has done so without ever being pushy or egotistical... never once expecting any recognition for his efforts.
Over the years many of the cyclists he has supported have ridden to success at national championships. Invariably with bikes, wheels and equipment that he had arranged or borrowed from other club members. On countless occasions he has gone out of his way to ensure that young riders could compete on a local or national stage without any disadvantage.
I remember first meeting Ray at the back end of the 1980’s at the then Gemini BC club night, held in a hut behind Welling football ground. My first impressions of him was that his knowledge and enthusiasm for everything cycling was almost overwhelming. In short, he was very serious about cycling. He also seemed very patient with the general hi-jinx that we as the younger members of the club at the time, caused every Thursday night. As it transpired, during that period Ray was a PE teacher at a tough London school and was more than use to youngens causing chaos… his antidote was to take his students to Herne Hill for their PE lessons and exhaust them on laps of the track. Pre dating British Cycling's efforts to recruit new riders by decades and still progressive even by today’s standards!
Having now met Ray, The following Sunday I remember arriving at Welling Cycles as an keen, green 12 year old, to meet the Gemini BC for one of my first club runs. Waiting outside the shop amongst the bright orange jerseys and shiny racing bikes, the conversation mainly seemed to concern the route we were about to take and involved a rowdy discussion between Ray and John Clarey. Eventually with the route decided it appeared that Ray was definitely the man in charge (I'm sure many of you have fond memories of Ray and John sitting on the front and arguing with each other about nothing in particular, for what seemed like miles on end).
There were a couple of other young lads there, and while they were not quite as green as me, they still looked pretty nervous. While everyone else carried on chatting, Ray came over and gave us the low down on the ride we were going to do, and what to expect...... There was no mention of us not being able to ride all the way. He seemed so confident that he would get us all the way round, and never appeared to worry about or question our abilities. I think that’s where Rays influence really had an affect on the riders he met. His confidence made you keep fighting your way round without giving up, even when you were dead on the bike. If Ray rode everyday, we road everyday, if he went out in the snow, we went out in the snow. No one wanted to let him down.
At the club room earlier in the week, Ray had explained what club riding was all about and what we would need kit and clothes wise, he also explained about joining the then 'BCF' and what sort of racing we could do. He was keen that we weren’t intimidated by riding bikes, not wanting us to be blown out of our first club run never to return. ....Back in the day, it was generally accepted by most clubs that new riders were given a sound kicking and then never darkened their door again. The Gemini was different though, in so far as for Ray it was very important that we were not put off. It was like he knew something about bike riding that we didn’t know yet, but he really wanted us to find out.
Ray was (and still is) a proper cyclist. ......He knew that the freedom of the country lanes, come rain or shine, would set us up for life. I think he wanted to show us that riding bikes would make our worlds bigger.
I realise now how rare it is for someone to want to teach something so valuable without expecting a pay check or even any guarantee of appreciation. That really says more about the character of Ray Harrad than I can possibly put into words here.
So, each week through my teenage years we would trundle away from Welling Cycles, riding two abreast in empty streets, learning more and more about bike riding from Ray. When to eat, how to ride on a wheel, how to signal for holes and other dangers and most importantly, how to race! Any question you asked he had the time to answer properly.
I remember a few club runs in, I was riding up Star Hill not really knowing where we were and barely moving fast enough to stay up right, when I wavered into a ditch and fell off. While I lay there feeling really stupid, Ray rolled up and released my toe straps so I could get out from under my bike. He probably won't remember it but I do. Vividly. ...He could have just ridden on by (I would have freed myself eventually!), but he didn’t…. and nor did he take the piss. A rare thing for hardmen cyclists of the 80’s. He just casually explained that 'everyone’s done it', and got me up and going again, showing me how to zig-zag a bit when a hill gets really steep and your over geared, or not strong enough.
From my first introduction to the Gemini Bicycle Club, I quickly realised Ray Harrad was ‘The Boss’. He opened the door for so many of us, helping us find our way in the weird world of cycling and to a greater extent life in general. From ferrying car loads of riders to and from races, to lending us kit and picking us up off the floor after crashes...I don't we ever said thank you enough.
Its fair to say that as bike riders and what ever we have achieved since as people, all of us have at some point been helped up a hill by Ray. If anybody in cycling deserved a lifetime achievement award it is without a doubt Ray Harrad.
Chapeau Mr. Harrad. Thank you, and see you on the road.