Oh no! It's not going to be a scribe from old J.P. harping on about the good old days when bikies were real racers and not the flashy poseurs on their super expensive machines of today? Well I'm afraid so! You know I always emphasise the importance of looking ahead and not backwards (you might come a cropper!), but as this is the 20th anniversary of the existence of the Southdown Velo, I might be excused to be able to bore you with a potted history lesson of the club, from it's foundation to the present day (2001)

Velo Club Noviomagus riders circa 1964

Left to right: John "JP" Pendleton, Pete Gould.

Taken at Rowlands Castle green around 1964. John "JP" Pendleton was the founder of Southdown Velo which was formed from the Velo Club Noviomagus. Pete Gould was later the Managing Director of Moreys who sponsored the Isle of Wight's three day race for a number of years.

This photograph was supplied by Ann Owens (nee Ellis), now a member of CS Dynamo which is based in Exmouth. Ann was one of the earliest members of VC Noviomagus.

Photograph courtesy Ann Owens.