Chesapeake Whlm 80th Anniversary

[jwc...@aol.com]

May 1964 Maryland Road Classic.

 

Attachment # 1 - A  B & W photo of the 1964 CW promotion Maryland Road Classic.

CW founding ( 1946) member Clyde Nitz promoted this event for 25 years at different locations.

 

This photo the riders have just climbed the hill to the world famous Paterson Park Pagoda.

 

1949 it was a place to place race Baltimore to Annapolis.

Back then things were very loose and I doubt if Clyde got any permit to have the race.

 

Other locations -

Patterson Park - 

Columbia Md roads around the Mall.

Poly Western Complex off Falls Rd.

 

How many riders can you identify ?

 

Attachment # 2 - Take some time to read this well written letter to British Cycling Weekly by CW member Charles < Chuck> Brumley protesting a new Amateur Bicycle League of America ( The Federation) rule banning long hair and beards.  It was  1968 and the ABL of A did not want a bunch of hippies in their races. It was also mandatory to wear white socks.

 

Enjoy.

 

John Cox

 

 

[bill luecke]

Did ABLA have a helmet rule in 1964? I thought that that didn't happen until the 80s . Or was that just the hardshell helmet rule?

W

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bill luecke

william...@gmail.com

mobile 703 819 8046

7316 Allan Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046

On Mon, Dec 15, 2025 at 8:14 AM John Sorensen <jbsor...@comcast.net> wrote:

Looking at upper windows , right most , following down to riders , the one with what appears to be a white stripe in the middle of his helmet I would say is Bobby  Phillips.

Sent from my iPad

On Dec 14, 2025, at 10:12 PM, jwcvelo via ChesaWheelmen <chesaw...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



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[James Wagner]

My recollection is that they were required (hairnets)  I don't know why Ewing Taylor doesn't have one.

On Mon, Dec 15, 2025 at 8:45 AM larry black <bike...@gmail.com> wrote:

I think Bill’s right

Until mid 70’s I think head coverings were cap, hairnet, or both.

Someone should be cable to check 

Most searches have yielded non race helmet laws and I’m 1000 miles away from my rule books this week 

Larry Black la...@bike123.com Mt Airy Bicycle 4540 Old National Pike Mt Airy, Md 21771 301 831 5151

[bill luecke]

The Les Earnest history of the hardshell rule is available on the internet wayback machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20230422125514/https://web.stanford.edu/~learnest/cyclops/bash1.htm

From some old rule books that I forgot I had.

The 1977 rulebook required helmets:  "1.6.3 No ride shall be allowed to start any sanctioned event without wearing a protective helmet..."

The 1972 rulebook contains a shorter version of the helmet rule.

The 1923 rulebook I have is silent on helmets, and only talks about "rider's costume" 

But I don't  have any rulebooks from the 50s or 60s

bill

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[jwc...@aol.com]

Jimmy, you are the only one so far to catch Ewing Taylor at the very back of pack with no helmet. My guess he missed the proper start and jumped at the tail end of the peloton. 

That was a first lap photo so Taylor was most likely pulled out next lap.

Did you see your pic in the photo?

https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/chesawheelmen/CADh1sy_jkGcOWegbNWFa%2BvAMJAo%3DxAHOBjpJ0MKGEgASPDg%2BWQ%40mail.gmail.com

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[James Wagner]

I was just looking at the photo with a magnifying glass.  Ewing is actually wearing a helmet.  His hair obscures much of it but you can see it on the left side of his head,(the right of the photo) and the strap under his chin.

[jwc...@aol.com]

 

Open the attachment !

 

1949 ish Chesapeake Wheelmen ( see attachment ) gather at down town Balto Club Leo for a Sunday training ride.

 

Many of these riders were founding CW members .

 

4th rider from the left and founding member of CW  (under C ) Clyde Nitz. 

Promoted or involved with just about every area  event that took place during the late 40's ,50's and 60's. He was the ultimate bike racing enthusiast.

Promoted the Maryland Road Classic for many years.

He had a Print Shop business and would print programs for all the area races.

He had a key to Dorsey Speedway and would open the gates for early Sunday morning bike races.

 

The tall rider standing under the letter L is George Sandruck. His family owned a bike shop in Baltimore and he was also a founding CW member.

Was the  area rep for the ABL of A (cycling federation) for 25 + years.

 

Club Leo photo notice the trendy cycling apparel for the 1940's and 50's.

All the riders are on a fixie with no brakes. Only exception  George Sandruck.

Because of the family bike shop George always ( under the L ) had the latest multiple speed bike equipment.

 

Notice the rider with the cigarette hanging out of his mouth.

 

 

John Cox

Chesapeake Wheelmen

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