Steve and Chris Walker

Steve and Chris Walker - Leamington's only current regular tandem competitors. Photo courtesy Kimroy Photography	Steve walker in his heyday

Steve and Chris Walker are the only pair in the club who regularly ride tandem time trials. They have been members since the early eighties and Steve has been cycling section secretary for many years. Steve is also a keen event organiser, organising many open events.

Steve Walker

Started cycling with Hull Coureurs in 1967, best rides in competition were:-

• 5th place in East Yorkshire Division Champs RR 1969, winner was the late Mike Green of Stratford CC (then with Hull Thursday RC).
• 7th in local 3/J race, winning bunch sprint and first Junior prize.
• 15th place in National Junior 25 mile TT in 1970 with 1:00:05 held near Preston, Lancs (winner was Tim Dobson, 57:57). PB at 25 was 59:48, set on O2 course, Nottinghamshire, won by the legendary Alf Engers with a 55.

"Retired" between 1970 and 1972 when his girlfriend insisted he took her out for a bike-ride!
1975 joined Velo Club Venta, based in Winchester. Kept club going through a lean period.

Best individual performances

• 23:46 in Crabwood CC 10, 1976 (club record)
• 58:23 in New Forest CC 25, 1982
• 2:06:07 in Farnham RC 50, 1983
• 4:33:09 in Wessex RC 100, 1979. 

Retired from road racing, 'cos "I couldn't find the time to train properly, or hang on to a wheel!"

Steve joined Leamington C&AC club committee in mid-80s, took over the secretary's role in late 90's from Bob Jones and introduced SPOKES newsletter as a way of distributing news and info to the Club membership. In 1994, the Social Club group run was initiated by Steve, Peter Chronicle, Paul Rolfe, and Chris. Gradually the group membership increased to the stage where Social members now make up almost half of the paid-up membership in 2004.

Chris and Steve

Chris and Steve bought their first tandem in 1975, a pre-war Sun similar to RDMG's, raced in TTs occasionally and visited Warwickshire roads in 1979 to ride the K24 (Coventry CC 25 mile event), winning with 59:56. They never dreamt that in 5 years time they would be living in Warwickshire. Steve "had some fun" in 1983, stoking a friend's tandem to some quick times, while Chris minded the toddler Adam.

Chris and Steve moved to Warwickshire in 1984 and picked up the racing bug again properly when Les Lowe lent them his Claud Butler tandem. This inspired Chris and Steve to buy their own "twicer", built by Lee Cooper of Coventry (LA Cycles). They raced and toured with this machine (in 1994, out of 27 rides, only 3 Steve on his solo!) until 2003 when Les Lowe offered them the Claud Butler. This was an offer they could not refuse, they had hankered for another ride on the machine, but Les refused to sell it to them until he made his offer. After much work by LA Cycles to modernise the frame, they have a tandem with a history of fast rides, once featured in Cycling Weekly, when Les and Pat Kenny set a record time for the RRA Birmingham to London route in 1982. Thanks, Les!

Some of their tandem times are: