Recently added/updated

• Cycle Racing Tracks in and around London - Members Experiences 26 -04-12

• Sobriquets updated 18-04-12

• History of the Club Uniform of The Pickwick Bicycle Club 3-03-12

• More Interesting facts/photos etc 2-03-12

• British Cycling Hall of Fame - PBC Members (past and present) 22-02-12

• Celebrating the Bicentenary of Charles Dickens photos added 21-02-12

• VIP's in the PBC 13-01-12 
• This link has just arrived from the USA 9-01-12 
• Club Champions - more added 17-12-11 
• Cycling Clubs to which our members belong 16-12-11 
• Charities that we have supported 15-12-11 
• Another old Obituaries added 13-12-11 
• Trophies of the PBC, updated 12-12-11 
• Officers after AGM 8 December 8-12-11 
• More added to Activities 4-12-11 
• More history on the Hampton Court Bicycle Rides 4-12-11 
• More on the Tours 3-12-11 
• Updated list of Past Officers 3-12-11 
• The History of PBC more added 3-12-11 
• Old Press Reports, more added 10-11-11 
• A couple of Old Rules (1879) added 21-10-11 
• 1944 AGM report added 15-10-11 
• More Archive Photos added 13-09-11 
• A report from Staple on Dickens in the USA 13-10-11 
• A couple of old Cartoons 24-09-11 
• Golfing Day and Bike Ride - 9 June 2011 23-09-11 
• Benson Rally 3 July 2011 23-09-11 
• Hotels and Public Houses honoured by a visit of the Club between 1870 and 1900 20-09-11 

It is probable that the Pickwick Bicycle Club, as an organisation, is unique in the world.

There are many clubs that are supported by the leisure and sporting interests of their members or by the numerous literary associations, but a combination of both such interests is a different matter. I know of none similar to ours.

Membership is considered a privilege and does impose certain obligations. High amongst these are good manners and good fellowship. The essence of the Club is that it is private and publicity is neither sought nor welcomed. Other than in the early years (when all members would have been familiar with the work of Charles Dickens and would have known the Pickwick Papers in detail) the emphasis has been on cycling, rather than reading. The early records detail weekly runs over much of the Home Counties, but it is a regrettable fact that since the Second World War, interest in this respect has diminished, so that now only a handful of members enjoy the occasional spin. Similarly, it is unfortunate that interest in the books of Charles Dickens has lessened. His stories are still widely used throughout the world in film and television, but gone are the days when he had as many readers as did the daily papers.

This does not prevent the club from trying, in as many ways as it can, to encourage his traditions. A Dickensian atmosphere is maintained at its meetings and members are expected to know the qualities and deeds of their sobriquet. It has been possible to extract the names of over two hundred characters to provide a sobriquet for each of those invited to join.

The Club values and tries to preserve the traditions of the past. Members gather twice a year, without any strong desire to put the world to rights, and there seems no reason to believe they should not continue to do so long into the future.

Ken.Barker (The Shepherd) Past President