A Short History

Prior to 2005 the club existed as Geelong West, as described by Rod Charles. (History of Cycling In Geelong, volume 1, viewable in the the Heritage Centre, Geelong)

Geelong West had a tradition of cycling. As early as 1869 the folk at the Wellington Street Methodist Church provided the riders for the very first velocipede races at Highton, the second in the colony. William Gaulton the coachbuilder and William Humble the foundry operator were both associated with the church. Geelong West began its love affair with bicycles when they were babes in arms but big news in Paris.

When the high wheeler penny farthings were around in the 1880's their riders 'took spins' out to places like Fyansford and the pleasure gardens at Batesford, through the streets of Ashby and Little Scotland. When the roads were bad, often very bad 'croppers' were not uncommon. Those same high wheeler riders used the Western Swimming Club facilities at Western beach, sportsmen they were in many fields. These were the days when the Pivot Club rode in navy jersey and cardinal socks, their captain, Mr J Dent with bugle, kept order.

By the time 1914 arrived Geelong West had a reputation as a place where dogs on the road were a nuisance and the trams a problem for older bicyclists. hese were the days when everyone rode a bicycle.

The Geelong West Cycling Club was set up in 1911 to become one of the longest surviving clubs and numbered amongst its members the legendary Russell Mockridge, perhaps Australia's greatest road and track cyclist, Olympic gold medallist and world champion. His races against Syd Patterson and international stars at the West velodrome in the 1950's are still remembered by those who attended.
By the time 1914 arrived Geelong West had a reputation as a place where dogs on the road were a nuisance and the trams a problem for older bicyclists. These were the days when everyone rode a bicycle.

The Geelong West Cycling Club was set up in 1911 to become one of the longest surviving clubs and numbered amongst its members the legendary Russell Mockridge, perhaps Australia's greatest road and track cyclist, Olympic gold medallist and world champion. His races against Syd Patterson and international stars at the West velodrome in the 1950's are still remembered by those who attended.

The Geelong West Cycling Club was set up in 1911 to become one of the longest surviving clubs and numbered amongst its members the legendary Russell Mockridge, perhaps Australia's greatest road and track cyclist, Olympic gold medallist and world champion. His races against Syd Patterson and international stars at the West velodrome in the 1950's are still remembered by those who attended.

At the time of the pneumatic tyred safety bicycle in 1896 Edwin Clarke, James Herd and Owen Purbrick, local crack riders on the road and track competed successfully in Melbourne and Jimmy Carpenter won the famous Warrnambool and Austral races making him a legend of all time in the colony. Cyclists rode with their male companions helping to liberate the 'weaker' sex.

By 1977 Geelong West joined forces with other municipalities to trial the first of the great bike plans to sweep the world at the time of the great energy crisis. Geelong led the way in bicycle planning in the world then. A bicycle users group, a touring club and perhaps the best 'bike ed' in the world are legacies.

Now cycling is big time again. The geelong West club has never been bigger, with plenty of juniors riders coming up through the ranks the future is bright for cycling in Geelong.

In 2005 the Geelong Cycling Club came in to being when Geelong West cycling club changed its name to Geelong Cycling Club, recognising the interest in cycling over the entire Greater Geelong district. In the years that followed it has undergone further changes including;

• 2005 - a new club uniform with club colours of blue and white and a new logo.

• 2009 - a new Criterium track in Belmont
• 2010 - new club colours

Cycling has moved ahead leaps and bounds in Geelong, with events including

• UCI world championships (2010)
• Inclusion into the Sunherald Tour of Victoria
• The continuation of the Tour of Geelong
• The Summer Bay Criterium series