A reunion was held Sunday, August 13 to recognize alumni of the Silver Spokes Cycling Club.
The local road cycling enthusiasts from across Oxford and Norfolk counties has been in existence under various names since 1939 when it was originally founded as the Norfolk Cycling Club by Albert Schelstraete-Coulier (1918-2011), a local man who competed in bike racing at the professional level in both Europe and North America.
Schelstraete-Coulier was heavily involved in the development of velodromes across North America and has been inducted into the Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition (2007) and the Canadian Cycling Hall of Fame (2017).
The August 13 reunion began with 24 current club members and alumni going for a 45-km group bicycle ride west of Tillsonburg. That was followed by a barbecue and lunch at the DiLella residence attended by 50 people, including 11 alumni and their partners.
Carla Aitken, current club president, addressed the group and informally asked people to recount some old stories, which everyone found quite entertaining. One alumnus, Pat Murphy, competed as a cyclist in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne and recounted how he became interested in cycling.
The idea of recognizing the club alumni was the brainchild of long-time member Stephen DiLella of Tillsonburg, precipitated by the recent passing of alumni.
“This club is almost 100 years old and as time passes and various executive move through the ranks, historical data about our club gets diluted, misplaced or simply lost and I think it’s important that we maintain them and recognize when we can, people who have been members for a very long time,” said DiLella.
DiLella has embarked on a mission to put together a record of information on club membership as far back as he had artifacts from various sources, including past executive and particularly Ron Schelstraete, son of the club’s founder.
Judging by participation and enthusiasm of the large crowd, it is hoped the reunion can become an annual event.
The Silver Spokes Cycling Club currently has 76 members and a weekly ride schedule that provides group ride opportunities six days of the week for riders of all ability levels.