Club History

The club started in the early 60′s with local riders meeting up for club runs in Finchley. They were mainly made up of riders who lived locally but did no road racing, only time trials. Big clubs at the time, like the Barnet CC had most of the top riders, so keeping VC Finchley a small exclusive club.

As the years rolled by members left to join other clubs leaving few riders. In the 80′s I joined my first cycling club, the Barnet CC. As I progressed in road racing I decided to move and joined a race team called Magnasport CRT. They were a top North London squad sponsored by ex-pro Patrick Schields.
I lived in Finchley and wanted a local club. So I found the VC Finchley via the British Cycling Federation. There was only 1 member in the club at the time. He wasn’t interested in racing, so I joined. I designed my own club top (Blood Red) and back in 1986 the club had its first ever road racer. I had a great time running the club on my own. I won loads of races and enjoyed a healthy club fund for 5yrs.
In 1991 (aged 31) I decided that racing was getting too tough and that I needed a change. So I retired, put my bike away but managed the club for a further 5 years until the club fund dried up.
15 years on the cycling bug bit me again and I took my old bike out… as you do.
I ran into the Team Sport Club whilst out training in Barnet and recognised all the old faces that started out in the 80′s. Most were bald and had tram line-wrinkels that could be used in Amsterdam.
I went out on a few rides and my enthusiasm started to come back and I wanted to race, so I registered the VC Finchley with the BC in 2005.
I met up with Simon Oliver of PaulSimonHomes Estate Agents on club runs and mentioned the concept of a local sponsored race team. He was keen to know more, so we had a meeting and agreed in principal how we could form a team. At the end of 2005, Team Sport Publicity decided to call it a day. I had to find a way of keeping the riders together and at their AGM, I introduced the idea of them joining a new sponsored team.
So back come the new ‘Finchley Racing Team’. After a long lay-off, a new team with top sponsorship any club would envy was formed and is getting better by the year. Organizing road races and regular rides has attracted many riders from other clubs, gaining a reputation as being one of the toughest club rides anywhere in North London.
Welcome to the ‘Team’.
Stavros

The club started in the early 60′s with local riders meeting up for club runs in Finchley. They were mainly made up of riders who lived locally but did no road racing, only time trials. Big clubs at the time, like the Barnet CC had most of the top riders, so keeping VC Finchley a small exclusive club.

As the years rolled by members left to join other clubs leaving few riders. In the 80′s I joined my first cycling club, the Barnet CC. As I progressed in road racing I decided to move and joined a race team called Magnasport CRT. They were a top North London squad sponsored by ex-pro Patrick Schields.

I lived in Finchley and wanted a local club. So I found the VC Finchley via the British Cycling Federation. There was only 1 member in the club at the time. He wasn’t interested in racing, so I joined. I designed my own club top (Blood Red) and back in 1986 the club had its first ever road racer. I had a great time running the club on my own. I won loads of races and enjoyed a healthy club fund for 5yrs.

In 1991 (aged 31) I decided that racing was getting too tough and that I needed a change. So I retired, put my bike away but managed the club for a further 5 years until the club fund dried up.

15 years on the cycling bug bit me again and I took my old bike out… as you do.

I ran into the Team Sport Club whilst out training in Barnet and recognised all the old faces that started out in the 80′s. Most were bald and had tram line-wrinkels that could be used in Amsterdam.

I went out on a few rides and my enthusiasm started to come back and I wanted to race, so I registered the VC Finchley with the BC in 2005.

I met up with Simon Oliver of PaulSimonHomes Estate Agents on club runs and mentioned the concept of a local sponsored race team. He was keen to know more, so we had a meeting and agreed in principal how we could form a team. At the end of 2005, Team Sport Publicity decided to call it a day. I had to find a way of keeping the riders together and at their AGM, I introduced the idea of them joining a new sponsored team.

So back come the new ‘Finchley Racing Team’. After a long lay-off, a new team with top sponsorship any club would envy was formed and is getting better by the year. Organizing road races and regular rides has attracted many riders from other clubs, gaining a reputation as being one of the toughest club rides anywhere in North London.

Welcome to the ‘Team’.

Stavros – Directeur Sportif