The 1930s...

From February 1937 to November 1938 Bill Molyneux kept a scrapbook of his rides with the then C.T.C. Liverpool section. These rides would then be written about and published in the national "The C.T.C. Gazette."

The scrapbook is a fascinating record of rides at the time. During this time the normal working week was five and a half days (over forty hours and saturday mornings) with the majority of employed people doing hard manual labour in factories. However, our members still had the energy for club rides and tours with sometimes over forty riders attending! They would also arrive back in Liverpool late evening having ridden well over 100 miles on summer club rides.

Bill died in 1996 and we are grateful to his wife Joan who donated the scrapbook. Below are some extracts which regretably are not good quality due to the age/deterioration of the print. Carefree days prior to the start of a devastating world war......

	21 August 1937 C.T.C. NOTES A Day`s Run Into Wales On a delightfully fresh morning, the Liverpool C.T.C. Social members moved from Woodside for a day`s run into North Wales. Turning at Ewloe, riders made for Northop, then on to Halkyn and so across the top of the mountain, their position giving far distant views over the slatey-blue Liverpool Bay, with billowy white clouds scudding high above-a tonic indeed to be out and about. After lunch at Waen, the party proceeded via Trefnant to Henllan, Mynydd-y-Gaer, was taken; thence doown the hill to the banks of the Elwy, crossed by a rather substantial bridge for these parts, a long halt being made for refreshment, during which the majority cooled their feet in the river. More tortuous, narrow winding lanes brought the club to Cefn, and so back into Trefnant, after completing a round of some twelve miles in a tranquil countryside that is a joy to travel through. The Mold-Denbigh road was joined at Bodfari, and followed for about five miles before branching to Nannerch for tea. The run home through Mold and Queensferry was undertaken at a moderate pace to finish a day on which the weather had done its part well, despite one or two threatening intervals. CYCLISTS HELP MOTORIST The intermediate riders had a fast run out to Chirk, via Chester, Wrexham and Newbridge. The chatter of the lunch interval was silenced by a resounding crash from the roadway. The startled members ran outside, to find that a car had overturned. The vehicle was righted, and the driver, after expressing his thanks, got in, and without more ado drove off. This unusual happening was soon forgotten by the riders as they continued their way, after lunch, up the Glynn Valley, to Glyn Ceirriog, turning right, past the slate quarries, and then up and over Tomen-y-Meirw. The glorious deep purple of the heather in full bloom made the passage over the sunlit moors a sheer delight. Atmospheric conditions were so good that the high spot, of the journey, well over 1,500 feet, gave glimpses of the sea away to the north-west. Now came a rough descent through Tan-y-Graig into Glyn Dyfrdwy, followed by a short stretch along the Holyhead road to Llangollen, where an early tea was obtained. The wind had lost much of its force as the riders made for home by way of Cefn, Ruabon and Chester, well content with their brief excursion in the open air. To-Morrow`s Runs General Section.-Tabley R., 10 L., Millington. T., Acton Bridge Intermediate Section.-Ty-Gwyn, B., 9:15 L., Gobowen, T., Newbridge. Social Section.-Pendle Hill, L.,Longridge T., Mellor Brook.
	13 November 1937 Out Of Doors By The Tramp Autumn Cycling On Welsh Moors Spring, summer, autumn and winter, the cycling clubs carry on, and even in the short days hardly reduce the day`s mileage. One day a week is little enough in which to get healthy excercise in the open air, and to see the countryside changing with the seasons. The Liverpool C.T.C. Social Section riding through Queensferry, Buckley and Nerquis climbed up to Rhydtalog and rode over mist-drenched moors to Four Crosses for lunch. Proceeding to the village of Llandeglathe, they made for Chweleiriog, and were soon tramping the springy turf alongside the woods surrounding Llyn Gweryd, with a pause in full of the golden russet slopes of Moel-y-Plas, whilst the stragglers caught up, and then on again through shoulder high bracken until the solid road was joined above Llanarmon. A few downhill miles and they were out of the saddle once more for long walks over the paths in the Pot Hole region, followed by a glorious burst of freewheeling down to Llong and so tea at Buckley, at which 34 sat down. A short sing-song afterwards, and out into the intense blackness for the run to Rock Ferry via Two Mills. ON FOOT TO WORLD`S END The intermediates had lunch at Bwlch Gwyn, and arrived at this point via Hawarden and Penyfford. It was inclined to rain as they left later and made downhill to Minera; after passing through the end of the lime quarry, the track wound upwards and soon the riders were enveloped in mist, but they pushed on past the deserted lead mines to South Minera. The track forks right here to World`s End, the section commencing a long trek over the moors, found the path in good condition despite the recent rains, and half an hours` walking brrought the party in sight of the woods above World`s End. The going was much harder, for the path is almost overgrown by heather, and a way literally forced through. The gate marking the highest point was passed as the day faded rapidly, but the light of a distant cottage provided a landmark until the party were shrouded in mist again. The path now led round the edge of a deep ravine, making extreme care necessary, and the stillness was broken only by the cry of dogs as the cottage was neared, even before its shape loomed out of the mist. With the road just beyond, the riders were not long in making Ruabon and taking the edge of keen appetites worked up by over two hours` healthy excercise over Newton Mountain. The main roads were clear for the journey home, under taken by way of Wrexham and Chester. To-morrow`s Runs General.-Cheshire Lanes. R.10. L. Cranage, T. Delamere Intermediate.-Lady Bagot`s Drive. B.10 L. Ruthin, T. Caewys. Social.-Delamere Forest. G.A. 9.15. L. Hatchmere, T. Alvanley.
	21 May 1938 C.T.C. NOTES A Jubilee Gathering At Frodsham Setting off from Broadgreen, the Liverpool Social Section found the wind against them on the way tyo Warrington via Roby, and, after passing through Stockton Heath, climbed steadily to Stretton, crossing the Weaver at Acton and so along the lanes to Sandiway and Whitegate for lunch. The short afternoon run began by entering Pettypool Park, where they sheltered awhile from a passing shower, then on once more through Cuddington and Norley to the Northwich road leading down gradually to Overton, obtaining en route fine views over the broad pasturages of the Weaver Valley. Tea was taken at the Mersey View grounds on top of Frodsham Hill, where altogether over 200 riders drawn from the Liverpool and Wirral sections sat down. Afterwards Mr. Guy Pullan introduced several speakers for the advantage of those present attending their first club run, who briefly outlined the various activities and the benefits fought for and maintained by the C.T.C. Among those who spoke was Mr. W.W. Pollard, who started cycling in 1885 and next year will attain his seventieth birthday, who gave the advice to stick to cycling, stating that one day this last winter he decided to walk instead of cycle to business, owing to the icy conditions of the roads, and as a result slipped, breaking an arm, thus having to forgo his cycling for nearly two months. Speeches did not take more than 15 minutes, and then the members passed a pleasant hour or so in the welcome evening sunshine, wandering over the grounds and the hill paths before departing to their several destinations. To-morrow`s Runs General section.-Gowy Valley. B 10. Lunch, Thornton-le-Moors; tea, Corwen. Intermediate section.-Afon Tryston. B 9:15. Lunch, Glyn Ceriog; tea, Corwen. Social section.-Competitions. B 9. Lunch and tea, No Man`s Heath.
	2 July 1938 C.T.C NOTES Rough Riding Over The Berwyns It was a small but enthusiastic band of Liverpool C.T.C. "Inters." who met at the eight o`clock boat to take part in a strenuous "over the top," the crossing of Ford Cam Helin, a rough track which leads over the Berwyns fron m the Corwen Bala road to the Glyn Valley. There was a slight headwind but good progress was made to Queensferry, then up the steep climb to Harwarden, through the woods and on to Pen-y-Fford, turning right here to enter the Leeswood Valley, commencing the long ascent to Rhydtalog. Llandegla was next left behind and then came ten miles on a rather undulating road to Corwen which was reached just after eleven o`clock. The two mixed tandems and nine singles left after lunch along the Bala road until just after the fourth milestone, they crossed a small stream, turrning left up a narrow lane which led into the hills. The long crossing had started, the track after passing through two gates became very indistinct, but it could be followed as it wound towards Craig Berwn. Many fine views were obtained on the surrounding mountain peaks as they climbed higher, and the summit of the pass was reached in about four and a half miles., attaining a height of nearly 2,200 feet, a halt now being called. The track had entirely disappeared so they scrambled down the grassy slopes to Blaen-y-cwm, where the party was able to ride a mile or so to Tyn-y-rhos. At this point another track led across the fields which after several miles brought them to the main road above Llanarmon D.C. With the wind assisting, a fast run followed down the beautiful Glyn Valley to Chirk where the rest of the section joined in for tea. The way home lay through Wrexham and Chester, catching the 9:40 steamer at Rock Ferry, slightly tired perhaps, but glad to have the experience of making this fine crossing theirs. To-morrows Runs General Section-Hodnet, B. 9, lunch and tea Whitchurch. Intermediate-Rhiwlas, B. 9:15, lunch Ruthin, tea Caerwys. Socials-Nickey Nook, G.A. 9, lunch Brock, tea Longridge.
	6 August 1938 THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. Merseyside Riders Tour Into Derbyshire. The majority of the C.T.C. Liverpool Social Section party who made their headquarters for the weekend in the hills beyond Gawsworth rode out on the Saturday afternoon via Knutsford and Henbury in dull conditions. Sunday morning provided a complete contrast with sunny skies and a freshening breeze so it was in joyful spirit they set off for Sutton to climb steadily past the resevoirs above Langley, and so through Macclesfield Forest on to The Cat and Fiddle road to Buxton, where the A6 was followed to Taddington, thence down the dale to Bakewell for lunch, during which they sampled the town`s famous pudding. A visit was paid to the parish church to inspect the ancient stone coffins before resuming along a most undulating road through Hassop and Calver to Hathersage, with glorious views over the valley of the River Derwent. In the Cave Country On reaching Castleton they examined the Speedwell Cavern, one of several for which the district is renowned, before partaking of a late tea in the village and proceeding up the Winnats and over the open moorland road via Sparrowpit to Buxton again. With lamps alight they tackled the ascent out of town, reaching a height of 1,520 feet and taking the left fork just short of the summit, leading to Algreave. There was no moon or stars out, and with the hills free from mist, this lonely mountain road gave the impression of being on top of the world for some five miles before dropping steeply into the valley, and it was only a matter of minutes before the riders sat down to a supper that had been waiting nearly an hour. Ten miles was the total on Monday morning accomplished by way of Clenlow Cross, Wincle, and Heaton, to Rushton Spencer, where lunch was obtained, a rough road over The Cloud to the outskirts of Congleton claiming no fewer than five puntures, which gave the lucky members of the party time to bask in trhe sun. The remainder of the trip home lay through Holmes Chapel and Warrington, tea being taken at Knutsford. Tomorrow`s Runs Intermediate Section.-Mow Cop. R.9.15. Lunch Somerford, tea Church Minshull. Social Section.-Castle Mill. B. 9. Lunch Newbridge, tea Overton-on-Dee
	22 August 1938 C.T.C DIAMOND JUBILEE. Miss P. Moreton of Liverpool (on left), who won the prize for neatest girl at the above event at Parbold yesterday, being congratulated by Mrs. L. Dredge, a thousand miles record holder. In the centre is the president of the C.T.C. Liverpool branch, Mr. P. Brazendale.
	3 September 1938 BEAUTY ROUND THE TROUGH OF BOWLAND. C.T.C. Riders Dodged The Weather To See It. The skies had cleared after the early morning rain and prospects for a fine day looked fairly good as the Intermediates left Aintree last Sunday. The route was through Ormskirk to Preston, but when they had put the county town behind, the sky became overcast and masses of dark cloud swung low over the hills ahead; the rain, however, kept off until the riders touched the outskirts of Longridge. A heavy drizzle fell during lunch and it was on rain-sodden roads they set off, skirting Longridge Fell to shortly cross the River Hodder. The road climbed away from the river, then dropped towards it again, now running alongside for a mile through a beautiful wooded gorge, a scene of wild beauty. Through Whitewell they continued to Dunsop Bridge, shortly entering the narrow defile of the Trough of Bowland. The road climbs slightly at first, then sharply, forcing the riders to dismount and walk to the summit at nearly one thousand feet, a point incedentally marks the boundary of Lanacashire and Yorkshire. As rain was imminent they carried on, ford crossed without mishap, and then by a very undulating, twisting, but withal pleasant road via Scoreton to Garstang, and so to Brock, just as more light drizzle commenced to fall. Rain had ceased as the party left for home, the wind having veered round during the day, so a good journey was made to Preston, and then on to Rufford for Liverpool. An excellent entry of forty-two was received for the Twelve Hour Tourist Trial promoted by the Liverpool D.A., three riders being attracted from the Manchester area. The route selected led the participants to Lake Vyrnwy, the major source of Liverpool`s water supply, lying in the heart of unspoilt Wales; and although a fair amount of rain was encountered it could not detract from the essential beauty of the scenery. In all thirty-seven successfully completed the course and qualify for bronze medals. TOMORROWS RUNS Intermediates-Bwlch-y-Groes;B.9:15;lunch Llangollen, tea Llandegla Socials: Moel Arthur;B.9.; lunch Caerwys, tea Cilcain. Saturday, 10th;In the Wirral Lanes; tea Mill House, Rabymere.
	Date unknown Topical Tip Here is a tip from a reader that will soon be topical. It deals with the problem of keeping shoes waterproof, no matter what deluges descend. Melt threepennyworth of beeswax into the leather, rubbing it well in with a bone, in front of a warm fire. Then melt twopennyworth of black or brown heel ball (colour to match the shoes, of course) and rub this in. Leave to cool, and then polish with a dry cloth. Result, a pair of perfectly waterproof shoes, with a perpetual shine.