Thornton Road Club is a cycling club that sets out to encourage and share the physical fitness and congeniality of modern bike-riding. The club’s Kent sub-group focuses on a year-round Sunday morning club run that varies between 25 and 50 miles, on or around the periphery of Romney Marsh, Walland Marsh, and Denge Marsh, and the hills and valleys of east and central Kent.

Principally during the summer the fitter club members are animated and supported in their participation in time trials held either on the club’s 10-mile course based at Newchurch Village Hall, or on courses organised by neighbouring clubs such as Ashford Wheelers (www.Ashfordwheelers.btinternet.co.uk) and Rye and District Wheelers.

Club colours are dark green, yellow, and blue – the colours once restricted to Thornton Road Club’s road racing team in the 1940s and 1950s. Club shirts in these colours, in a somewhat retro design, are perfect for modern riding because they are conspicuous and readily seen by motorists and other road users.

In an age whose hallmark is obesity through lack of exercise and overeating, cycling contributes to health and fitness, engages with the fresh open air of the countryside, and grants the power, freedom, and exhilaration of self-propulsion.