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International Cycle Sport Magazine 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1980s
What were its aims?
To provide a monthly review of cycling events and stories - mainly based in Britain and on the European pro scene.
When was it around?
Started in 1968 and reached 199 issues before closure in 1985
Why is it here?
Because it provided a uniquely British view of the world of cycling at that time. British races, British riders and a somewhat envious look at the popularity of bike racing overseas - especially in Europe.
Here’s how it all started ...
Opening Editorial - Return to the Independent class
On being told, in January, that the monthly magazine I had founded 11 years ago was to be merged with a weekly publication, I was not really surprised.
I had launched that magazine because I knew the cycling world wanted it. There was never any suggestion that it would make a lot of money for anybody. Yet within a few years, after a series of mergers and takeovers, "Sporting Cyclist" found itself under the control of a giant publishing organisation whose business, understandably, was to make money.
A small monthly magazine supported by what it considered to be a "dying industry" was obviously of little interest to such a concern, and its eventual merger with "Cycling" was simply a matter of time. When the decision was taken I and my most able assistant Roy Green were given the chance of carrying on with the combined publication, but neither accepted the offer.
For my part I was absolutely certain that there was a healthy future for a monthly magazine, and the cycling world at large seemed to think so, too. When the news got around that I was leaving Fleet Street every friend I met said "You simply must start another!"
To get a new magazine going, I first had to find a publisher. I was prepared to spend weeks or even months looking for one who would show some interest in the project.
Instead a firm of publishers approached me. And not only did they show interest, but tremendous enthusiasm. Two of the Kennedy brothers, both keen clubmen, came down to see me in London, and in no time 'at all the "deal" was through. I went home to start work on the editorial side of the new magazine, the Kennedys went back to Keighley to sort out the technical details. Paul Kennedy also found time to do a bit of training, and one Monday morning on the 'phone he told me that, yesterday he had ridden a "100 in 8" which turned out to be a "100 in 6.5". Then, a fortnight later, he reported with justifiable pride that he had won one of the 3rd category events at the Girlington Kermesse races!
So here we are again on the opening page of a brand new magazine, professionally produced by a team of printers, publishers, writers and photographers who are all amateurs at heart. Moreover we are Independent of any big publishing concern.
This first issue of "International Cycle Sport" is a very good one, but it is nothing to what we can do when we really get cracking. With your support - reader and advertiser - we can bring you a monthly magazine full of the very best that pen and camera can produce. You can help us off to a flying start by passing the word around to your friends that we have arrived. If they can't get a copy, then lend them yours. But please do not make a practice of this. For one thing, you will have a job to get your copy back! But by insisting that your friends buy the magazine every month you will help keep sales up to the necessary level so that we can make "International Cycle Sport" bigger, better and more colourful in every way.
J B Wadley
Editor
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ICS was launched by the Kennedy Brothers printers of Keighley, Yorkshire with J B (Jock) Wadley as editor in 1968.
The first year’s issues (1 to 8) reflect the range of subjects covered and the mix of UK and European reports it contained.
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From the Pen of J.B.Wadley
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Jock Wadley also wrote a number of books - which are now very hard to find - and edited Coureur / Sporting Cyclist magazine. See more in this wikipedia entry
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May 1968 | Fausto Coppi, Hugh Porter, Tom Simpson, Arthur Metcalfe, Ray Barker, Theo Verschueren, Dave Dungworth, Arthur A Zimmerman, Bill Bailey, Rik Van Linden, Antwerp 6-Day, Vaux Grand Prix
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September 1968 | Tour de France Special (this copy signed by Barry Hoban)
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June 1968 | Eddy Merckx, Beryl Burton, Les West, Tour of Britain preview, Paris-Roubaix, Paris-San Remo movie, Herne Hill track
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October 1968 | Bordeaux-Paris, Championship 24, Worlds, Skol 6 Day
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July 1968 | Tour of the West - Arthur Metcalfe, Tour of Britain - Gosta Pettersson, Tour de France preview - Felice Gimondi, Roger Pingeon
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November 1968 | Tour de l’Avenir, Three Peaks, GP des Nations, 6 Day
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August 1968 | Tour de France, Vaux Grand Prix - Denson, Hoban, Hitchen, International 50, Isle of Man
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December 1968 | Agostini Cup, Olympic Games, Tour of Lombardy, Hill Climb Championship
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