Ron Kitching, was one of the most influential cycle trade figures since the war. He made his fortune in cycling, and returned much of it to cycling through sponsorship of racing, cycling groups and events. Ron was a champion road racer and time triallist in the 1930s, who used his expertise to found a shop in Harrogate and a company importing and distributing cycle components. He was also a partner in several high-class cycle manufacturing ventures. Ron Kitching’s Everything Cycling catalogue was the stuff of dreams for cyclists everywhere. Since the mid 1990s he was Patron and a generous benefactor of the British Schools Cycling Association.
His collection of books and archive materials, is housed on the top floor of our Club building.
The Ron Kitching library ensures one of the most famous names in the post-war cycle industry isn’t lost. When Ron Kitching sold his business for the second time (he had to rescue it the first time it was sold) little did he know it would be moved from Harrogate and renamed Zyro.
The final few Ron Kitching Everything Cycling catalogues from the 1980s are on display in the library and will bring back fond memories for anybody involved in the early growth of British mountain biking.
The Library contains many Victorian cycling books, including two volumes of an epic 'Around the World' journey on a Penny Farthing from 1897 and an almost complete set of the weekly Cycling Magazine publication 1891 - 1974.
Anyone wishing to gain access to the Library, please get in touch with either John Barnett or Trevor Howe at the Club and we'll try to help, or drop into the start of a committee meeting.
A catalogue of the library's contents can be found below.