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Tributes have been flooding in for Devon’s Mr Cycling, Ken Robertson, who passed away peacefully last month.

Ken was described as a legend of the local cycling community after spending 50 years competing in and organising bike races.

After joining the Mid Devon Cycling Club (formerly the Mid Devon Road Club) in 1957 he became a mainstay of the sport in the South West district, racing and organising many time trials.

Chairman of Mid Devon CC Mike Gratton said that Ken was still looking forward to organising events right up to his death.

“Ken was the organiser,” said Mr Gratton.

“Even in his later years he was so on the ball. This year he was planning on organising a road race in March, two time trials, help organise the Dartmoor Classic (sportive) and sit on about five other committees.

“The amount of stuff he had going on in his head at one time was just immense. It would blow my mind quite how active his mind was for his age.

“He did so much for the sport and for other people. I always say to people, we are all cyclists, so giving up your time from riding your bike to facilitate other people to be able to ride their bike is the greatest gift.

“He has given decades of his life selflessly to other people. He was racing himself and did a couple of 10s in his 83rd year and racing quite seriously until his late 60s doing 100-mile and 12-hour events.

“He loved the long and really painful stuff. He had some great anecdotes from years gone by when they were kept going on cold beer and cold sausages for 12 hours.

“Not quite what you would expect today. He was also interested in cycling in general, looking at every different aspect of it and how it could be improved.

“We’ve had tributes from all over the country and even all over the world. He was a pretty influential guy. He has influenced decades of people coming through the sport.”

Over 200 cyclists gathered at Torbay Velopark for a lap in honour of Mr Robertson riding behind the hearse and accompanied by the National Escort Group (NEG) motorbike riders.

“It was pretty cool and a nice send-off,” added Mr Gratton. “We rang the bell for the last lap and waved the chequered flag at the finish line, it was pretty special.”

Mr Robertson had a long-standing commitment to Cycling Time Trials, both as an organiser of events and a hard-working volunteer. He was also a committee member at both district level and at national level for many years.

Mr Robertson was appointed as the South West district secretary in 1976 and he continued to serve as district secretary until his death, some 45 years later.

He also represented his district at the CTT National Council AGM since (at least) 1986 and has attended nearly every year up to and including 2020.

Mr Robertson was also a member of the National Committee for 20 years, being elected to serve in 1980 and continuing until 2000.

He was awarded the CTT gold Badge of Honour in 2001, which is only awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to CTT. It is awarded to just a few people and is the highest honour CTT can award.

Cycling Times Trials director David Barry added: “Ken continued to be instrumental in ensuring the South West DC member clubs received up to date training such as course measurement, risk assessments, safe course design, and other elements of safety for competitors when racing on the public highway.

“Alongside other National Committee members in the late 1990s, Ken also organised a series of hilly non-standard distance events, which over time is now known as the Classic Series. The earliest sponsor of these events were Rudy Project.

“When I was appointed a CTT Board Director in 2002 he contacted me at the time and gave me great advice.

“One of Ken’s final gifts to CTT, on behalf of his club Mid-Devon CC, was presenting the RTTC Trophy Trustees with a magnificent trophy to be awarded for a yet to be decided National Championships category.”

* All reports and features are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. This feature by Ben Goddard.