Scottish Milk Race - A Scrapbook to Savour

Through the 60s and 70s the cycling calendar had the fixture of the Scottish Milk Race. This was no poor relation to the UK national event. Though contested by nominally amateur set-ups the landscape of the time must be remembered. There was not the same commercial backing for trade teams meaning regional squads counted some of the country's best athletes on their roster. Also counted as 'amateur' were the state backed East German, Czechoslovak and Polish teams. Riders from the Soviet-bloc, like other citizens behind the iron curtain had travel restrictions placed upon them. This meant their sporting travails were often limited to riding for their state in events around the world. They were rightly feared as awesome physical specimens, hardened by training regimes endured since childhood and by the fortitude of life in the Soviet world where there was never a soft option.

In 2005 an old box of photos turned up at one of the Wheelers Club nights. To save these for posterity we have scanned them at a high resolution (300 dpi - as good as our scanner can do!). While the photographer is unknown what is definite is the quality of the pictures, the nostalgia of past times they bring and a reminder that times may have changed but the racing looks just as hard! Enjoy this celebration of our national race. Some photos lack a description. If you can provide further information, please send details by email.

You can also buy a 2012 calendar, containing 12 great photos from this collection.

We have published these photos on this website on the understanding that no copyright exists and the photos themselves were given to the Club. We would be delighted to know and happy to give credit to the photographer(s) responsible. In no way do we wish to claim these pictures as our own - they are to be shared and enjoyed.