The Cincinnati Sports Touring League was organized by Bill Lapthorn. Bill was a mainstay of the Cincinnati cycling community in the 1970s and 80s and probably much earlier, but I wasn’t around for that. He was a HUGE organizer for the Cincinnati Cycle Club, the many “cluster” clubs it supported, and the recently formed Queen City Wheelmen.

Bill rode a 1950s-era bike with an internal three-speed hub equipped with a massive touring range five-speed freewheel and single-ring steel cottered crank. He pushed a monster gear wearing mostly street clothes and using cleatless shoes/boots that bore no resemblance to cycling footwear. Bill would get dropped on the climbs but he always caught and passed everyone on the downhills churning that huge gear at about 40 RPM.

Bill had an old mimeograph rotary drum printer in his basement and printed a lot of local cycling newsletters including some that I wrote for QCW. I was a wet-behind-the-ears 17-year-old kid, and after pounding out a newsletter I would call him with no prior notice and say, "Bill can I come over and print a newsletter tonight?" He never said no and even helped me while we sat at his kitchen table and assembled, stapled, and folded the newsletters. Then we would lick stamps.

Bill is a local Cincinnati cycling legend that I’m sure few know of, but I will never forget him.

Jonathan Spicker

The Greater Cincinnati League of Sports Touring

Inaugural ride September 8, 1974

Left to Right Greg Coors, John Tenenholtz, Glen Wolf (QCW), Steve Lansky (QCW), Jonathan Spicker (QCW), Dave Burleigh (QCW), Dell Williamson (QCW), Andy Radin (QCW), unknown, Bill Doyle

Photo by: Bill Lapthorn, League Secretary