The Clarion Cycling Club began over 100 years ago as a fellowship of like-minded individuals with a message for society. They published pamphlets containing information about the Socialist movement and they felt it was imperative to bring this ideology into the hearts and minds of the struggling working class at the turn of the century, so they mounted their bikes and mobilised a campaign to distribute their ideas.

In her research into the youth movements, Ruth became aware of Robert Blatchford and Walter Crane, The Clarion CC, and was especially interested in the heritage of ‘national dress’ that emerged during this liberated movement of the masses. She applied to The Institute for the Art and Practice of Dissent at Home, Liverpool, with a proposal for a residency based on the mobile methodologies of early socialist dissenters, and decided to embark on a bike ride of pageantry from London (Ruth’s home) to Liverpool (the European city of Culture ’08).

Karen, who has worked collaboratively with Ruth in previous projects, had special interest in the initial stages of Ruth’s proposal to the Institute, as Karen is a serious amateur road cyclist and considers cycling to be a medium unto itself. She offered to be Ruth’s domestique in the project, as a 4-day bike ride from London to Liverpool would require extensive route planning, gear practicalities, and experience in long distance riding. Ruth would also need a decent road bike with ‘clipless pedals’ and some proper kit, so Karen lent Ruth her winter bike, helped her get used to being attached to the cranks via the pedals, and took her out with the Edinburgh Road Club as part of their preparatory fieldwork.

The idea developed into a research project as Karen contacted local British cycling clubs in the areas through which they were sure to visit, in search of the best routes for 2 wheeled travel. She got in touch with several individuals through cycling clubs such as the Bedfordshire RCC, the Coventry RC, the Kidsgrove Wheelers, as well as the Coventry Transport Museum. Soon, the artist/cyclists had routes and accommodation with strangers that had no reason to offer their help other than a general support of the spirit of the project, which is also the motto of the Clarion: Fellowship is Life – Lack of Fellowship is Death.

Upon their arrival at the Institute, several questions had emerged as topics for the Roundtable Discussion that was to be the culmination of the journey, such as: What is requisite for status as a ‘cyclist’? Are cyclists inherently conformist or nonconformist; as in, how are they politicised by their choice to ride a bike for transport? How has the capitalisation of cycling, bicycles, and riders changed the popular view of cycling since the origin of the Clarion? How are cities best navigated, and what is the relationship between the motorised and nonmotorised? How do people incorporate activism into their daily lives by choosing to ride a bicycle? These questions and many more were discussed by several artists, a filmmaker, a champion cyclist and bike shop owner, a trade union expert, and a primary school teacher.

Ruth and Karen would like to thank everyone who lent their support and expertise along the way: Ian & Jane of the Clarion; Colin & Jess of Clophill; Terry Bush & Bill of the Beds RCC; Lesley Robertson, Cycles Curator of the CMT; Michael Richards; Dave & Mary Joynson and Barry & Pauline Wilkinson of the Kidsgrove Wheelers; Sue Booth, Roy Bunnell, Joan, Janet Gregory, and Peter Williams of the CTC; Gary & Lena & kids at the Institute… Fellowship is Life.