By Rod Morris
Former top Victorian cyclist Spencer Stevens passed away earlier this week, aged 83. Spencer was a member of a highly successful cycling family, with his father and two elder brothers all reaching great heights. Spencer won Tasmania's most prestigious track event, the Latrobe Wheelrace in 1945, just two days after his 22nd birthday.
Spencer was the youngest son of Leslie ("Bowie") and Clarice Stevens and his siblings included Norm and Ron ("Bowie" junior). Norm still lives in Melbourne, while Ron passed on earlier this year. He married Dorothy Haines and the pair had one daughter, Beverley (Mrs Smith). An oxy welder by trade, Spencer late became a cycle mechanic, working for Maurice Cramer at Cecil Walker Cycles. He rode for the Malvern Amateur Cycling Club and won numerous scratch and handicap races, but the Latrobe Wheel remained his biggest success.
