Rolling News

April 24, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

What’s coming up next in Lewes Wanderers? Loads, let us tell you.

We’ve got a new starting point for this weekend’s Forge Ride, while the usual midweek rhythm takes on a slightly lighter feel with Spain calling for many of the regulars.

Beyond this week’s rides, we’re looking ahead to something properly epic with the Lap of the Weald. The Lewes Crit is fast coming over the horizon, and we’re nudging along the plans for summer trips.

Off the bike, we ask an uncomfortable question about the future of our local bike shops.

Settle in — there’s plenty to get through.

🚴 Forge Ride - Saturday 25 April

Something different this week, we’re starting from Bake Out, Lewes, and going on the reverse Seaford Loop. We’ll include Chapel Hill from the south side and a final push on the Ripe Circuit, before ending up back at the Forge (to avoid a rebrand!).

  • Roll out: 9:15 am

  • Duration: Approx. 3 hours, including the coffee stop.

  • Start Location: Bake Out, Lewes

  • Dress Code: Club kit expected

☕️ Sunday Social - Sunday 26 April

This week’s destination is Geo’s in Herstmonceux. Paget will lead the way with his usual fondness for interesting and rarely discovered lanes.

  • Roll out: 8:30 am

  • Duration: Approx. 4 hours, including the coffee stop.

  • Start Location: Boots, Uckfield

  • Dress Code: Club kit expected

⛓️ Chain Gang - Tuesday 28 April

A lot of the gang is off to Spain early on Wednesday morning and will be sitting this one out. Put a note in the WhatsApp chat to see if anyone else is looking to ride.

  • Roll out: 5:45 pm (for 6:00 pm start)

  • Duration: Approx. 1.5 hours

  • Start Location: The Forge, Ringmer

  • Dress Code: Club kit preferred

☕️ Wednesday Slackers - Wednesday 29 April

With lots of the habitual slackers doing overtime in Spain, the Slackers Ride could be on a rest week. There’s no harm, though, in putting out a call for company if you’re looking for a ride on Wednesday morning.

  • Roll out: 9:30 am

  • Duration: Approx. 3 hours

  • Start Location: The Village Shop, Barcombe

  • Dress Code: Come as you like

📅 Rides for your Diary

🌳 Off-Road

We’re only one week away from the next off-road ride. Chris and Mugs have been hard at work creating magical routes for the A & B groups.

Bake Out, Lewes, is where you need to be at 8:15 on 2 May.

😮‍💨 The Long One - Lap of the Weald

Have you ever wanted to see how far you can go in a day? Is 100 miles where everything has to end? What lies beyond 200 km?

Steel your legs, because there’s no other way of describing this than EPIC.

We’re heading out on 16 May to do a lap of the Weald (or at least try). The full loop is 239 km (145 miles) with 2,760 m of climbing. Don’t worry if that all seems a bit much. Being a local loop, there are plenty of places where you can cut short and head for home.

Come out and support those going for it. They’ll appreciate you taking the wind.

Plan your escape route now!

Also…

Remember these…

🌳 New Forest Sportive

The New Forest Sportive is on 6 June.

Join the WhatsApp group in the Community where travel and accommodation plans are being discussed.

⛵️ Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is scheduled for the weekend of 18 July.

Register your interest if you think you’d like to come along for off-road fun.

More details on both trips are available on the website.

🙋 Lewes Crit 11 June

Most of you will have seen John Powell’s call for volunteers to help with the Lewes Crit on 11 June.

As we covered in Rolling News a few weeks ago, we’re focusing all our efforts on one race this year.

One night. One big event. One time to support your club’s heritage.

Your help is greatly appreciated. Please email John to let him know what you can do.

Want to race in it? 🤩. Contact road race co-ordinator, Dan Street, and let him know.

🤔 Can we still afford to support our local bike shops?

You pop in for a few essentials and walk out thinking… how much? Sound familiar?

We take a look at the growing gap between local bike shops and online giants. When a cassette costs nearly double on the high street, loyalty starts to feel like a luxury. But if we all follow the cheaper click, what’s left of the places that should be the heart of our cycling communities?

It’s a real dilemma.

Where do you stand? Read the full piece and decide for yourself.

And Finally…

👕 Club Shop

This really is your last chance to get your order in at the club shop before it closes on Monday, 27 April.

All kitted up, you’ll look slicker than a pair of freshly shaved legs on TT night. Go for it!

You’ll regret it if you don’t.

Till next time,

The Wandering Crew