Rolling News

May 01, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

Fans of knobbly tyres have been circling this weekend on the calendar for a while. The Off-Road Ride is heading for the Downs in what looks like a brilliant Saturday out.

The Spain contingent will roll back into town late on Sunday night, so they’ll be late for the Sunday Social and Bank Holiday Special (probably), but just in time for the Chain Gang and a Slackers spin in the week.

Elsewhere this week, we’ve got a photo competition celebrating Sussex at its very best, racing news, a decision about choices in the club shop, and even more dates for your diary.

You know there’s only one thing to do. Read on 👇

🌳 Off-Road Ride - Saturday 2 May

The waiting is over! The next off-road ride rolls out on Saturday, and it promises to be a stunner. Chris and Mugs will lead A and B groups. GPX route files will be released to members shortly beforehand.

  • Roll out: 9:15 am

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

  • Start Location: Bake Out, Lewes

  • Dress Code: Club kit preferred

☕️ Saturday Social - Saturday 2 May

For anyone looking for an alternative tilt at the Downs, Paget will lead a socially paced road ride from the Forge to South Downs Garden Centre, Hassocks.

  • Roll out: 9:00 am

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

  • Start Location: The Forge, Ringmer

  • Dress Code: Club kit preferred

☕️ Sunday Social - Sunday 3 May

Ash Preston is your guide for this week’s exploration. As we go to press, it’s billed as a mystery tour (or it could be that Ash will stop at the first café he sees!).

  • Roll out: 8:30 am

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

  • Start Location: Boots, Uckfield

  • Dress Code: Club kit expected

☕️ Bank Holiday Special - Monday 4 May

There’s talk of a group doing a loop from Offham onto the Ashdown Forest, returning via Warninglid and Wineham - approx 100 km. Keep an eye on the Forge group chat for updates. Chris Hurcomb will lead if it goes ahead.

  • Roll out: 8:00 am

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

  • Start Location: Offham Garage and Stores

  • Dress Code: Come as you like

⛓️ Chain Gang - Tuesday 5 May

Will Dan and the others return from Spain with legs like spaghetti or fully primed? There’s only one way to find out. Spin down to the Forge on Tuesday evening for your weekly dose of threshold training.

  • 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 6 May

This is more like it. Spain Slackers will be hoping to show off their tan lines and sombreros during a Z2 spin on Wednesday morning. Put a thumbs up in the chat if you can bear them reliving every moment 🥱.

📸 Competition Time! Share your pics of Sussex

Last Friday turned into a love-in of bikes and Sussex. Several members shared fabulous images of Sussex in all its glory in the community channels.

This has inspired us to run a competition. Upload your pictures to the shared photo album and ‘like’ your favourites. We’ll come up with a money-can’t-buy prize for the most popular shot.

There aren’t many rules: we just want Sussex on a ride, probably including your bike, but not essential. (Anything else can wait for another time).

Paget Cohen

Racing Round-Up

The racing season is now well underway, and we’ve got members competing in road racing, mountain-bike racing, and time trialling events across the county and beyond.

Read the full write-up on the website. Highlights include Georgina Wise taking 2nd place in her category at the Pedal Hounds MTB Enduro, Alice Gilmore claiming silver in the Varsity Duathlon at the Olympic Park and Ryan Machin getting his road-racing season moving with 7th and then 4th in the Percy Stallard Series.

Not a bad start to the season at all, and it’s great to see Peter Baker competing again so soon after his surgery.

👕 Club Shop - Exciting Update

Demand for the white Anniversary jersey has been strong, and while it was meant to be a limited edition, we’ve decided to restore it to the line-up for a little longer.

The shop will open shortly for two weeks, giving everyone a chance to place an order for Anniversary items.

If you have recently ordered a fractal jersey, but would have chosen the Anniversary design had it been available, don’t worry. We‘ve agreed with Kalas that orders can be amended. Please email Darren by Friday 8 May if you’d like to change your order and he will explain the mechanics.

Everyone else, watch this space for the link to the Anniversary shop.

📅 Rides for your Diary

😮‍💨 Lap of the Weald - 16 May

This epic ride is only two weeks away. Clear the diary and start the carb-loading now!

🚴 Circuit of Laughton - 27 May

Our popular evening TT takes place on May 27 at 7:00 pm. 1 ¾ laps of the “Broyle Loop” followed by a drink and social in the Roebuck, Laughton. Sign-up forms will be released shortly. In the meantime, this is a first call for volunteers to help with marshalling and signage.

🚴 Evening 10 Series

Our Evening 10 series kicks off on Monday, 1 June and continues every Monday until 20 July. Please answer the call to help with marshalling when it lands.

🌳 New Forest Sportive - 6 June

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

 🚴 Lewes Crit - 11 June

Our one and only road race of the season. We’re still looking for riders and volunteers.

Drop a line to race coordinator John Powell if you’re interested in either, and he’ll point you in the right direction.

⛵️ Isle of Wight - 18 July

Register your interest if you think you’d like to come along for some of the best off-road riding the South has to offer.

Even if you’re only half-thinking about it, stick your hand up now so we can get an idea of numbers.

Details of all rides are available on the website.

This one’s for Graham 😉

Till next time,

The Wandering Crew