Rolling News

July 17, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

England are out of the World Cup, and we all need something to lift the spirits — a bike ride might be just the thing.

Fortunately, we have plenty. Social riding, time trials and a midweek raid on the Surrey Hills: there’s lots to keep us smiling over the next few days.

The Evening 10 series ramps up the entertainment on Monday, with the 2-Up Challenge - possibly the best fun you can have with your Lycra on. Meanwhile, those preferring to drown their sorrows in caffeine can plan a route to our latest café recommendation - it’s a premier cru of a coffee stop.

Whatever your mood, we’ve got a ride for it.

☕️ Sunday Social - Sunday 19 July

Partridge Green is the destination this week, under the stewardship of Paget. Don’t miss the different start location in Lewes.

  • Roll out: 9:00 am

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

  • Start Location: Bake Out, Lewes

  • Dress Code: Club kit expected

🏁 Evening 10 - Monday 20 July

This is the eighth Evening 10 of the season and another chance to try a 2-Up - all the fun for half the work! Find a partner and put your names on the list.

🚴 Surrey Hills - Wednesday 22 July

Chris Hurcomb is making the most of the long school summer holiday and leading a midweek expedition into some of the finest riding the South East has to offer.

  • Roll out: 7:15 am

  • Duration: Approx. 7 hours, including the coffee stop.

  • Start Location: Offham Garage and Store

  • Dress Code: Come as you like

Stop press: the planned trip to the Isle of Wight this Saturday has been postponed for logistical reasons. We’ll keep you posted with any new arrangements.

🏁 Evening 10 Series

This Week’s Results

Calum Elms set the pace in Monday’s Evening 10, stopping the clock in a scintillating PB of 21:22.

The tightest contest came just behind, where Chris Hurcomb edged Dan Street by five seconds. Neil Edwards and Adam Goward completed the road-bike top five, while Peter Baker was the quickest Wanderer on a TT bike.

Emma Simkins led the women home, while debutant Richard Brazier recorded 26:29 on his road bike.

Points Competition

With the competition approaching its conclusion, the tension is beginning to mount. Calum Elms leads the Open Road Bike competition on a perfect 60 points, with Dan Street and Chris Hurcomb still locked in a close fight behind him.

Peter Baker has a commanding advantage in the TT competition, while the women’s contest remains finely balanced: Alice Gilmore leads Olivia Webb by just two points, with Maddy Lee-Smith holding third.

There may be favourites, but the final points aren’t safely in anybody’s pocket yet!

Next Week

The 2-Up Challenge is back, and with it a moral dilemma. Will you be faithful to your previous partner or spice things up with someone new? We’ll leave that one with you!

But don’t take too long. We need to know the partnerships in advance so we can organise the start sheet. Solo entries are welcome too.

By the way - we’re keeping our options open to run the postponed round six on 3 August. Watch this space.

How to Clean Cycling Shoes the Right Way

Box-fresh cycling shoes don’t stay box-fresh for long on the roads of Sussex. Follow these cleaning and care tips to keep them looking good as new.

☕️ Have you tried… Eighteen Acres, Bolney?

Members’ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Our Sunday ride leaders have uncovered another gem.

Tucked away down a slightly rough lane at Bolney Wine Estate, Eighteen Acres makes an immediate impression: “Wow, what a place this is”.

Outside, there is good bike parking and a choice of covered or open-air seating. Inside, there is a large café with attentive staff offering a good selection of drinks and superbly fresh cakes and pastries.

It may cost fractionally more than the average village café, but the setting, service and bike-friendly outdoor space make it well worth adding to your westerly loop.

🚴‍♂️ Track Racing Results - a lap of honour for Peter

The seemingly indefatigable Peter Baker first raced at Preston Park Velodrome in Brighton in 1976. Fifty years later, he’s still racing and competing in the Sussex Cycle Racing League’s Wednesday Track League.

Racers and organisers marked Peter’s achievement by inviting him to lead a lap of honour before Race 6.

Well done, Peter. We’re proud of you.

Meanwhile, across town, relative newcomer Ryan Machin has been competing in the Hove Park Crits. On Friday 3 July, after 28 laps and just under 40 minutes of racing, he came away with a fine third place.

Catch up with all their exploits and results on the website.

He’s done it so often, he can do it with his eyes closed.

📺 TdF at The Black Horse

The Tour will continue showing in the back bar. This weekend’s highlights are:

Stage 14 - Saturday 18 July: Another mountain stage, this time in the Vosges tackling the Grand Ballon and the Ballon d’Alsace
Stage 15 - Sunday 19 July: From the Jura to the Alps including a brutally steep climb up the Col de la Croisette, which is being used for the first time.

😂 Wanderers’ World

‘Til next time,

The Wandering Crew