Association History
The Sussex Cyclists’ Association was formed in 1921 to promote Time Trials, Contests, Competitions and Social Events for members of Cycling Clubs located in Sussex. All Time Trials promoted by the Association were restricted to members of affiliated Cycling Clubs in Sussex. One of the reasons for forming the Association was to provide rides for those members who could not qualify for Open Events.
The Association was also formed to provide a controlling body to promote County Championships at all recognised distances and a County Best All-Rounder Competition
Over the years there has been a significant drop in the number of competitive cyclists and it is now unusual to have full fields for Open Cycling Time Trials Events. Furthermore as cycling is now longer the principal mode of transport and club life no longer dominates people’s social activities, it has been important for the Association to move with the times and meet the changing social life style.
As members tend to allocate less of their leisure time to cycling activities, then inevitably there has been a dwindling interest in longer distance events.
In an attempt to address these issues all events promoted by the Association are now Open Events. The Sussex Best All-Rounder Competition over 50 miles, 100 miles and 12 hours was discontinued in 2005 and is now decided over 25, 50 and 100 miles. A new Short Distance Competition was introduced in 2005 based on 10 & 25 miles only, which is in addition to the Middle Distance Competition introduced a few years ago based on 10, 25 & 50 miles.
