The following article was published in the Kent & Sussex Courier on Friday 6th April 2007.

Southborough & District Wheelers, the Tunbridge Wells based Cycling Club is preparing to welcome the passing of the Tour de France though the town in July with a festival of events throughout the year.

The Club which was established in 1932 has a membership of predominantly active riders. In the Winter, Club members lead various Club-rides on Sundays from meeting places in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge.  In the Summer Club members continue these Sunday rides where they can, however the Club is involved in organising a number of racing events across Kent and East Sussex which mean it is not ways possible for someone to lead a ride.

The Club caters for the majority of Cycling disciplines, including Road Racing, Velodrome Track riding, Grass track racing, and Touring, but its roots are secured in Time Trialling where the majority of its members specialise.  Consequently the Club holds Time Trials almost every week on either Tuesday or Thursday evenings between the months of May to August, at a number of locations just outside of Tunbridge Wells.  As part of this years’ Festival, the Club is opening up 4 of these evening Time Trials to anyone who would like to “Come and try it”.  The events are aimed at anyone who has an interest in Cycling and may wish to further the pastime competitively.

You need to be over 12 years old to participate in the events.

Club member, David Watson said, “The good thing about the Clubs’ evening events is that they welcome a variety of riders, and there is a shared spirit of achievement for all participants, right from the rider who wins the event to the rider who is the slowest, otherwise known in the Sport as the person who carried the “Lanterne Rouge” or the Red Lantern!”

Then on the afternoon of Saturday 14th July, the weekend after the passing of the Tour de France though Kent, the Club is hosting an event for anyone with a keen interest in Cycling, including families. The purpose of the event is to “Come and try it”, with the main feature being a Grass track event. The Club will be there to demonstrate how it can be of benefit to keen and prospective cyclists, and to give advice on all forms of Cycling, whether the interest is in training, racing, or touring. There will be plenty of opportunities for visitors to “Have a go” themselves.

The event is taking place at the Borderers Sports Ground on Frant Road, Tunbridge Wells, which is where the Club is based, and meets every Thursday evening. All the Wheelers ask you to do is bring your bike and/or the family!

More immediately though, the Club is holding an Opening evening at its Clubroom on Thursday 19th April from 8pm onwards. This is for anyone with an interest or enthusiasm for Cycling to come along and meet the Club.

For more information on the Club and the events it has planned for the year, or to contact a member of the Club to find out more, visit the Southborough & District Wheelers website.