About the Annual Sulley Rides

The annual Sulley Rides are traditional ‘reliability rides’ where participants aim to complete their chosen distance within the time limit. The rides are not a ‘sportive’ or a race. The challenge is for riders to be self-supported and self-reliant and to navigate the route using the route cards provided and their own digital or print maps. The rides are open to all and are a perfect way to start the spring after a long winter!

A brief history of the Sulley Rides

by John Allen (2013)

David Sulley was a long serving member of both the Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC) and the Welland Valley Wheelers (now Welland Valley Cycling Club). With his wife Doreen they founded the very successful Lutterworth Cyclists’ Touring Club section and quickly attracted family groups and solo cyclists including youngsters coming along on their own. He encouraged them to join the Leicestershire and Rutland CTC county events so much so that they usually outnumbered members of other sections.

They enjoyed the Birthday Rides, the Vale of the White Horse and other annual get togethers as a section

Sadly David died whilst taking part in a CTC event on the 2nd April 1989. The first David Sulley Memorial Ride was held in March 1990, starting and finishing in Lutterworth with a route through the countryside that David loved so much. Doreen died in 2012 and it was decided that the ride title should be altered to `The Sulley Challenge Rides` to commemorate the memories of both Doreen and David. The Sulley Rides have been held every year since 1990 apart from 2018 (‘Beast from the East’) and 2021 (Covid pandemic).

Dennis Heggs organised the popular event for many years, followed by Morgan Reynolds and in recent years Dave Grimshaw has been the organiser. The event is part of the year long National Cyclists’ Touring Club Tourist Competition and our own Challenge Rides series for which certificates are awarded as part of the Cyclists’ Touring Club county B.A.R. competition.

You can read more about the history of the Sulleys and Lutterworth Cyclists’ Touring Club section in “ A Century and more of Cycling – Some of the history of the Leicestershire and Rutland Cyclists’ Touring Club“