On Your Bike! Update

Greener Hassocks & Ditchling
Jun 25, 2025
4 min read

Updated: Jul 1, 2025

Our summer of free cycling events, with something for everyone, has been going wheelie well!! Thank you to everyone who's taken part or supported us.

Below is an update on what's happened so far, and what's still to come.

Launch of 'On Your Bike!'

We launched our summer of cycling at the Proper Cycling and Coffee café on 3 June.

Dr Bike kicked things off with free bike checks – it’s fair to say there was a queue and by 7.30pm the café had filled up and there was standing room only.

The evening was all about making the fun of cycling accessible to everyone and we were joined by amazing people who shared what they are doing to help make cycling more inclusive:

Audrey Nelson and Ali Butler from Breeze – inclusive led bike rides for all women Breeze
Bridget Taylor from Cycling Without Age – trishaw rides run by volunteers, enabling older and less mobile people to get out and feel the wind in their hair
Duncan Blinkhorn from Brighton Bike Hub and Kidical Mass Brighton – Duncan and his team are generously supporting our Kidical Mass ride – in addition to having just run the largest-ever KM in Brighton, with over 500 riders!
Colin Wilsdon, Hassocks Community Organisation and Hassocks Community Bike Hire – A great service for the community, right next to the train station, offering repairs and bike hire
Mike Bonsor, Mid Sussex Radio – Mike is a great fan of cycling, and has, among other things, completed the “Chase the Sun” bike ride – more of which later
And Kat from Greener Hassocks and Ditchling – Kat will running a PlayStreets event on her road, which involves closing the road for a couple of hours, so that children can play safely outside

Finally, thanks to the good folk at “Chase the Sun” (Cycle 205 miles in a day, sunrise to sunset), the evening ended on an inspiring note with a screening of “Chasing the Sun” film.

Breeze Women's Bike Ride

Breeze, which offers fun, free, inclusive, led bike rides for women of all abilities across the UK was asked to lead a ride as part of the 'On Your Bike' festival. We were delighted that ten ladies signed up for a 17 mile circular ride led by Audrey Nelson, starting and finishing at the Proper Cycling Cafe in Hassocks, where they enjoyed a well-deserved and delicious lunch.

Mid-Summer Social Ride

On 22 June a group set out for a relaxed social bike ride through the lanes of West Sussex. From Hassocks we headed to Hurstpierpoint and then North parallel to the A23, crossing the A23 to get to Warninglid and then south to Bolney Vineyard for a good lunch and some time in the shade. From there we meandered south to Poynings, cutting past Newtimber church to get back to Hurst and then Hassocks. Just under 40 miles. A lovely day out in the country

Our thanks go to Cycling UK Brighton & Hove who have kindly supported these events.

STILL TO COME...

Tuesday 1st July, 7.30pm - Dr Bike - bring your bike along for a quick health check with Dr Bike

Proper Cycling and Coffee, Hassocks (please use the back entrance rather than coming in through the café at the front)

Booking by email is advised.

Tuesday 1st July, 7.30pm - Climate hub event at Proper cafe for ‘Kidical mass’ riders, parents and stewards

This is an information evening for anyone who has signed up for the event on Saturday 12th July.

Proper Cycling and Coffee, Hassocks

We'll have a briefing about the Kidical Mass ride, in particular for stewards or any parents that have questions. We'll also be showing a couple of short cycling-related films including a short film about the recent Kidical Mass ride in Brighton, and a film from Cycling Without Age.

Saturday 5 July, 2pm - Dr Bike – bring your bike along for a quick health check with Dr Bike

This is your last chance to give you families bikes the once over before the Kidical Mass bike ride on 12 July. Get over to Dr Bike who will be at the St Lawrence Fair in Hurstpierpoint for a free, friendly and professional bike check.

St Lawrence Fair, Hurstpierpoint

Book in by email: greenerhassocksditchling@gmail.com

Saturday 12th July, 2-4pm - Kidical Mass Bike Ride

A safe, fun bike ride for kids from 4 – 94 (under 16’s ride with an adult) - starting points in Hassocks and Ditchling.

1.30 – Riders assemble – Ditchling Village Green or Hassocks Adastra Park

2.00 – Ditchling riders start

2.15 – Ditchling riders arrive Adastra Park, join Hassocks riders

2.30 – Main ride leaves for loop of Hassocks

3.15 – Ride ends at Adastra Park

3.45 – Ditchling riders return to Ditchling