About us
The Sussex Nomads are a diverse group of cyclists. We can be seen year round on the lanes of Sussex, as well as enjoying the wonderful South Downs on gravel bikes and mountain bikes.
As well as the regular club rides, we arrange a number of trips and expeditions. So far 2025 has seen groups of Nomads travel to the Isle of Wight, the New Forest and Norway.
Some of the Nomads compete in various disciplines; hill climbs, track racing, cyclocross etc. but most are happy just to enjoy the many benefits of cycling within a social envrionment.

Frequently Asked Questions
How much is membership?
Annual membership is just £20. This gives you access to the WhatsApp community, the Nomads Strava group, and of course all the club rides and miscellaneous activities throughout the year.
Do Club Rides ever get cancelled?
Unfortunately sometimes conditions cause us to cancel rides in accordance with our adverse weather policy. Safety comes first, and any decision to cancel a ride will be broadcast via the WhatsApp anouncements channel at the earliest opportunity.
I’ve never ridden with a group before?
No problem. The group leaders will help you find your place in the group, and nobody gets left behind.
Do I need to know bike maintenance?
We expect riders to keep their bikes in a decent safe condition and you should have an idea how to support yourself if you get a puncture but we’re a helpful bunch and if you need assistance, there’s always people willing to lend a hand.
Can I try before committing to joining?
Sure, new members can join up to 3 club rides to make sure if a cyling club is right for them.
The History of the club
The history of the club can be traced back to president Alan Limbrey's first involvement in club cycling in 1948, when his workmates introduced him to 'The Track' at Preston Park.
The Track was constructed by the British Army in 1877 and originally had a flat cinder surface - an essential piece of dressing-room equipment was a scrubbing brush to remove cinders from crashed riders' extremities. The cinders were replaced in 1936 by a tarmac surface, and subsequently two corners were banked, at the start of the home straight (‘Dressing Room Corner’) and the exit from the straight after the finish line. It remains the longest track in the country, measuring 579 metres (633 yards), and there is more information about it on Brighton & Hove City Council's website.
It was at the track that Alan met The Prestonville Nomads, a cycling club that had been founded in 1933, presumably by a group of cyclists who lived around Prestonville Road in Brighton's Seven Dials area, but which, like most sporting clubs, had been disbanded during the war. In 1948, the club was re-formed with £5.25 in the bank. Reg Porter, who went on to run the club for the next fifteen years, made the first entry in the cashbook on the 1st of December, and meetings were held at the Elephant and Castle along London Road, costing £1. 4s 0d each week.
Alan paid 5 shillings, about a day’s wages at the time, to join. He speaks of the great comradeship in the postwar club, brought back by the list of names in the cashbook. Some of them have kept in touch, and a few ride together still.
The Prestonville Nomads, identified by their bright green and yellow jerseys, were very successful. Through racing at Preston Park and on the road, they won many team and individual races as well as Sussex Championships. For years, the Nomads used the downstairs room at the Park View Hotel in Preston Drive as their club room, allowing them to enjoy racing in the summer at the track then adjourning to the pub after. On Sundays, they enjoyed club rides, which saw them, as now, cycling around the countryside of Sussex and enjoying many lovely teas together.
The original members grew up, started families and had less time for cycling, and the introduction of motor-scooters such as the Vespa reduced the importance of cycling as a means of transport. The club ceased again around 1967.
In 1978, Geoff Boore and Alan were riding with other clubs but decided that they wanted to race again in green and yellow. Consequently, the Nomads were reformed, this time as the Sussex Nomads.
Alan still rides with the club, and the Sussex Nomads continue the legacy of the Prestonville Nomads today.
Get in touch
Interested in joining us? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We look forward to seeing you