Following brief stagnation at the start of the 1970s, Sunlight’s fortunes were quickly revived when a raft of top riders joined their ranks. Led by Gerry Balshaw, more than 20 1st Category racers would go on to don the famous jersey over the next decade, not least Merseyside Divisional Champions Davy Jones and Keith McKie, and former Bantel professional, Geoff Dutton. This increase in personnel saw the club re-established itself at highest level and members would subsequently ride for national and regional teams in competitions around the world.

The eighties would prove a watershed for both British road racing and Port Sunlight Wheelers. As the UCI World Championships and Tour de France visited these shores, cycling saw a boom in popularity and the sport enjoyed increased exposure. Races were broadcast regularly on television for the first time and prize money became more lucrative. Barely a week passed without a Sunlight victory and the club was, for all intents and purposes, a full-time racing outfit. Leading the charge was Mark Bell, who would win the British National Road Race Championship at both amateur and professional level and represent his country at the 1982 Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games of 1984. The club also found success during this period with Linda Flavell, who won the National Women’s Series in 1984.

British road racing had suffered a downturn in popularity by the start of the nineties, however, Sunlight continued to flourish on the road and would also build on the impressive time-trialling reputation forged two decades earlier. At the forefront of this was Andy Wilkinson, the double national junior champion and 1996 Best British All-rounder, who would go on to break numerous endurance records and become one of the greatest long-distance time-triallist Britain has ever produced. In addition to the incredible achievements of “Wilko”, the Sunlight also found success in other areas during the decade. At junior level, Chris Sanders won both the National 10 Mile and 25 Mile TT Championships in 1991, while Gordon Smith secured the National Vets Peter Fryer Series in 1990.

The new millennia has seen renewed success for the Sunlight. In 2009, the trio of Wilkinson, Roy Sumner and Terry Hughes won the National 12 Hour Championship, while the same title was secured in 2011 by Sumner, Kevin Larmer and Jill Wilkinson. The latter, wife of Andy Wilkinson, would then become Women’s National 12 Hour Champion in both 2012 and 2013. Further achievements have followed in time-trialling, road racing and mountain biking, while the club is also well-represented on the track. It is this diversity that the club holds dear to its heart.

From modest beginnings almost 70 years ago, Port Sunlight Wheelers have gone on to forge a reputation for excellence at both local and national level, while also retaining a strong bond with the local community. It continues to work with local charities and is proud the support events such as the Liverpool to Chester Charity Bike Ride. At the very heart of the club, however, remains its original mandate – that of like minded men and women bonding together in the common love of riding a bike.