As is usual for a Tuesday, we meet at Pitstone Roundabout to depart at 6:30pm.

25 mile evening route

Rides

Sticking with our ‘three ride Sunday’ formula, our early adventure this week takes us past Cranfield Airport.

9am Start 53 Mile Route

10am Start 35 Mile Route

10am Start 25 Mile Route

As always, we meet at the Rose & Crown 10 minutes before the start time and please bring a copy of your chosen route in either digital (Garmin) or analogue (Paper) formats.

Dave Bembridge

Hot on the heels of the amazing Martin Sisley who raised over £3,000 for the Air Ambulance Service last week, Dave Bembridge is planning to ride from John O’Groats to Lands End starting on the 12th July. The knowledgeable ones amongst you will have spotted that, unlike Martin who rode ‘up’ the country to John O’Groats, Dave’s journey is essentially down hill all the way. To make up for this, Dave is adding a few miles just to make it that much tougher for him. In fact, his route includes 1,500 miles of cycling. No mean feat and all to raise money for a fantastic cause, Cancer Research.

Dave does a lot for our club – and cycling in general, so please do sponsor him if you can. He is also inviting his fellow velos to join him on the various legs – if you are interested then please have a chat with him.

The Herts Cycle Challenge

Also undertaking a challenge is Angela Hollands, who is riding the Herts Cycle Challenge on Sunday 6th July.  She would love some company if anyone fancies giving this one a go.  Starting in St Albans, there are two circular routes to choose from – 25 miles or 50 miles.  All the details, routes and the registration info can be found here on the Rennie Grove  Hospice website.

And now the Tea Ride vow is very sacred
Sal B has put us together
Now you oughta come and ride together
Come on, come on and stick together

You know we made a vow
To leave one another never

But now you never lose your friends even if they go by
Come on now cyclists give our ride a try
We stick together
Come on, come on please ride together

You know we made a vow
To leave one another never

Now if you’re stuck for a while consider our ride
It’s always happy with its tea and cake
We stick together
Come on, come on let’s stick together

You made a Tea Ride vow
To leave one another never

The Tea Ride.  As fast as the slowest rider and We Stick Together.
10am, Saturdays, The Rose & Crown.

Now that England have confirmed their flight home from Brazil, going out cycling this Tuesday seems like a really good idea. We have something a bit different planned for those who fancy trying something new. Richard (from the Bossard Wheelers) has suggested we try developing our group riding with a couple of laps of the of the Mentmore TT circuit. It will give us an opportunity to work on our chain gang skills and might result in some interesting average speeds.

If you would like a more usual Tuesday evening ride, we have a flat 25 miler that includes some of the TT route so you can wave hello as you speed past them.

25 mile route

Both of these groups will be gathering at Pitstone roundabout with a view to depart at 6:30pm.

The forecast is fantastic as are the routes we have on offer for this Sunday. Once again, our Routemaster General, Dave “The Hill” Howe has put them together. We are a little concerned that he is mellowing recently as these are positively flat. This probably is only a temporary thing though so please, grab them while you can.

First up is a great route on some new roads for us. It is 62 miles in length and really is just about a flat a route you can get for that distance (round here at least). We start at 9am for this one which Dave will be leading, and 10am for the other two – a 40  mile adventure (which links up with the longer ride towards the end) and a 30 miler. Now, if any of your are sitting there thinking, flipping heck, these are really long – just stop for a second and have a moment to consider what our own Martin Sisley is doing right now. Add the fact that the weather is great at the moment and you have the perfect recipe for getting out there on your bike.

9am start 62 mile route

10am start 40 mile route

10am start 30 mile route

Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire,
I do wander everywhere,
Swifter than the moone’s sphere;
And I serve the fairy queen,
To dew her orbs upon the green:
The cowslips tall her pensioners be;
In their gold coats spots you see;
Those be rubies, fairy favours,
In those freckles live their savours:
I must go seek some dew-drops here,
And hang a pearl in every cowslip’s ear.

The Tea Ride.  Every cyclist’s midsummer dream.
(As long as it’s the countryside, tea and cake anyway).

10am, The Rose & Crown, Ivinghoe.

In celebration of the Summer Solstice, we have a long ride for those who what to get some miles in –

Dave Howe’s Woburn Wonder – 42 miles

If you fancy a more reasonable ride, here is a sensible length route –

Leighton then Totternhoe – 24 miles

Both rides start from the Pitstone Roundabout at 6:30pm sharp.

So the Hegs’ are away and its time for more Sunday cycling fun!!

Thanks to Dave Bembridge (for amending the Chartridge Ride) to create a 62 mile route leaving the R&C at 0800

62 mile ride

At 1000 there is a choice of 2 rides

31 mile route

22 mile route

Whilst we are all out enjoying our rides spare a thought for Martin Sisley who has recently started his greatest cycling challenge and says:

“I wanted to thank everyone for your generous contributions.

Our original target was £2000 – already we are through £2500, with a little bit of luck we might even be able to make £3000, which would be fantastic.

https://www.justgiving.com/MJSisley

For anyone who wants to follow us – I have created a blog which I will be updating on a regular basis:

https://velomartinlejog.wordpress.com/

I will also do my best to update Strava each day – but that will depend on when and where I can blag access to a computer!

Cheers – see you all in a couple of weeks!”

Every Sat’day at the pub you could see him arrive
He stood six foot six and weighed two forty five
Kinda broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hip
And everybody knew ya didn’t give no lip to Big Dave.
Big Dave
Big Daaaaaave
Castle-mead Dave

Everyone seemed to know where Dave called home
He drifted into town and he’s never seen alone
He didn’t say much, kinda quiet and shy
(yeah right!)
And when he speaks to you, you should at least say “Hi” to Big Dave.
Big Dave
Big Daaaaaave
Castle-mead Dave

Then came the day at the back of the ride
When a inner tube cracked and they all pulled aside
Riders were prayin’ and hearts beat fast
Everybody thought that patch wouldn’t last-‘cept Dave
Big Dave
Big Daaaaaave
Castle-mead Dave

Through the dust and the dirt of this man-made hell
Walked a giant of a man that the riders knew well
Grabbed a set of levers, not a mobile phone
And like a great mechanic he just fixed it alone – Big Dave
Big Dave
Big Daaaaaave
Castle-mead Dave

Now they never went back to that pot holed road
Just headed back to the pub for “one for the toad”
These few words are written ‘bout that day that
At the head of this ride is a big, big man – Big Dave
Big Dave
Big Daaaaaave
Castle-mead Dave

Saturday, 10am, The Rose & Crown
where Tea & Cake is the talk of the town…..

A fairly flat Tuesday evening route for anyone looking to enjoy this great weather. We start from Pitstone Roundabout at 6:30pm.

29 mile Tuesday Route