One of our many calendar highlights is “The Benson Finger” a finger shapped ride down to the Thames in Oxfordshire for a coffee at The Waterfront cafe. Through some stunning chiltern hills scenery on the way there and then a flat blast back. This year the ride is timed to coincide with the Benson Veteran Cycle Club Rally which starts from the Sunnyside playing field in Benson. All the bikes in the rally were manufactured before 1936 and riders often wear outfits in keeping with the vintage of the bikes. We should get to Benson just for the start of the rally at 10.30am, or see the Veterans riding in the other direction along our route. The Waterfont cafe is a cyclists favourite with plenty of seating and food and drink options. This ride is 72 miles with 3,500 feet of climbing. We set out from Ivinghoe church at 8am.

At 10am we have a route planned through Bishopstone, there is a planned long term road closure in this area, so we are getting a ride in there while we still can! At 10.30 we invite riders to tackle Hemp lane into the back of Wiggington.

Please to aware of areas of gravel at the bottom of some of the hills on the routes, care is needed after recent heavy rain has washed debris into the roads.

8am The Benson Finger 2023 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43457092

10am Out To Bishopstone While We Can https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43469295

10.30am Up To Wiggo https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43469335

All rides start at Ivinghoe church, please arrive before the start time with a good idea of where you are going! We may split into pace groups if rider numbers are large- after watching day one of the TDF I’m sure you will be itching to get on your saddle, can Pidcock start Sunday in yellow?

Optional post ride rehydration and ride bebrief will take place at the Rose and Crown.