Tomorrow’s Ride

And Jim has kindly offered to lead a Shorter Route

See you at Rose and Crown at 0945 tomorrow!

Carrying on the tradition we aim to walk from the Rose and Crown, leaving at 1000, on Boxing Day.

A muddy trail to Ashridge for coffee is planned before a steady stroll back to the Rose and Crown for a pint!

The Sloe Gin has just been decanted and ‘home made’ goods are the order of the day.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

14 sleeps until Christmas and more importantly 10 sleeps until the Christmas dinner!  Rumour has it that, as with any sell out gig, tickets are fetching way over face value on the ‘black market’!

Please remember Jayne needs your menu choices no later than Saturday 15th December, by email to jayne.raynor@ntlworld.com, to enable her to place orders with Gareth on Sunday 16th December (fear not if no choice is made you will get fed, but Gareth will decide!)

Looking forward to a great night!!!

Cycle safe!

Poppies on and here we go.  Meeting at the R&C from 0945 for a prompt departure of 1000 on Sunday, we head out to pay tribute to and remember those who gave us the liberty to enjoy all we do.  A 15 minute break will be had at 1100 where we aim to, again, join the congregation at a local church.

The revised route – Thanks Martin for the reminder of the poor road!

Tonight sees Ivinghoe Entertainments laying on a Firework Spectacular commencing at 1800 with the fire then being lit at 1845 followed by the fireworks at 1915.  Of course we look forward to the Guy on the fire and wonder if this one could be the winner!

So having enjoyed the fireworks it will be time for a sherbet or two in the Rose and Crown where Gary and ‘the other one’ will be welcoming everyone for some essential rehydration in readiness for a spin of the pedals tomorrow morning meeting as usual at 0945, again at the Rose and Crown.

The Route!

Don’t forget to check out detail of the Christmas Bash, kindly organised by Jayne and yes you’ve guessed it its at the Rose and Crown!

Ok Yes we know it’s early but……… to leave it until the night  before (as is our want) just would not work.

After an amazingly fun Christmas bash last year, Jayne has again kindly offered to be the ‘party organiser’ for our Christmas Bash.

Provisional details are:

VENUE – (yes you’ve guessed it) the Rose and Crown, Ivinghoe

DATE – Friday 21st December from 7pm until late!

This is bound to be very popular and numbers may be limited, so get the date in your diary and watch this space for more details on how to book your space(s)

Many of you may know that Jose and I are keen supporters of Action Medical Research (AMR), organisers of many great rides including the Bucks 100 on 16th September.  If you are looking for a great ride from Waddesdon Manor, please give it a go.

Jose and I will not be riding it as we have voluntered to assist in the running of it.  The organisers are looking for other volunteers to help if you can spare the time and are prepared if needed to contribute towards  expenses if needed and in addition give free entry to one of their 100 Series Rides next year.  If anyone is keen to help please drop us al ine via the website.

Whilst riding or helping we will of course be thinking of our brave Crusaders on the Normandy Conquest Ride!!

For those that pre ordered and have paid your jerseys are ready for collection in the Rose and Crown!

If there are others interested in ordering a jersey please email us!

Over the last few weeks we have been having much debate about the Vinghoe Velos, where we have been and where we are going!

Just over 2 years ago 3 of us, over a few glasses of refreshment, talked about getting people together to enjoy our own passions for cycling, certain things occurred to us and set the tone for what was then done

1. This was NOT to be a club rather a group – none of us had sufficient time to administer a formal cycling club, which would require fees, insurance etc etc
2. We wanted to encourage others to enjoy cycling
3. We were to be fully inclusive
4. Slowest rider rules
5. Have fun and meet new people
6. Support our HQ, the Rose and Crown
7. Help tackle the growing problem of obesity in the country (not too successful in some cases!) – ok that wasn’t one of our founding principles!

And so the Vinghoe Velos was born!

We have been overwhelmed by what has happened and what has been achieved and from those humble beginnings where we have now got to.  From 75% of bikes being hybrid/mountain bikes to 95% being road bikes.  Many people taking on personal cycling challenges never considered before, just this year we will have seen:

• 3 people complete the London to Paris ride rasing money for Charities
• 1 person complete 5 mountain climbs used on the TdF, with the pinnacle being the  Col de la Croix de Fer, a stage never won by a British rider in the TdF but conquered by our very own John Hegarty who hit the summit in plenty of time to cheer  the ‘Sky Train’ through as Wiggo charged on to win his yellow jersey
• 10 intrepid members of the group taking on an endurance ride as they set off to Normandy in September for a wine tasting extravaganza interspersed with daily bouts of cycling!
• Sally Beezer’s Saturday Tea Rides proving a tremendous success

In addition:

• Bike purchases sufficient to restart the European economy!
• The numbers of Vinghoe Velos jerseys ordered reaching nearly 50 (order due in next week!)
• The hanging of the group jersey on the wall of HQ
• 2 Tandems regularly competing for the ‘Jack’ (Stalker) award!

So where now, we ask? – Watch this space for a Social being organised by our very own Publican (not forgetting “the other one”) and renowned email raconteur, Gary (@turnoverdigger) Peter – yes there is a story there!  The purpose is to openly talk about the good and the bad of the Vinghoe Velos and where it goes next, at the same time possibly having a couple of drinks and also welcoming any new people interested in joining us!

So to this weekend, the tea ride is out today at 10am and tomorrow we meet at the Rose and Crown at 0950 for a quick jaunt around the beautiful 3 Counties.  Recognising that the ‘quick jaunt’ may not be for all, Andy Beezer has kindly offered to lead out a group aiming to average a much more reasonable 12mph.

The route!  – 33 miles – not too hilly but remember its going to be warm, plenty of sunfactor 20 and water bottles filled!

Whilst some of the ride is repeated form last week this takes us further west before coming home – Andy Beezer may wish to shorten the route by heading back from Stewkley via Wing and Mentmore

Keep safe!

After the euphoria of last Sunday in the Champs Elysees gutted about the Mens Road Race today!  CAV you deserved better!

So that was Andrew & Jose’s L2P 2012 adventure and now rebooked for a different route for 2013 for anyone interested look here.  In the meantime anyone fancying the beautiful roads of Northern France sooner don’t forget the Normandy Invasion Ride in September

Turning to tomorrow, meeting outside the R&C at 0950 for a 1000 start a little spin for you all before returning for some isotonic rehydration and to cheer on the GB ladies in the Road Race.

25 miles

Ride safe