A great turn out on Sunday and groups split nicely into groups of less than six, it’s good to be back! Three rides to chose from this Tuesday and groups will form to stay the right side of current restrictions. We will continue to publish Tuesday routes to help speed us along rather than gathering in large groups to discuss options.

We have 11 miles for beginners, re-starters and the generally knackered. We have a flatish 16 mile loop to the Rye via Cheddington and we have an 18 mile route with three climbs, taking in Drayton Beauchamp, Dancers End and Marlin Hill (big, bigger and biggest).

The rides start at Pitstone roundabout with the 18 mile ride meeting on the park side, the 16 mile loop on the crescent side and the 11 miles route at the bus stop. Rides are designed to get us back to Pitstone before darkness but attaching lights to your steed is recommended

So please pick the route you like the look of, as always we aim to look after all riders, we will work as a team to get everyone round together.

18 miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35601305

16 miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35599309

11 miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35599333

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to fill out the survey which will help us shape future ride options. 76% of respondents tell us they will ride with the group regularly and 72% enjoy having some company and a chat while clocking up some casual miles. Everyone who responded is keen on road rides with a few also interested in muddier options. 76% of Velos would be keen on sportives and charity challenges. Sadly 70% feel work gets in the way of ride options! 62% are happy with current Sunday ride times and distances while others would like to see a bit more variety on the day. One person is keen on riding through London naked!

Another suggestion (possibly a bit more realistic) is to have “guest route planners” which would be great as it might put a different spin on some of our old favorites. The two Dave’s are happy putting rides together, but if you would like to take a role as guest planner for a week please save your route on ridewithgps, propose a date and send it to davehowe@aol.com so it can be planned into the schedule. Maybe a birthday special or a trip down memory lane?

Our first “groups of six” Sunday is upon us! We have four routes to choose from, so please get yourself to the “start line” on Sunday morning just before your intended start. Please ensure you have a full understanding of your chosen route.

Depending on numbers for each ride we may split into defined expected pace groups, please remember our motto “no one will be left behind” so it’s your responsibility to keep an eye over your shoulder and look after those behind you, allow them to hang on to your back wheel to keep the group together.

These planned routes are all road bike routes, if you arrive on a mountain bike, unless you are very fit you may struggle to keep up! All rides meet at the church in Ivinghoe, please divide into groups of six or less as riders arrive.

The 9am route is the longest option, it takes in some hills over to the Hughenden Valley before a flat return. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35558253

The medium 10am ride takes in some local villages on quiet roads https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35557747

The shorter 10am ride takes us to Stewkley via Wingrave https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35557696

At 11am on Sunday Dave B has kindly volunteered to lead a ride for those beginning or gaining fitness with a flatish 14 mile route on quiet roads, a great introduction to riding in a group, obviously we are capped at six per group, so only five riders can benefit from Dave’s leadership. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35557666

Towards the end of the week we will publish a poll on our facebook group “the rear hub”. Please add your expected ride choice. This enables everyone to understand how many riders we are expecting, so we know if groups need splitting and also encourages riders to get out as they know they will have some company!

Getting back into group riding may take some getting used to so please look after your fellow riders with appropriate warnings and road space, stay safe and enjoy the rides!

Hello everybody, it’s been a while! We are now in a position to start up riding in groups of up to six again! We will be advertising rides on Tuesday evenings and Sundays with official posts, ad-hoc rides can as usual be planned amounst group members via the facebook “rear hub” page.

This Tuesday is not only the first chance of riding in a group, it’s also the first evening with enough light to get a decent ride in starting at 6.30pm. We aim to get done before darkness, but from a safety point of view lights are recommended. Please arrive early to be ready to ride at 6.30pm

There are two planned routes to tackle this Tuesday a 14 mile route via Long Marston and Tring Station, and a 16 mile route taking in Toms Hill before crossing Ashridge and back through Slapton. The 16 mile route will start from the playing ground side of the roundabout in Pitstone. The 14 mile route will start from the bus stop. We plan to meet away from the usual corner as this often creates a bottleneck for people walking through. If we have more than six riders per group we will need to quickly split into pace groups and spread out to clearly define the groups. No one will get left behind so please feel free to join which ever route you fancy. We are starting steadily as we get back together!

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35518877 14 mile route

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35518368 16 mile route

As we are starting back looking forward to a new year of cycling together, it would be great to get some ideas and opinions so we can plan to enjoy all aspects of the group. Please take some time to complete this survey. We will communicate the survey results and try to ensure our planning and organizing reflects the wants and needs of as many people as possible!

Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScc6abiVJyMgqcMMH_jdOXYyXgxJw93WU23J3vSw8UYL5IcHg/viewform?usp=sf_link

At the time of writing we are able to meet in groups of up to six outdoors so we have rides planned for Sunday. If Government guidelines change during the week we will need to adapt to comply. We plan to take in a couple of hills with the longer two routes tackling Kop Hill, while the shorter route heads over Dunstable Downs. Normal meeting arrangements in place by Ivinghoe Church. Please arrive before the ride start and stick with your ride bubble.

9.30am 44 miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34846931

10am 32 miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34846342

10.30am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34846362

If you are unable to ride on Sunday, hopefully small groups will be able to get together over the festive period. Please share your ride ideas on the rear hub so riders have some company (if allowed). Happy Christmas everyone, stay warm, stay safe and lets all hope Santa brings us a few cycling treats which we can use while cycling together in 2021

This weeks rides start at 9.30, 10.00 and 10.30. As we found last week the British climate is not always conducive for comfortable riding, so please be aware of the forecast and dress appropriately for safety and warmth! It will be great to ride in groups of up to six if possible.

Although it’s only two rides before the fat man in the red suit arrives (I’m not talking about my new cycling kit) a post ride (or mid-ride?) refreshment stop might be challenging, we will see what options are available nearer the time.

9.30 40 miles: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34810221

10am 30 miles: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34808808

10.30am 22 miles: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34808833

So we are back with our outdoor groups of up to six riders. A welcome return to riding with others. Three routes to chose from, 18 miles, 31 miles or 45 miles, all starting at Ivinghoe church. With a nod to colder weather, the longer route will start at 9.30am with the aim to arrive in Aldbury at around 12.30. The shorter rides will meet at 10am and groups may need to be split based on expected pace, we need to be in clear groups of six or fewer riders. So wrap up warm and see you on the road!

9.30am 45 miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34770594

10am 31 miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34769068

10.30am 18 miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34769088

After a run of Sundays with some great rides and equally great pub garden conversations we have now reached the time to support and uphold the national lockdown. Unless anything changes we could be back riding in groups on Sunday 6th December.

During the minimum 4 week enforced break please keep in touch via social media and strava, if anyone gets their virtual act together Zwift group rides via meet ups is an option.

Following the government guidelines during the lockdown will help the country fight Covid 19.

From the government website: In general, you must not meet people socially. However, you can exercise or meet in a public, outdoors space with people you live with, your support bubble (or as part of a childcare bubble), or with one other person. You should minimise time spent outside your home. When around other people, stay 2 metres apart from anyone not in your household – meaning the people you live with – or your support bubble. Where this is not possible, stay 1 metre apart with extra precautions (e.g. wearing a face covering).

You can still travel to spend time or exercise outdoors – this should be done locally wherever possible, but you can travel to do so if necessary (for example, to access an open space).

If you do chose to get out on two wheels during November, enjoy your rides, stay safe and we look forward to riding together in the near future.

This Sunday the hills will be alive with the sound of the Ivinghoe Velos. Each of our three routes has some vertical challenges, so bring your climbing legs or your granny ring.

9am 54 miles visiting Butlers Cross, Wardrobes and Hampden Road, over 3,000 feet of climbing this will challenge even the goats amongst our ranks. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34503952

10am 35 miles with 2,000 feet of climbing taking us towards Chesham and back via Toms Hill a great test of the legs https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34517967

10.30am 20 miles taking riders over the Beacon to Berkhamsted https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34518007

Please arrive at Ivinghoe church before your intended ride start time, groups of up to six riders will form based on expected pace as usual. Please arrive with the route etched into your memory or saved on your GPS so when you are leading out your group you are able to take the right turns!

Next week (Sunday 8th November) is Remembrance Sunday, in usual times we aim to break our rides up with a stop at a church at 11am, doing three 15 mile laps from 9am, two 15 mile laps from 10am or one 15 mile lap from 11.15am. It would be great to get some rider input on this years plan so please discuss and feedback on Sunday.

Here are our three routes to choose from for Sunday 25th October. Usual arrangements for joining rides, maintaining groups of six or fewer riders. Please note the clocks change the night before our rides so if you don’t read this and usually cycle at 10am you might find yourself on a 50 mile ride to Whitwell. In fact you don’t need that extra time in bed, so come along anyway!

9am ride: 50 miles in Bedfordshire including the Luton Busway after some lovely lanes around Lilley and Whitwell https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34409353

10am ride: 35 miles Flat out to Bishopstone https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34467147

10.30 ride: 24 miles, Fast and flat to Halton https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34467169

Please arrive with an idea of your selected route, we aim to leave no riders behind but if you take a wrong turn things become tricky.

Three routes as usual for Sunday 18th October. At the time of writing the weather looks favourable. Recent turnouts has been good, it’s great we are able to exercise and socialise in safe groups numbers.

The 9am route takes a rest from hills this week and travels along the Waddesden Greenway for the first time. Whilst it’s a great surface we will need to remember its a multi purpose path, so we may get over taken by joggers or pram pushers. This route is a great opportunity for anyone who has been considering joining the longer ride as it’s an easy peasy flatish 50 miles.

The 10am route at 33 miles is a feast of climbing with at least 4 challenging ascents! Visiting Aston Hill, Bull Beggers Lane, Red Lion Lane and Hudnall Lane seriously testing climbing ability, luckily what goes up also comes down, so there will be some great descents to enjoy too!

The 10.30 route also has it’s fair share of ups, taking in Dancers End as well as Toms Hill, a nice one to keep riders warm!

Following on from previous weeks organisation, it’s likely that we will need to split into pace groups, so please select the group (of up to six riders) most appropriate for your legs & lungs, or maybe you want to switch it up a bit and ride with some different riders this weekend?

Please arrive before your ride start time with the route committed to memory or at least Garmin, enjoy the ride and stay safe.

9am: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34407103

10am: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34411333

10.30am: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34411351