Come on, come on, come on, come on….

Together – We will go our way
Together – We will leave someday
Together – Your hand in my hand
Together – We will make our plans
Together – We will fly so high
Together – Tell all our friends good-bye
Together – We will start life new
Together – This is what we’ll do

Go West! Life is peaceful there
Go West! In the open air
Go West! Where the skies are blue
Go West! This is what we’re gonna do

Go West! This is what we’re gonna do, Go West!

On 9 November 1989, East Germany opened it’s checkpoints in the Berlin Wall and allowed it’s citizens to “Go West”.

Can’t promise there won’t be any north, south or east as well – the scenery is great in all directions!  I can guarantee however, that we will start, at 10am, at the Rose & Crown, in the west end of Ivinghoe.  We will therefore, in the spirit of this post and in the interests of history “Go West” on our return to the pub after our ride.

The Tea Ride.  A good source of your weekly (moral) fibre, history (local & otherwise), nutrition (tea & cake) and general twaddle.

(Lyrics courtesy of The Pet Shop Boys – thanks chaps!)

All things bright & beautiful
All Bicycles great & small
All Cyclists wise or wonderful
The Tea Ride welcomes you all.

Each little turn of pedal,
Each little squeal of brakes,
Just a tiny bit of bravery
Is really all it takes.

The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
We wave to them as we pass them by
And cycle past their estate.

The towering Ivinghoe Beacon,
Whistle Brook running by,
The sunset and the morning,
That brightens up the sky.

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The Tea Shops & the Cafes
We will visit every one!

The Rose & Crown, Ivinghoe,
Is where we meet to play,
Be ready to leave at 10am,
On every Saturday.

We all have smiles to greet you,
And lips that we might tell,
How great the Vinghoe Velos are,
And the Tea Ride is just swell!

It has been claimed that Cecil Francis Alexander wrote her “All things Bright and Beautiful” whilst staying at the Govilon manor house and inspired by her surroundings.  The Tea Ride reckons she couldn’t read her map and was actually somewhere near Vinghoe……..
Countryside to cycle through.  Whatever your bike.

… the Cat’s away,
So I shall do the post today.
Whilst I shan’t be out to play,
I’m sure you’ll have fun anyway!

The Rose & Crown you need to be
By 10am and you will see
A friend, a bike, or 2 or three
Just make sure that you stop for tea!

So, the Normandy Invasion has commenced with our band of explorers leaving sort of bright and sort of early this morning. We have evidence that they made it as far as P&O check-in. Thereafter… anyone’s guess. Our first guess? The Bar.

For those staying in sunny Blighty this weekend, we have the all important Tea Ride Churches Ride. The fabulous Angela will be “in charge”, leading the way, keeping an eye on things and potentially offering some useful/important bits of local info along the way. (Another key factor on a Tea Ride.)  She will also gladly collect any sponsorship/donation money for the Historic Churches – specifically this year, we are supporting St Mary’s, Ivinghoe.

We have a 16 mile route planned – with only one upward slope – and several tea and cake stops at the churches taking part along the way.

The planned route is:- Vinghoe Velos Ride & Stride 2013

The ride will leave the Rose & Crown at 10am as usual. Including the stops and allowing for Tea Ride protocol of looking after everyone and keeping the ride together, it is anticipate that the ride will be back at the Rose and Crown by 1pm.

Well as close as we’re going to get anyway!

The children are all back at school…. there’s a few rain showers…. and the Tea Ride will be leaving the Rose and Crown, Ivinghoe at 10am on Saturday morning.

Heads Up!

As well as reminding everyone to keep looking around them whilst they’re cycling, a little advance warning that the Tea Ride next Saturday 14th September will a little different.

Following it’s success last year, the Tea Ride will be taking part in the Historic Churches Ride & Stride event – walking or cycling to raise funds for Beds & Herts Historic Churches. It might be sponsorship; it might be a personal donation – every little helps!

We are using our Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/VinghoeVelos to collect sponsorship money & donations.

We have a 16 mile route planned – with only one upward slope – and several tea and cake stops at the churches taking part along the way.

The planned route is:- Vinghoe Velos Ride & Stride 2013

The ride will leave the Rose & Crown at 10am as usual. Including the stops and allowing for Tea Ride protocol of looking after everyone and keeping the ride together, it is anticipate that the ride will be back at the Rose and Crown by 1pm.

..is away… again.  And so, intrepid tea riders, it is up to you to maintain standards and ensure that the Tea Ride goes forth regardless!

Despite the absence of our fearless leader, 10am, Saturday, the Rose & Crown.  The ride must go on!

Ride & Stride

Or as it is more commonly known in Velos circles (pun intended), the Churches Ride, will take place on Saturday 14th September.  We will be putting together a proposed route to encompass as many of the participating churches as possible and a sponsorship page for you collected pennies & donations which, this year, will go to St Mary’s Church, Ivinghoe.  Details will be posted very soon……

..but I’m doing my best to string mine out for a whole week.

So this week, the Tea Ride will be the Birthday Tea Ride.  We will be riding over to The Monument at Ashridge (the nice way, not up the Beacon!),  where the lovely Mr Hegs will meet us with a car full of cake.

If you know that you are able to join us, just to give me an idea of numbers, please could you either reply to the email, comment on the Facebook post (Facebook.com/vinghoevelos), tweet us @vinghoevelos or drop us a line using the contact form on the website.  If you don’t know yet, absolutely fine – I’m sure we can find you a slice!

As ever, we leave at 10am on Saturday from The Rose & Crown, Ivinghoe.

than the English.

Serves tea, that is.  Everything else, we are probably fairly average at.  But as far as tea is concerned, it is a ball game very much all of our own – and comes with it’s own set of rules.

Traditionally, tea is served at 4pm and known as ‘low tea”.

An informal gathering in the morning where tea is served, is known as “elevenses”.

The hostess serves tea, then offers milk, sugar or lemon to each guest.  Tea then milk; sugar then lemon: never milk and lemon!  If there are a large number of guests, then close friends of the hostess will be asked to pour, although in a tea house, the person closest to the pot should always pour.

The teaspoon goes behind the cup – never left in it.  And heaven forbid that you should clink the sides of your cup with your spoon as you swish back and forth to stir – never stir round the cup!

Needless to say, always a pot; never a bag and water.  And a mug is reserved for use in certain establishments only.

The Tea Ride.  Doing it Properly.  Saturday 10am, The Rose and Crown.
With a stop for tea around 11am.

Saturday, 10am, The Rose & Crown.
It’s a beautiful day outside – whatever the weather when you’re on a Tea Ride!

Riding My Bicycle
So Smooth…

When I was nine years old
I had my bicycle
Now that I’m thirty one
I think it’s just as fun
So fun…

Before I got my Guitar
Before I had my first car
I had my training wheels
A bicycle made of steel
So real …

It’s a beautiful day
for a ride!
You know you
wanna come along!
Its a beautiful day outside
the air will do you good

Riding My Bicycle
So Smooth…

I wish that I could be
Bicycling on the sea
I’d have a paddleboat
My Bicycle would float
And float…

I wish that I could fly
Bicycles in the sky
My legs are getting strong
Bicycles all day long
So long…

It’s a beautiful day
for a ride!
You know you
wanna come along!
its a beautiful day outside
the air will do you good

Riding My Bicycle
So Smooth…

So Long!

The Jellydots – “Bicycle”

Sing a song of cyclists
All pedalling down the lane
We are off to the Tea Shop
Then back to the pub again

You’d be very welcome
If you would like to come
And bring along your bicycle
To join in with the fun

The Rose & Crown at 10am
Is where you need to be
Bring your pocket money
And come cycling with me!