Category Archives: rides

Ivinghoe Velos Rides for Sunday 21st January

Three rides this week, with a slightly longer option on the 10am routes. At 10.30 the beginners & rejoiners ride gets serious with a couple of small climbs on the route!

All rides start and finish in ivinghoe by the church and we may split into different paced groups if there are a large number of riders

The forecast for Sunday is warmer than of late and also dry, the wind is coming from the South, so the 10am routes will be using some hills as shelter and benefitting for some assistance on the way home, when it’s windy riding together is even more important, so stick close together to benefit from a rest from any headwinds!

10am medium chiltern Challenger 34 miles: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45370355

10am medium short Chiltern Little Challenger 30 miles: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45370431

10.30am short, beginners and returners: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45365256

Rides conclude conveniently close to the Rose and Crown for some post ride rehydration and calorie replacement.

Ivinghoe velos Rides For Sunday 14th Jan 2024

This week the prospect is some dry cool conditions, so no better time to get out and kick start that healthy lifestyle, not only physically by completing some exercise but also mentally by engaging in converstion with some of the finest brains in the LU7 9 post code. Or so we like to think.

Two rides starting at 10am this week. Take you pick and enjoy a group outing with the velos. The more the merrier, we have been riding for over a decade, so have a good knowledge of the best local routes and some expertise in mending minor mechanicals.

The first is a 16 mile beginners and returners route which stays pretty flat and should ensure you are banging on the door of the pub before 12 oclock. With 400 feet of climbing over 16 miles this is pretty much as flat as possible, completing two local loops with Slapton as the mid point. This ride will have a leader and will be moderated to ensure everyone gets the group ride experience. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45324812

The second is a 34 mile ride with a couple of hills in the middle with 1,400 feet of climbing the hills are out of the way by the half way point and then it’s a nice tight group return which will be slightly wind assisted! Last week riders decided to ride the medium route together, so depending on numbers there could be one or two pace options for this ride. Last Sunday’s rather hilly ride medium ride with some tricky lanes was ridden at an average speed of 13.5 to 14.5mph, this weeks could be slightly quicker as there is less climbing and plenty of flat sections on reasonable roads. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45327650

The extra bit you can read if you are really bored

Ivinghoe Velos are a bunch of cyclists who enjoy getting out together sharing rides on local roads as well as the odd trip away. We are a non-competitive group who pride ourselves on our friendly appoach to road cycling, enjoying the health and social benfits that go along with regular exercise as well as the odd well earned beer after a ride (optional!) The group has no fees or membership and has been planning routes on a purely voluntary basis every Sunday since 2010. It’s great that 14 years on we still get over 20 riders show up for winter rides (last Sunday). Route planners and post publishers by no means guarentee the safety of riders while out on the roads, suitable care and safety equipment is needed for each individual, who takes part in rides at their own risk.

At the time of writing the forecast for Sunday’s rides is dry with light winds and above freezing. While the guys at Velos Towers try to plan rides based on the weather conditions, we can’t make a decision on your own safety, so please keep an eye on the conditions and only come out if the conditions are safe for you. If the weather takes a turn for the worse we will flick the MTB switch and move to the fat tyre alternative via our social media channels.

Riding together makes the miles a bit easier with some shelter from head winds, some conversation (when not completely out of breath) and a group to latch on to when every part of your body is telling you it’s time to stop! Usually when riding in a group you have a higher average speed as you spend less time pusing against the wind- unless you are super-fit and ride at 17mph+ on your own, in which case we are probably not the group for you.

During January we have a new starters and re-starters ride option for anyone wanting to try riding road bikes in a group, maybe you usually ride solo and would like to try something different, or maybe you’ve got a bike gathering dust that you really should be putting to use!

We organise the longer rides into pace groups if numbers are large, splitting groups at the start of the ride (or riding together at a moderate pace if only a few riders are out). Steady is a pace that ensures no one gets left behind, medium is generally around 14-16mph and pacey is over 16mph. It’s not fun being miles behind everyone else so we try to moderate the group pace to stay together but if you are riding at 12 miles per hour in the pacey group we might come to an agreement that the group will push on without you. Equally if you are riding off the front of the steady group at 17 miles per hour, you probably should re-think your group choice!

On the flat and shallow hills we try to ride close together as the group will function better as a cohesive unit rather than dropping riders and stopping for them to catch up, The sum of the parts should be greater than the individuals. Teamwork makes the dream work! On steeper hills (up and down!) everyone has their own pace, so we will regroup once the hill has been completed, either stopping completely or slowing the pace to allow everyone to catch up. No one should be left behind until we get to the final sprint a mile or so from home and then if you have anything left in the legs you can push on!

Ivinghoe Velos Rides For Sunday 7th January 2024

Hello 2024! We had a pretty good turn out on the last ride of 2023 so well done to the riders who saw the year out with a decent ride and dare I say it an early new year beer or two!

Hopefully folk are fit and well and ready to roll in 2024, if you are looking to enjoy group rides, kick start a healthy lifestyle change, maintain last year’s fitness gains or catch up with friends new and old then Ivinghoe Velos rides are the place to be! New joiners and returners are always welcome and particularly at the start of the year when riding alone can be tough. We ride road bikes, chunky tires are welcome but they do make it hard to keep up!

We are not a cycle club, there is no membership fees, riders can come along as often or as little as they like. We are a large group of friends enthusiastic about riding bikes with a good knowlege of local routes and the mechanical working of our bikes. We have various distance and pace options to suit most casual riders. While our quickest rides can go along at a reasonable pace, If you are training for the Olympics we are probably not the group for you! Our top speed average rarely exceeds 16mph while our lower mileage rides are often around 14mph, depending on how much climbing is involved! Riding in a group saves a good 20% of your usual solo effort so join the group for some easier miles!

Rides Start and finish in Ivinghoe, at the junction by the church, our general aim is to leave no one behind unless they are dead set on wanting to continue solo (we often hear riders say they are happy to continue on their own but we know it’s always easier in a group so we moderate the pace to get everybody back, or split into pace groups)

While we meet and complete suggested routes each week, we can make no guarentees about traffic safety and road conditions, anyone joining us must be responsible for their own safety, ensure their equipment is in good order and ride with due caution.

This weeks longer rides both start at 10am and head to Chipperfield, there is a shorter and longer option 31 miles or 38 miles (with a bit more climbing). If you are confident of riding 30 miles solo at 14mph or more these rides are suitable for you!

At 10.30 we have a new year ride to encourage returners and new joiners, riden at a pace to get everyone round comfortably and with Dave Bembridge as ride leader, you can join this group if you’d like to test riding with others in a small group. The route is 13.5 miles and avoids any serious hills so the group can keep turning the pedals, come along if you fancy giving us a gentle try out.

10am 38 miles Chipperfield chase Extended https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45286300

10am 31 miles Chipperfield Chase https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45286236

10.30 13.5 miles new starters and returners: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45284748

We often regroup after rides at the Rose and Crown in Ivinghoe where isotonic beverages and health boosting cheesy chips are usually available to purchase, the perfect end to time out on a Sunday morning!

Ivinghoe Velos Rides For Sunday 31st December 2023

First and Last: We end the year just like we started it riding our bikes. In fact the routes this week are the same published routes as our first outing in 2023. Anyone still pushing to complete a 2023 challenge? This really is the last chance saloon! Rides leave from outside Ivinghoe church at the stated times.

10am 38 miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41716239

10am 29 miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41715957

10.30am 21 miles https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41715974

Happy new year to all riders who have been out with us over the last 12 months, hope to see you again in 2024. We’ve had some great adventures over the last 12 months, some great Sunday rides, Tuesday evening thrashes, away days, train rides and weekends in other parts of the country, wind, rain, crashes, mechanicals and punctures, sunshine, delicious decents, amazing scenery, coffee and cakes and maybe the odd beer and plate of cheesy chips. Most importantly we’ve done it together, sharing the good times and helping each other when things don’t quite go to plan in life as well as on the road. Lets do it all again in 2024.

Ivinghoe Velo Rides For Sunday 24th Decmeber

Hopefully velos riders can gather together on Friday night (22nd December) for a Christmas drink at the Rose and Crown, 7.30pm onwards, it’s going to be a lycra free zone so safe to bring your better half.

Just in case there is a bit of demand for rides on Sunday we have three options all heading the same way, 20, 30 or 35 miles, depending on the number of keen riders it may be the case that riders group together to make a reasonable group. The weather looks good, there is unlikely to be a frost and it looks dry, just remember those who succeed with their milage ambitions usually find an excuse to get out and ride, while those who don’t find an excuse not to ride.

Little cracker https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45195747

medium cracker https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45195727

big cracker https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45195738

As many people have some time off over the festive period it would be good to have some ad-hoc ride options, if you are planning on a ride please feel free to post an invite on social media channels so others can join in.

After Christmas we usually use the “new year resolution” period as a time to encourage and welcome new and returning riders, what better time to join a ride that January when not much else happens and we evaluate our healthy lifestyles (well maybe July when it’s warmer?)

A Merry Christmas to one and all! Hope santa brings you a few cycling goodies.

Enjoy the ride, enjoy Christmas, stay safe, stay well.

Ivinghoe Velos Rides For Sunday 17th December

Three routes departing from Ivinghoe church on Sunday morning. Chapeau to anyone who has got some miles in this week, the weather has been a bit grim at times, we are hoping for something slightly more ride friendly on Sunday! Some of this post may look familiar, as we all know recycling reduces the need to grow, harvest or extract new raw materials from the earth, thus reducing the damage and disruption to the natural world, avoiding diverting rivers, cutting down forests and displacing wild animals from their natural habitat. And it saved me 5 minutes.

Social reminder: Friday 22nd Decemeber, a festive get together for drinks at the Rose and Crown from 7.30pm, if you need to eat out to help out please book a table individually before hand. No need to bring your bike.

10am medium long “reach out and I’ll be there” Heath and reach https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45077564

10am medium short Brazen Braziers https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45156242

10.30am short “It’s the real Tring” Local loop skirting round Tring https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45115258

Please arrive before the suggested departure time, picking the pace option most applicable to your abilities (or you will go to jail) watch out for the conditions and enjoy the rides.

Ivinghoe Velos Rides For Sunday 10th December

Three routes departing from Ivinghoe church on Sunday morning. Chapeau to anyone who has got some miles in this week the weather has been a bit grim at times, we are hoping for something slightly more ride friendly on Sunday!

10am medium long “reach out and I’ll be there” Heath and reach https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45077564

10am medium short “I hate you Butlers” Butlers Cross Loop https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45115247

10.30am short “It’s the real Tring” Local loop skirting round Tring https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45115258

Please arrive before the suggested departure time, watch out for the conditions and enjoy the rides.

Ivinghoe Velos Rides For 2nd December 2023

Riding our bikes on a Sunday morning gives us the chance to socialise and enjoy a drink or two after the activity. Another good reason for getting together to enjoy a chat and a beer is Christmas! Don’t worry we won’t be putting out rides on Christmas day but if you’d like to meet for a festive pint the evening of 22nd December is the night for you. Meeeting around 7.30- 8pm at the Rose and Crown, if you’d like to have a meal at the pub please book independently and aim to finish so you can join the crowd at 8. Cycling to the pub is purley optional.

This week we have three routes. As we are now in the chilly season rides will begin at 10am at the earliest until the spring, if rider numbers are low at 10am groups can join together to ensure everyone is riding with a group. As (nearly) always rides start and finish in Ivinghoe outside the church and we will split into pace groups if rider numbers are large. Although we aim to leave no one behind having a good idea of the route either committed to memory on plumbed into your headset computer will help avoid lost souls. Rides are designed for road bikes with the occational need to adapt for road closures and dare I say mapping errors.

The longest ride with week, starting at 10am, is a 38 mile trip to Heath and Reach taking in the climb into Great Brickhill, enjoying the end of the autumn colours through Stockgrove while cunningly avoiding central Leighton Buzzard. At 10am the medium short riders embark on a 28 mile ride out to Rocky lane and then a bit of a wiggle home, this ride has the highest hill climb ratio this week. At 10.30 the short route riders will loop round Tring before following the finale of the 10am route. Keep an eye of the forecast, stay safe and enjoy!

10am medium long https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45077564

10am medium short https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45080778

10.30am short https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45080828

Ivinghoe Velos Rides For Sunday 26th November

Three routes to choose from this weekend. There is no better feeling than sitting in a warm pub after tackling a challenging bike ride, the reward is all the sweeter for putting the effort in! This week the short and medium routes provided by Dave B head north while the longer 9am ride takes riders south through Amersham. The temperature is dropping away with light winds, it might be a bright start but please be aware of the risk of frosty roads.

9am Flaunting Flauden https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45038609

10am Out to Drayton https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45037511

10.30am Cubblington https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45037529

December is just round the corner and it’s time to think about a seasonal get together for an evening where bikes and lycra can be left behind! I’m sure the tribal elders will be coming up with a date in the near future. The idea is to drink your annual milage in calories while discussing festive 500s and what’s on your letter to cycling santa.

Roll on Sunday!

Ivinghoe Velos Rides For Sunday 19th Novmeber

Three routes to choose from this weekend, Sunday seems to be the better day for weather this weekend, some blustery winds, so riding with friends in a tightly formed peleton is the order of the day. This weeks routes are small but perfectly formed to get riders back into the warm embrace of the pub in good time! All three routes have a common final 6 miles, so if riders are at “par pace” groups may see each other for the sprint finish.

9am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44991842

10am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44991765

10.30am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44991883