We start the new year with three ride choices, all starting and finishing at the Rose and Crown in Ivinghoe. The early 9am route is an old favourite ridden since 2016, it’s 46 mile ride through Chipperfield, Chorleywood and Chalfont, this ride is for those riders looking for 15-16mph, we moderate the pace to keep the group together so we all benefit from the draft! At 10am we have two route options at a pace of around 14mph to 15mph. The 34 mile route takes on the challenging Bison Hill past the zoo before heading over to Berkhamsted and back over the common. The 23 mile route is a slightly more gentle affair, enabling those who have over done the turkey to get back into their cycling by riding over to Wingrave, then Long Marston and into Tring. Thanks to Dave Bembridge for these 10am route plans.

9am 46 miles https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4860462.html

10am 31 miles https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4306148.html

10am 23 miles https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4384418.html

We would love to see any many riders starting the new year with a healthy dose of exercise and fresh air, please arrive slightly before your intended start time with route details to keep you on track, we endeavour to stay together within our groups and regroup at the Rose & Crown for post ride discussions. Stay safe and enjoy the rides!

Seasonal greetings to all from Ivinghoe Velos Towers, we hope your stockings were full of Garmin gadgets, turbo toys and wiggle wonder. We are in the odd inbetweeny bit of the year, after Christmas festivities but before new year kicks in, what a great reason to get on the bike! Understandably most of us will have spent the past few days in a “rest period, refuelling for future endeavours”. With this is mind this week we are suggesting a reasonably flat all inclusive ride to be ridden at a relaxed pace all starting together at 10am.

The route also includes our annual highlight challenge “see how far you can go without peddling”. To facilitate this we will ride up to the lay-by on the B489 Beacon road and then peddle round to the Ivinghoe Aston turn, once you’ve made the turn there is to be no peddling until you come to a standstill, the winner will be the bike stopping furthest beyond the Village, hopefully our record holder Mr Hegarty will be out to defend his title!

Our 10am route is a 34 mile loop around Leighton Buzzard there are a couple of minor climbs on route, we will regroup at the tops and ride the rest of the route in a group, the decent from Wingrave towards the end is a favourite for team work, so get in the draft, we should all be back at the Rose and Crown for around 12.30pm to top-up on the refuelling. https://www.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4989536.html

For anyone who has been away for too long and is keen to show their face, anyone brand new thinking of joining us, or anyone with friends on family around for the weekend who would like to get involved we have a lovely suggested 15 mile route which starts with the main group, so feel free to come and say hi! https://www.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4989543.html

Please arrive at the Rose and Crown ready for a 10am start, we will work to get everybody round together, if you need more miles get out early and swing by the Rose and Crown for 10am. A short stop is planned at 20 miles as we enter Stewkley, who will be bringing the most festive snack?

For those lucky enough to have spare time this close to Christmas, we have a choice of a 9am route with some hills to Bledlow or flat 10am rides south of Aylesbury. The rides share the same final 12 miles so there may be a panto style “he’s behind you” coming together. The forecast is pretty reasonable compared to recent wash out days, so a last chance to burn off some of the festive excess before the big day itself. Whichever route you choose, stay safe and enjoy the ride.

If any Velos are free to ride during the Christmas break, head over to the facebook rear hub and post an invitation so others can join you. Here’s hoping Santa brings you some useful cycling kit for future use and we see you all soon to ignite those new years resolutions! Have a fantastic Christmas one and all.

9am 50 miles Bledlow Rising: https://www.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4988170.html

10am 36 miles Flat To Kimble:https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4338769.html

10am 24 miles Flat To Halton: https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4223312.html

The weather looks reasonable for our Sunday rides this week so why not join us for some fresh air and a few miles in the lovely Buckinghamshire countryside. With lots of festivities taking place this weekend rider numbers may be low, so the 9am route will complete a 15 mile loop before returning to the pub to meet 10am riders, giving everyone more chance of riding in a decent group. Stay safe people and enjoy the rides!

9am ride add on: https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4986836.html

10am route longer https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4986815.html

10am shorter https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4986813.html

The forecast is for a bright and breezy Sunday, so join us for the perfect antidote to seasonal party excess and shopping Armageddon. Three rides to choose from as usual. A 9am route of 45 miles in length taking us down Kop Hill or two 10am routes heading South towards Chesham (32 miles or 21 miles) . Which ever time and ride you join, please have the route with you and support your fellow riders round.

9am route: https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4985576.html

10am to Chesham https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4985420.html

10am to Hastoe https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4985421.html

Apologies! An error in the link! This is the correct link:-

http://eucustom.champ-sys.com/teamstore/?IvinghoeVelos2019

Anyone who is wanting to order new club kit will be pleased to know that our next order window is now open. You can order any number of items and for any season. Please follow this link to enter our store:-

http://eucustom.champ-sys.com/teamstore/?IvinghoeVelos2019

This order slot is currently open until 13 December 2019.

Once complete, the items will be delivered to John & Elke from whom you can arrange collection.

Correct link inserted 19.30 3/12/2019

Sunday rides

Looks like it will be dry and a little chilly for our Sunday excursions so we might need an extra layer or two.

9am start, 55 miles

10am start, 41 miles

10am start, 23 miles

As always, please bring a copy of your chosen route with you either electronically on your GPS gadget, or go old school using the analogue method : a bit of paper. We depart from the Rose and Crown in Ivinghoe at the times stated above.

Xmas drinks

This year our Xmas drinks will be on Friday the 13th at the Rose and Crown. It will be a chance to see if you can recognise your fellow rider with their clothes on. Additionally, and depending on how the General Election in the 12th goes, you may be drowning your sorrows or celebrating the success of your chosen party.

This week we have additional optional rides for anyone wanting hills hills and more hills. We have a route covering 42 miles with over 3,500 feet of climbing, tackling (nearly) every slope in Berkhamsted for this ride arrive at 9am with this route plan: https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4981943.html

If you fancy some of the hills with 2,700 feet of climbing try this 32 mile 10am option: https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4981120.html

Usual ride options which have less climbing, so lending themselves to tight group riding without the waiting on hill tops, are as follows…..

9am 55 miles through Redbourn, via Duststable Downs and out to Cublington https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4982023.html

10am 37 miles through Redbourn, via Dunstable Downs and out to Great Billington: https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4982036.html

With Christmas creeping up quickly we would like to propose that Friday 13th December is our social gathering at the Rose & Crown for drinks and comparing cycling Christmas wish lists. It will be a bit like post ride Sundays without the slightly damp Lycra. It’s a casual “drop in when you can” occasion so feel free to organise your own food options at the pub if crisps is not enough to meet your culinary needs.

This Sunday

Looks like it will be dry for our rides tomorrow but with a little bit of a chill in the air.

9am ride, 52 miles

10am ride, 37 miles

10am ride, 26 miles

As always, please bring a copy of your chosen route with you. We depart from the Rose and Crown in Ivinghoe at the times stated above.

Next Sunday

We have something very different planned for next Sunday as an option. The bearded one of the Two Daves has plotted a FAB route that takes in as many hills around Berko as possible. It will be 43 miles long and includes a whopping 3,650 feet of climb. Fear not though, there is no time limit so sprinting uphill is not needed. More details will follow in next week’s post.

Dave’s Berko Hills route for Next Sunday