Apologies for the late posting – we here at Velos Towers were distracted today by the appearance of a strange round yellow object in the sky. We are still not quite sure what it is but we hope it hangs around long enough for the ride tomorrow as it does appear to be keeping the rain away.

We do have an announcement to make about our webmaster John regarding navigation. We are officially banning him from making any suggestions as to which direction is the right way when presented with a junction. This is as a direct result of him sending the rear pack of riders last week on a merry dance that involved a visit to Dunstable and Bison hill – both which weren’t on the map. So if you do hear him suggest a direction to go, simply take the opposite route confident that you are ‘going the right way’. As a precaution, we suggest that all riders print out the map so they can get back home if they have ignored the warnings and ended up following John ‘off piste’.

And so, on to this week. As always, please gather from 9:45am at the Rose and Crown Ivinghoe. Members who want to add a few extra miles before the main event are welcome to meet at Pitstone Roundabout at 9am.

Long Route 

Short Route

P.S. We are always interested in new routes so please do send them in to us if you have crafted something different from the 10 or so regular rides we recycle each week.

Another sunny Saturday, another lovely tea ride. Tomorrow looks perfect cycling weather. Come and join us, 10am outside the Rose and Crown.

Sally

Go back one week to see what rides the future holds!

I’m back from a soggy but enjoyable tour of the Peak District, ready for another tea ride. We will be leaving the Rose and Crown at 10am tomorrow to search for the finest local tea and cake. The more the merrier, see you tomorrow.

Sally

If you are a Strava user, please have a look at your privacy settings and consider what information you wish to share. At the moment it is possible to trace where expensive bicycles are located.

You may wish to take some or all of the following actions:
-remove your full name (under settings)
-simplify bike description eg ‘road’
-anonymise location (under privacy)

Then you can carry on enjoying your Strava addiction.

Sally

It was very impressive to see a number of ‘tea’ riders taking advantage of the drought conditions to head out for some fun on the roads and a cake or two!

Tomorrow looks like we will benefit again from weather that will only serve to reduce Anglian Waters problems!

However for those who want to to get out on the pedals here you are

Longer Ride

Shorter Ride

Please do make sure you familiarise yourselves with your chosen route!

Andrew & Jose are still looking for your support in raising money for Action Medical Research and would ask anyone wishing to help them in their efforts of raising at least £3000 by riding to Paris to sponsor them here

Stay dry(ish!)

The Rose and Crown Crusade to Normandy 

Plans continue to be made by Pete and Jim and a fuller page will soon be put up on this site (techie genius time permitting!).  However it is planned to be a 5 day trip departing from Calais on 10th September full details, in the short term can be got from Pete by emailing him at pthompso@btinternet.com or by clicking here

The ride will leave the Rose and Crown at 10 am as usual and it looks as if it will be dry. More tea and cakes will be consumed.

Have fun!

Sally

I have had word that there have been at least two different incidents of bicycles being stolen from garages locally. Please check that your bikes are well secured.

Sally

A familiar cry across our land during the summer months as cricket and tennis matches wait until christmas to be concluded. If you’ve just come back from a fortnights holiday you’ll recall that just before you left someone announced a drought, and you’ll have now returned to flood warnings. So if you drive a canoe to work each day I think you’re gonna be ok.

Of course here at the Velos “rain stopped play” is an unfamiliar concept. It has been noted that generally speaking we have mananged to ensure that the weather remains dry for 3 hours every sunday morning, and that the heavens only open as we step in the doorway of the Rose and Crown. There have however been some occasions when it has not been possible to make arrangements with the met office for good weather. Fortunately our natural physique and pace allows allows us to cope better than those other mortals lower down the food chain.

As any avid formula 1 fan will know aerodynamics play a significant part in any teams’ success. The ability to move air efficiently around the vehicle and to harness its natural force for better grip is key. You will also have observed that there are no windscreen wipers or roofs on these cars, and you may be wondering how they manage to stay dry in a deluge? Well management of the airflow around the cockpit deflects the rain away from them. It is similarly so for the Fatlete. Our natural shape and pace causes significant turbulance such that any rain is deflected away. Should the rain fall a little too quick all we need to do is close up the pack and increase the turbulance.

So no excuses, we meet as usual at the Rose and Crown Velodrome 9.45 for a 10.00 kick off. Sorry pedal off.

Here’s the route

Last week 8 of us enjoyed a lovely ride over to the Tea Rooms at Edlesborough. Tomorrow the weather looks set fair for the morning, less than a five percent chance of rain according to the Met Office. I have planned a flat 12 mile ride taking in the Tea rooms at Wilstone Farm shop, so you can always bring a pannier or rucksack and pick up some food for the weekend too.

See you outside the Rose and Crown at 10am.

Sally