Good afternoon from Vinghoe Central, and welcome to this weeks news and rides.

So news first, well Mark Cavendish may have won the world championship, but he couldn’t beat the Wiggle Rut. For those of you unfamiliar with this annual sportive here’s a little more information for you. Long before the continental plates went their seperate ways this challenging ride formed a mountain stage on the Tour de France, but today thanks to those shifting plates it’s now firmly located somewhere near Leicester. Those wanting more precise  details on the start point should not contact John Hegarty as he beleives the start point was just north of Milton Keynes.

This challenging route is 74 miles long if you fancy a morning run, and for those wanting to go to lunchtime, there is the option of a 100 miler. Ever considerate, the vinghoe velos elected to take the shorter route so a not to intimidate those hardened professionals doing the longer one. As noted earlier this route is well known for it’s mountainous terrain, according to Andy Beezer even the slightest climb was a category 5. (I don’t know what this means either, I thought it was computer cable) In fact the route was so challenging even our own King of the mountain, Jim, succommed after 35 miles and decided to take a nap whilst still on his bike. With his stabilisers missing he quickly departed the road, and continued his sleep into the hawthorn bushes. For those of you that are concerned I can confirm there was no lasting damage to the bush. This meant that Jim was unable to complete the ride, although one kind velo offered to take his timing chip over the finish line so that he “could get a really shit finishing time”. Our team spirit remains ever strong.

This meant that having lost two riders before the start, one to Delhi Belly and the other to Man flu, we were down to seven riders. Still the strongest team entry in the competition. New tictacs were therefore needed, but we didn’t have any so Scottish Dave, and little Dave set off in pursuit of the quickest time, eventually crossing the line in a very respectable 4.51. The remaining five, Andy and Hannah Beezer, John Hegarty (navigator), myself and another bloke called Dave finished in 5.01 thus ensuring that the team trophy was awarded to Vinghoe Velos. We await delivery of the trophy to our headquarters, the Rose and Crown, which we are assured is in the post.

Despite our significant entry in the rut there was still a good turn out for our regular Sunday morning ride. So thanks to all those who led this ride, in the absense of some of the usual suspects. For this week, business is very much back to normal, with guaranteed tropical weather. One route only, but two groups so that there’s a pace suitable for all. Just to clarify that means slow and not quite so slow.

2 October ride.

Until tomorrow.

We have good news for our Velo members – prolonged negotiations with our contacts at the Met Office have resulted in us once again securing very decent Autumn weather for the ride this Sunday. In fact things went so well that they have agreed to make up for a lack of Summer this year by giving us an especially warm end of September week.

Numbers are likely to be a little down a little this week as some of our colleagues are pushing themselves well beyond their riding abilities by attempting the Wiggle Rut 74 mile ride around Oakham. We wish them the best of luck and have alerted the nearby emergency services. The normal ride goes ahead from the R&C at 9:50am and as is the new norm, we will have two groups – fast long and slower long – known as the flonger and slonger groups.

We would like to remind members that the Velos Christmas ‘bash’ for riders and their partners has been booked at the Old Hunters Lodge in Whipsnade on Friday 9th December 2011. The cost is £23.95 per head and a deposit of £10 per head is required to Jayne Raynor by 9th October – spaces are limited and many have already paid their deposits so please let Jayne know ASAP to avoid disappointment !

Advanced notice that some members are already casting their eyes toward 2012 and what challenges we can put in place to spur us on through the cold Winter ahead. Andrew is organising a group to test themselves in the London to Paris ride – if that is something that interests you please make yourself know to Andrew or Jose on Sunday the 9th when they return from their trip to see old pals Fidel and Raul.

As always, “Let’s be careful out there”.

Long Ride

Thanks to a strong turnout from the Vinghoe Velos last week the ladies only event was a fantastic event. In fact over 90% of the participants were on bycylces, and were joined by none other than Ms Victoria Pendleton. Unfortunately for VP the Vinghoe Velos were on home ground, and she struggled to keep up for much of the route, eventually stopping in  Ivinghoe Aston for refreshment and a thigh massage from Andrew. Whilst there she showed her keen observation skills by confirming that Andrew was indeed not a girl. Once revitalised she rejoined and completed the 25 mile course in a not too bad 27hours and 13minutes. Another world record, and a round of applause from the sealions. Well done to all.

And so to this weeks ride. Well the good news is that we won’t be going past Leighton Buzzard so we all stand a chance of making it back without having to put some tarmac down first. And the bad news? There is none. No just the usual flat ride out with a choice of two speeds. Slow for those that want to get round as quickly as possible, and leisurely for those that want to enjoy the country side. So hear goes:

Sunday ride

We have taken a break from watching the Tour of Britain to bring you news from our head quarters here at Velo Towers.

Following on from our highly successful venture into Social Media using Twitter, we are now going to have a stab at Facebook. A page has been set up and if you are a Facebook user, please find us (Search for ivinghoe velos) and say hello (and ‘like’ us). For those not on Facebook, fear not – we have no plans for it to become our main place to distribute news – the website and emails will continue to be the best place to find out what’s going on.

There are only 4 more days left open for registrations for the 74 mile Wiggle Rut that takes place on the 25th September. I am very proud to say that the Vinghoe Velos is by far the largest single team with 8 members already signed up. If you would like to join us, please head on over to the Kilotogo.com website and register. As mentioned before, on the 25th the normal ride will take place from the Rose and Crown for those who sensibly don’t feel they need to put themselves through the pain of a crazy distance.

And finally, there is the normal leisurely off-road ride in Ashridge taking place tomorrow evening (Thursday). We meet at the Ivinghoe Library at 6:40pm and head up to the Beacon car park for 7pm.

Is it a monster? No it’s a Vinghoe Velo, blue shirt glinting in the early morning hue, hair in his eyes, cuddling his handlebars and yelling no more hills, PLEASE Dave. But boy is it a monster weekend.

First up Mary Sainty and Friends are heading for the Bucks Historic churches ride, leaving from Ivinghoe Church at 10.00am today. Let’s hope they can bring back plenty of free lead for us.

Next up is the Ladies Cycletta which takes place tomorrow morning from whipsnade zoo. Jose comments “It’s not the penguins that bother me, but those bloody bison are enormous. Hit one of those and your bike is gonna be pipework”. Good luck to all the ladies taking part tomorrow, especially the friends and members of the vinghoe velos, as well as the helpers manning the rifles.

And of course for the rest of us there is usual Sunday ride. This week we have dropped the short route as there has been no take up on this in recent weeks, with everybody preferring to take the longer ride. However, the longer route is now divided into two groups, the quick set (this is a relative point) and those that prefer a leisurely pace. So if in recent weeks you’ve felt that we’ve all been chasing quick times and high average speeds, when all you wanted was a pleasant ride out on a Sunday morning, and have perhaps been a little reluctant to come along, we’ve now made sure there’s a like minded bunch to go with.

We remain a club for people that just want to ride their bikes, irrespective of what sort of bike it is, or how old it is. In fact the more out there your bike is the more welcome you are. Tandems, choppers, and Penny Farthings all welcome. Exotic state of the art bikes are also welcome but please ensure you have no athletic ability whatsoever if you want to turn up on one of these.

And so here is this weeks ride. 

Long Route

A few of us who are preparing for the Wiggle Rut  on the 25th September are going to head off from Pitstone roundabout at 9am tomorrow (4th September) to get in a warm up workout before joining the long ride at the R&C from 10am. If you feel like adding a few more miles you are most welcome to join us.

If anyone is still thinking of registering for the Wiggle Rut, please do enter your team name as “Vinghoe Velos”. We will be sorting out sharing the transport up there soon so please let John Hegarty know you are going.

And completely unrelated, here is a photo from the ride last week where we had an unusual type of road blockage.

Welcome to this weeks ridees and general up date on nothing to do with cycling. As some of you may know I have recently been in Italy helping their gypsy economy get back on track, and looking after their unemployed at the Giro Italia. This is not as some people think the italian version of Etch a Sketch or Spirograph.

Now when many of us think of Italy, we often think of exotic cars or cheeky little runabouts, but what of your average italian I hear you ask. Well much to my surprise, and despite reports of their economy being in poor shape, I can confirm that Mr 2.4 in Tuscany seems to getting by in his castle and vinyard rather nicely. And his wine tastes jolly fine too.

So there we are, a complete review of the italian economy in one paragraph, and in less words, our rides for tomorrow.

Long route 

Short Route

So here we are sat watching a punch up at the Aviva Stadium described as being simply handbags even Gucci handbags, I guess that’s where professional Rugby Union has taken us!

Tomorrow sees the ‘new bikes’ Hetheringtons heading to Milton Keynes for the MK Skyride to promote cycling to the masses whilst Gary continues his European family tour.

One for the Laydeeeeeeeees, Cycletta takes place in 2 weeks time starting and finishing at Whipsnade, whilst no longer a closed road route (apart from Bison Hill) this should be a good ride out. Needless to say whilst being a women only ride they can’t do it without the men and we are looking for volunteers to assist with marshalling and bike mending. Any volunteers please let us know through here please!

Having discovered that major department stores have opened their Christmas Departments our thoughts are turned to celebrating the festive season. Velos Christmas ‘bash’ for riders and their partners has been booked at the Old Hunters Lodge in Whipsnade on Friday 9th December 2011. The cost is £23.95 per head and a deposit of £10 per head is required to Jayne Raynor by 9th October, spaces are limited so first come first served, book early to avoid disappointment! Transport Manager Jim has kindly offered to organise transport (at additional cost) once numbers have been finalised news on this will follow in due course.

So to getting out on 2 wheels!

LONGER RIDE

SHORTER RIDE

Have Fun!

New route?