Daylight Robbery: This week we will revisit a piece of local history with a 9am ride which passes the very site of the great train robbery and then follows, perhaps, the getaway route to Leatherslade Farm near Oakley. The ride is of a reasonable length to be able to complete within 4 hours at a fairly relaxed pace, so back to the Rose and Crown by 1pm.

In August 1963 a gang of men stopped a Royal Mail train at Bridego Bridge (recently renamed Mentmore Bridge). They got away with £2.6M (£54M in today’s money) most of which was never recovered. How would we have ridden the ride in 1963? In those days Spandex (Lycra to us cyclists) had just been invented and carbon fibre had only just been manufactured for the first time, so you be heading out on your 4 speed Wilier Triestina steel framed road bike. You would be wearing your polyester club top with whipcord shorts with a double seat (so they din’t get worn out, not for comfort).

9am Route 55miles: https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4949315.html

The 10am routes Crafted by Dave B take us on a hilly 38 miles to Caddington or a flat 24 miles to Halton. If you are doing a 10am route and want to visit Bridigo Bridge, it’s only a short diversion through Ivinghoe Aston or Mentmore.

10am 36 miles: https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_3926297.html

10am 24 mileshttps://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4021925.html

So come on out, try to steal a King/Queen of the mountain, pinch a few PRs, you would feel robbed if you didn’t! Please arrive promptly and bring your choosen route map/gps file so you don’t get lost in the getaway.

This week we have contacted the weather gods to request that the calmer day of the weekend is our ride day. This request has been acknowledged and it is anticipated that conditions will be favourable all morning on Sunday.

We have three rides to tempt you out on two wheels. The longer 9am route can again be ridden at a more relaxed, inclusive pace and we have shortened the overall distance to enable riders to return to the Rose and Crown by around 1pm. This ride heads into the wind to start with, but don’t worry you will be sheltered by all the hills and then enjoy a flat wind assisted return to Ivinghoe! The 10am routes, courtesy of Mr Bembridge, focuses on the W’s visiting Whitchurch, Wingrave, Wing, Weedon and Waddesdon, both look like thoroughly enjoyable woad wides.

Please bring your selected route map/GPS file with you. Please support your ride mates all the way around the routes. Please have fun and stay safe.

9am 54 miles: https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4946633.html

10am 26 miles https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4945402.html

10am 40 miles https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4945401.html

Well done to those who braved the rain to get out last week. Looks a bit dryer this week.

9am start. 67 miles

10am start, 44 miles

10am start, 24 miles

As always, please bring a copy of your chosen route with you.

Apologies for the late posting of the ride last week – I had an technical issue between brain and mouse resulting in “Preview” being hit rather than “Publish”. Hopefully this one will get to you before sundown.

9am start, 52 miles

10am start, 44 miles

10am start, 27 miles

We are always interested in new routes so please do send them in if you have something new for us to try.

We launch from the Rose and Crown in Ivinghoe at the times stated above.

The weather gods are once again smiling upon us so we look forward to seeing you out on your bike this Sunday.

8am start, The Benson Finger.

10am start, 35 miles

10am start, 22 miles

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

As posted last week, we have the option of a mountain bike or hybrid away day. Parking at Rickmansworth Aquadrome (free Parking) WD3 1NB, riding to the Jubilee River on the NCN 61. The route is a fairly flat 48 miles with canal tow path being the roughest surface. The route takes in Windsor Castle, Eton College, Dorney Lake, Pinewood Studios, The Fat Duck at Bray and the Springwell Monkey, as well as being vastly traffic free, waterside riding. The start will be at 9:30am from the Aquadrome car park. If you are feeling extra fit, you could of course set off from Ivinghoe at 7am along the canal, meet at Rickmansworth and make it a 100 mile day out!

9:30am start from Rickmansworth on mountain bike or hybrid

The following rides are road rides for anyone who isn’t joining the Rickmansworth ride and they start from the usual Rose & Crown. Please be aware that the numbers may be lower than normal so you will need to bring a copy of your chosen route with you,

9am start, 55 miles

10am start, 40 miles

10am start, 25 miles

The forecast for tomorrow is ideal for cycling – warm but cloudy !

9am start, 68 miles

10am start, 42 miles

10am start, 21 miles

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

A note about next Sunday’s ride from Dave “Big Ring Only” Howe –

NEXT SUNDAY (14th July) Planning something a little bit different: Mountain bike or hybrid away day. Parking at Rickmansworth Aquadrome (free Parking) WD3 1NB, riding to the Jubilee River on the NCN 61. The route is a fairly flat 48 miles with canal tow path being the roughest surface. The route takes in Windsor Castle, Eton college, Dorney Lake, Pinewood studios, the fat duck at Bray and the Springwell Monkey as well as being vastly traffic free waterside riding. The start will be at 9:30am from the Aquadrome car park. If you are feeling extra fit, you could of course set off from Ivinghoe at 7am along the canal, meet me at Rickmansworth and make it a 100 mile day out!

https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4932424.html

No better way to cool down than donning some Lycra and jumping on your bike !

9am start, 66 miles

10am start, 44 miles

10am start, 20 miles

Please bring a copy of your chosen route with you. We start from the Rose and Crown in Ivinghoe at the times stated above.

The rain has eased up so it’s time to get back out there on a bike!

9am start, 64 miles to the Frederick Thomas Bidlake memorial and back.

10am start, 39 miles

10am start, 23 miles

As always, please bring a copy of your chosen route with you.

Our rides for this week, kindly and carefully crafted by the Two Daves. The longer 10am ride will swing past the pop-up charity pub in Buckland.

9am ride will be a loop via Berko, returning to the R&C so that they can join the 10am group for their ride.

10am start, 44 miles

10am start, 23 miles

As always, please bring a copy of your chosen route with you.