Three rides on the menu this week, with one starting from Cranfield High Street for an away day on roads not ridden on a velos ride previously. Cranfield is about a 40 minute car journey, or a 90 minute bike ride from Ivinghoe! Our route is 55.5 miles on quiet roads through well kept villages. As this is an away day the ride will start at 9.30am to give riders the chance to get over to the start. The starting point is the junction of Merchant Lane with the high street, plenty of local free parking is available. So if you fancy a chance to ride somewhere new and pretty, come along!

At 10am we travel to Chesham and then back through lovely lanes at South Heath and The Lee, there are a few climbs on the route but at 28 miles riders should be back soon after opening time at the pub!

The 10.30 option sees riders circle round Mentmore, Eaton Bray and Slapton, at 22 miles with 600 feet of climbing it’s the shortest option with the smallest climbing ratio.

9.30am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44523821

10am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44660400

10.30am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44670078

Our stylish bespoke blue kit is the envy of many other clubs, you can have a chance of getting your hands on some as we are about to open a new kit order. We will open the order for a period of time to allow everyone the chance of adding their requirements.

The weather looks very kind for cycling on Sunday, so get out and enjoy the rides!

Three routes to choose from this Sunday, with the popular 1st Sunday of the month coffee ride back at 9am. The route heads to the less travelled north of the chilterns up The Clappers at Sharpenhoe and then follows lanes to Redbourn and back through Ashridge and Aldbury. Riders have a choice of coffee stops, either two thirds of the way round at The Hub in Redbourn, or at the end of the ride at the grand opening of Church Farm Cafe in Aldbury. Please see the bottom of this mail for details of the coffee stop options.

At 10am the route is a Brickhill loop created back in March 2022 we think all the roads are still ridable! For those wanting a shorter ride the 10.30 option visits Wingrave and Tring. Route Master Bembridge has suggested the Sunday miles will be kept on the shorter side as we enter the cooler months of the year, so enjoy the last throws of warmth, unless you are on that plane to Mallorca next week!

9am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44563986

10am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38734739

10.30am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34283255

AWAY DAY: On Sunday 8th October we have the option of a ride away from our usual routes in more ways than one! A select group of riders are taking on the roads of Mallorca for a few days and those left at home can complete a ride starting from Cranfield at 9.30am. It’s a 55 mile ride on very quiet roads with rolling terrain but no proper hills. Having recently road tested the route I can confirm there is 75% less traffic that we are used to and there are some great road surfaces along the route. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44523821 There is plenty of free parking in Cranfield and it’s just a 40 minute drive from Ivinghoe (or a 22 mile bike ride if you are really keen!). We will still have the usual 10am and 10.30 ride options.

We are a group of friends who cycle rather than a cycle club so we don’t have rules, subscriptions or races. Unless someone is keen to ride solo we will do our very best to leave no one behind out on the roads. It’s great to see plenty of riders out on our rides on Sundays and Thursdays and the summer Tuesday nights, It’s even more impressive when everyone is wearing lovely blue Ivinghoe Velos kit. Watch this space for our next opportunitity to order some clothing, maybe you are new to the group, or maybe you need to upgrade some winter essentials.

Church Farm Cafe:

The Perfect Pit stop for cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts.

Nestled in the heart of the picturesque Chiltern hills, Church Farm Café is excited to announce its grand opening on the 1st October as the ultimate destination for cyclists, runners and walkers looking to refuel and relax amidst the natural beauty of the Chilterns.

Church Farm Café, located within a refurbished barn at Walter Swinburn’s old stables (The jockey who trained and rode Shergar to victory in 1981) provides charm and character that marries perfectly to the warm welcome you will receive.

The café features a delightful outdoor seating area overlooking the rolling hills, providing the perfect spot for patrons to soak up the beauty of the Chilterns while enjoying a well-deserved break. Inside offers a cozy, warm retreat for those wanting to shelter from the elements.

A classic café menu is on offer along with a delicious Vietnamese option provided by the renowned “Viet Kitchen” who have quickly established a reputation for providing delicious, authentic, healthy and fresh Vietnamese street food.

“We’re thrilled to open their doors to the vibrant community of cyclists, runners and walkers who frequent the Chilterns” said Simon, co-owners of the Aldbury’s new café. “Church Farm Cafe is more than just a place to grab a bite; it’s a place to recharge, soak in the scenery and make new friends who share your passion for the outdoors.

For more information about Church Farm Café, please visit www.churchfarmcafe.com or follow CHURCHFARMCAFE on socials.

The Hub:

The Hub, conceived in Spring 2012, to provide good coffee, genuine “home made” food, and bike essentials for cyclists et al! It has become more popular with all the community, far and wide, than we could have dreamed. Set in the rural village of Redbourn the building dates back to the 17c and creates an atmosphere of ambience and friendliness.

With a warm snug feeling in the cold and outside seating in the Spring and Summer we welcome all (including dogs) although parties of more than 8 are advised to book ahead.

We also use biodegradable take away cups and lids and paper straws not plastic. The Hub is completely backing this forward thinking initiative.  The popularity with cyclists has created the need for more space and the workshop and cycle sales are also available a few hundred yards up the High Street trading as THE BIKE LOFT. We stock Most bikes and parts can usually be obtained within a few days.

We have three routes heading out from Ivinghoe, by the church, on Sunday morning. This week there is a focus on climbing, but don’t worry as Sir Isaac Newton may have said “what goes up, must come down” so there will be some lovely decents to enjoy on the downslopes! Thanks all always to Dave B for crafting the 10am and 10.30 routes for us.

9am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44521118 59 feet of climbing per mile over 49 miles

10am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44517579 58 feet of climbing per mile over 32 miles

10.30am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44517605 50 feet of climbing per mile over 20 miles

We are a group of friends riding toegther rather than a cycling club. There are no fees or rules involved in riding with us, we offer no insurance or assurances around the safety of our outings. Riders join rides at their own risk. Please review riding conditions on the day of rides and also make sure your bike is safe and road worthy, we might help with a puncture repair, but a full service needs to be booked elsewhere! We ride road bikes and would recommend riders carry spare tubes and a pump, or a phone and back-up plan! Please ensure you have the route you have chosen to ride plumbed into your headset computer so that when you take your turn on the front you can make the turns at the right time. Depending on numbers and expected speeds we may split into groups, we aim to leave no one behind unless they are keen to enjoy some solo time, “in solitude you will find the whispers of your true self” or some swear words as you struggle up the next hill.

In a county far far away route Master Bembridge is relaxing, but don’t worry he has promised “I’ll be back”. It’s been said his rides are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. Don’t worry though we still have some routes for you, like Clive & Ian, you’re a lean mean fighting machine, so will have no problem with these routes, so don’t say “I’m too old for this” as we all know; it’s not the years honey, it’s the milage.

While some of our routes feel like to infinity and beyond this week we will be back early, lunch is for wimps, but we can do Alan’s cheesey chips & Rod’s sandwich, along with beers, a martini, shaken, not stirred or pronouce “thats what I call high quality H2O”. Whatever she drinks makes Debs ride faster- I’ll have what she’s having!

If you get a pucture may the force be with you (of Trevor’s track pump), where does he get those wonderful toys? Carrying so much kit, we’ve going to need a bigger bike! But hopefully no mechanicals serious enough to phone home. so get that bike ready, I love the smell of GT 80 in the morning.

Our rides bring friendship and health benefits so you can live long and prosper, so come with me if you want to live, just like Owen, he does not feel pity, or remorse, or Fear and he absolutley will not stop. Last week Ben said I feel the need, the need for speed, so this weeks routes should suit. So join our rides- they will never take our freedom!

Rides start from Ivinghoe church (we are on a mission from God) for some fantastic challenging routes, be afraid, be very afraid. Pick your option and go ahead, make my day! Would you like me to seduce you? The 9am route is a very flat 100k called “Hills? where we are going we don’t need hills!” a great ride for the group- we’ve putting the band back together!

So whether you do a long ride like Mr Broadbent (We called him mother superior on account of the length of his habit) or a shorter option, just keep swimming, at the end of the ride you will say “I’m the king of the world”.

After the recent heatwave we might get a little bit of damp on our gears (wax on, wax off?) I’ve put my winter bike “baby” away in the garage but might need it this weekend, as we all know, no one puts baby in the corner. It can’t rain all the time, so ride with us and remember the first rule of the Ivinghoe velos is……..

Thanks Richard for the shorter routes, Like any good route, if you build it, he will come, it’s elementary dear Watson!

Now back to the bike, where are you my precious?

9am ride: Hills? Where we are going we won’t need hills https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44394314

10am ride: Debbie Does Dallas? No it’s Double Drayton https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44421206

10.30 ride: Follow the yellow brick road up to Ledburn for Single Drayton https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44421272

Little bonus kudos if you can work out how many film quotes & mis-quotes we have in this weeks post.

The usual three rides for your deliberation this weekend, all leaving Ivinghoe church at various times on Sunday morning. The 10am route goes through Ashridge and over the Downs, while the 9am route is a ride through the Chalfonts: Latimer, St Peter, Common and St Giles before returning via Beaconsfield, Penn and Missenden.

Time to enjoy the Indian Summer and get some miles in before we start thinking about frosty starts and mudguards!!!

9am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44348806

10am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44323568

10.30 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44259070

Three routes for riders to enjoy this Sunday, with all rides starting and finshing in Ivinghoe by the church. As usual on the first Sunday on the month the 9am ride takes in a coffee stop, this month at Spokes CC in Codicote. Rides this week are 50 miles, 32 miles or 20 miles.

Meteorological summer may be over, but there should still be some great weather before we start thinking about long trousers, over shoes and long sleeve gloves, so get out and tick off some miles this weekend!

9am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44271397

10am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44259015

10.30am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44259070

We have three routes leaving Ivinghoe church on Sunday morning, this week the routes pass the pop up “Buck” pub in Buckland on the way back, giving riders the chance to suppport this once a year venture or return for the usual post ride refreshments at the rose and crown.

9am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44163350 Reaching Heath, Back To The Buck

10am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44177743 Nigel’s round

10.30am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44091964 Repeat of last week as no one did it!

Bank Holiday Monday extra ride 10am from Great Rollright https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41748284

FOUR routes for your diliberation this Sunday. At 8am we have a Grand Fondo option from Pitstone roundabout (put in because with rising levels of panic I realise I’ve not ridden 62 miles this month) The 9am route is a classic 52 mile circular outing of Aylesbury vale, not too hilly, not too flat, this new route through Princess Risborough visits some nice villages and should get riders back to catch the last bit of world cup football on the TV in the Rose & Crown! The sharp eyed amoungst you will notice the 8am Grand Fondo route arrives at Ivinghoe church after 12 miles and then continues along the same route as the 9am route.

The 10am route takes riders out to Swanbourne and then back in via Whitchurch, it’s quite low on climbing so should be a fast one, 34 miles in the countryside. At 10.30 it’s a 20 mile trip to the zoo, a steady series of small climbs before a decent of Bison Hill and then flat all the way back.

8am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44092981 meeting at Pitstone roundabout this is a 12 mile extension of the 9am route.

9am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44092913 52 miles, classic Aylesbury circular from Ivinghoe church

10am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44091946 Swanbourne and Whitchurch

10.30am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44091964 Up to the zoo, down Bison

Please arrive at Ivinghoe church (or Pistone roundabout for the 8am ride) with a good knowledge of the route or a working sat-nav computer to enable you to make all the right turns on the rides. We will split into pace groups if rider numbers are high, more than 8 riders makes it tough for cars to pass the group so be considerate out on the roads.

Enjoy the rides, roll on Sunday!

Three route choices this weekend and its time to hit the hills! thanks to Dave Bembridge for providing the theme and the medium and short options, plus ride descriptions. Please download the routes to your navigational devices, we aim to leave no one behind, but wrong turns can happen. Please arrive at Ivinghoe church before the ride start time.

9am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44010468 Chenies and back with 8 climbs involved 47 miles with 3,100 feet of climbing (65 feet per mile)

10am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44004385 Steady Climbing week  Wiggington into Chesham and back up via Asheridge to Aston and that little bugger Dancer’s. Only 29 miles but just under1600 ft climb (55 feet per mile)

10.30am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44004468 Toms, Pedley and Beacon via Ringshall.  With the exception of Toms again steady climbs  Great downhills….. just under 20 miles with 1215 ft climb. (60 feet per mile)

Three routes to choose from this Sunday, may the sun be in the sky and the wind on your back.

9am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43910698 First Sunday of the month coffee stop ride to the Hub at Redbourn

10am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43909607 A Bishopshone loop taking into account the level crossing closure

10.30am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39469919 a climb up new road

Those who follow pro riding have enjoyed some great action across in France over the last month with the Tour De France and the Tour De France Femmes Avec Zwift. The highest placed British rider on Le tour was Adam Yates. Adam was born 7th Aug 1992, so its nearly his birthday! He took up cycling with his Twin brother with the Bury cycle club and turned pro in 2014 aged 22, nicknamed “the shadow” he has been a TDF regular for a number of years for three different pro teams. The highest placed British lady on the Tour de France Femmes was Claire Steels. Claire was born 9th November 1986 in Bourne in Linconshire, she turned pro in 2020 aged 34. She had a fitness business in Mallorca and bought a bike to compete in duathlons and rather liked cycling, she was second in this years nation road championships behind Pfeiffer Georgi

The focus now moves to the world championships in Glasgow, lets see how Adam and Claire get on along with the other GB riders! Incidently there are some interesting events taking place at this years world’s, we have artistic cycling to look forward to where riders have 5 minutes to perform a series of tricks to music and also cycle ball, a two-a-side ball game on bikes. If this was a first of April post you probably wouldn’t believe it!!!

So whether you ride to music or like to keep on the ball, enjoy your rides this weekend!