The usual three routes to choose from this week. A large proportion of our number are fathers and this Sunday is fathers day. Some of our little darlings might have the misguided opinion that we might like to do something other than ride our bikes on a Sunday morning. With this in mind the number of riders might be lower than normal so the 9am route is an add-on to the 10am route, so if there are not many riders to keep you company at 9am you can do the 17.7 mile extension then possible catch up with the 10am riders.

9am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43306764

10am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43262142

10.30am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43266456

Roll on Sunday!

The. Usual three route choices this weekend, with many riders taking part in recent training rides like London, Cambridge and Oxford everyone should be fit and ready for a good local ride this weekend! As usual we meet at Ivinghoe church before the suggested ride start times and split into pace groups if rider numbers are large. This enables riders to ride with others of a similar pace and also reduces the group size so we don’t take up too much road. We ride road bikes and welcome new riders who can fit in with the expected pace of our rides. The longer routes are generally 15-17mph while the shorter routes can be 13-16mph depending of how hilly it is. The 9am route this week gives riders a chance to complete their 100km Grand Fondo for June. The 10am route travels through Ashridge on a 28 mile circuit and the 10.30 route is 20 miles through Tring and Wingrave.

So hopefully something for everyone! Roll on Sunday!

9am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39378255

10am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43205067

10.30am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43205111

Three routes to choose from this weekend, all road bike rides starting from Ivinghoe church. With it being the first Sunday on the month, the 9am will include a coffee stop at Fill Your Cup in Cranfield. The 10am route is Brickhill backwards, doing a our 38 mile usual loop in the other direction and at 10.30 we have a couple of climbs tackle with asents of Dancers and and Marlin Hill on a 24 mile circuit.

As usual we will split into pace groups depending upon the numbers and ability of riders, it’s usually more fun when you are cycling with people of a similar pace to yourself, this avoids extra large groups of riders on the road and cuts down on waiting time for people to catch up.

9am Fill Your Cup Visit https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43109085

10am Brickhill Backwards https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43102384

10.30am a couple of climbs https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43102430

We are a group of friends who ride together rather than a club so we don’t have any hard and fast rules, preferring to enjoy the journey rather than worry about our sock length. There are no fees to ride with us, we just ask for some considerations to be made so everyone can stay as safe as possible and have a good ride experience.

Occasionally we have a large number of riders turn up for rides. To be fair to other road users we need to be sensible about group sizes and any more than 8 riders should split into two EVEN SIZED groups, it’s best to do this by expected pace, generally you will know where you sit in the pecking order so select top or bottom half of the ride.

If you get out and ride it will encourage others to continue, if you sit at home on a turbo trainer, or in front of the TV there may not be anyone to ride with when you want company in the future!

Ivinghoe Velos rides are routes suggestions based on local knowledge built up over years of riding. Suitable for road bikes and often using quiet road options. Occasionally we need to re-route due to road closures and mapping errors. As a group please solve these problems as safely as possible. Anyone is welcome to provide a ridewithgps course for us to follow in future weeks.

Those who lead out a group, the route planners, those who send the postings out each week in no way make any assurances as to the safety of any rides organised under the ‘ivinghoe Velos’ banner. Each participant is wholly responsible for their own safety, road worthiness of their steed, legal requirements to abide by the highway code and any insurances each individual feels are necessary.

Rides are usually between 14mph and 17mph depending on elevation. When rider numbers allow we split into groups based on pace. Generally our motto is ” we leave no one behind” but riders need to be realistic when joining a group with an expected pace, it’s no fun for anyone if one riders pace is considerably slower than all the other riders. Equally if a couple of riders push the pace beyond what is expected, the rest of the group might not be having fun.

When riding in a group the main benefit is the draft effect, saving around 25% effort when tucked in behind other riders. We expect riders to take a turn on the front when they able to do so and “hold the wheel” of riders in front on flat sections and shallow climbs. Looking over your shoulder and moderating your pace to ensure riders behind are still attached to the group is important wherever you are within your group and communicating if it looks like a riders has become detached (why not drag them back to the group rather than pushing on yourself?). On the flat the group should be close together so everyone benefits from the draft, work as a team, if there is a few bike lengths between riders you are not doing it right! On hills we wait at an appropriate safe spot to allow slower climbers to rejoin, you might want to make sure you are past the strava segment end!

We have a stylish Ivinghoe Velos team kit which allows the public to identify us. Please be considerate, courteous and respect our reputation when riding in our groups. Shouting at motorists is unlikely to achieve anything other than a raise in your blood pressure. Smile and wave at other cyclists, even those too pro to wave back.

Occasionally due to traffic or mechanicals there can be splits in groups and we lose visibility of parts of the group. For this reason and for your time you spend on the front it’s important that every rider has a full understanding of the planned route.

Please arrive before the expected start time of our rides. We currently meet by the bus shelter outside Ivinghoe church. There is usually a poll on our facebook rear hub to establish who is out and riding which route.

Mudguards are much appreciated on winter rides, without them the rider behind you might as well be riding in the rain.

As we ride in a group, pointing out hazards is vital, riders within the group wont get much notice of dangerous pot holes, gravel and other slip hazards and maneuvers away from the usual line, please give visual and audible signals and also let other riders know if cars are unexpectedly close by.

Stay safe, have fun and enjoy the journey.

The usual three route options for riders this week, the weather forecast is good, so pick a route and join the fun! We will split into pace groups for each of the rides if there are large numbers of riders. Thanks to Dave Bembridge for the shorter routes and also for the details of a fantastic trip away in October to Mallorca, please see the bottom of this post for the details!

The 9am route heads mostly south to Chandlers Cross, this 55.5 mile route has a routine amount of hills and some pretty lanes to cycle along. The 10am group heads on lovely lanes for a 30 route across to Redborune and Flamstead and the 10.30 ride is 23 miles on quiet road and reaches Stewkley before heading back via Cublington.

9am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43017585

10am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43016757

10.30am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/43016799

As you probably know, a group of us cycled in Mallorca last year and we are going again.This year we are going on Saturday 7th to Saturday 14th October this year if you would like to join us..

Last year we booked a couple of rooms (half board) but as you need to give a lead booker for each, it is easier, rather than block booking, for one person from each room to do the booking. Rooms (actually a mini apartment with a bedroom with a double or twin bed and a lounge with a double sofa bed) can take 1, 2 or 3 people. The more people, the lower the cost.

At the time of booking bikes can also be hired and a transfer to/from the airport in Mallorca is included so the only additional costs are your flight (3 a day from Luton), getting to the airport, lunch and beer.

More details can be found here: https://stuarthallcycling.co.uk/mallorcaautumnbooknow

Last year we stayed at the adult only Mar Senses, a bit more expensive but the food and ambiance were good and we avoided the irritating kids that people staying in the other hotel complained about.

Stuart Hall also put on about three guided rides per day ranging from 40-70 miles but you can also decide to do your own thing. 

If the dates don’t work exactly, it’s also possible to flex arrival/departure dates or go for a shorter time. Travelling with partners etc is also viable.

 If you have any questions ‘speak’ to either Richard, Grant, Graham Ian or me as I do not want to get into email ping pong..

Our rides leave Ivinghoe church on Sunday mornings, please arrive before the departure time and have a good knowledge of the planned route, or a sat-nav device with the route uploaded. Thanks as always to Dave Bembridge for providing the 10am and 10.30 routes.

10am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42927150 Out to Heath and Reach, up to Brickhill, Stewkley and Mentmore, 31 miles 1380 ft climb

10.30am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42927214 23.5 miles with three steady climbs.

This weekend we have an Ivinghoe Velos delegation searching for Compo, Foggy, Nora and Marina, our Sunday route is 57 miles with 5,782 feet of climbing. As several of the riders who usual do the longer riders will be engaged in this, there is no published 9am route, so why not make up your own 17 miles and meet back with the 10am team?

Three route options for riders this week, 9am, 10am and 10.30am. Depending on rider numbers we will split into pace groups, last Sunday saw the “steady” 9am riders averaging just over 17mph, with a few more hills this week that average could be a little bit lower.

9am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40870538

10am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42831301

10.30am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42831356

Next weekend we have a group of riders taking on some hills in Yorkshire, but we will still have some ride options for those wanting to stay local.

We are a group of friends who ride together rather than a club so we don’t have any hard and fast rules, preferring to enjoy the journey rather than worry about our sock length. There are no fees to ride with us, we just ask for some considerations to be made so everyone can stay as safe as possible and have a good ride experience.

If you get out and ride it will encourage others to continue, if you sit at home on a turbo trainer, or in front of the TV there may not be anyone to ride with when you want company in the future!

Ivinghoe Velos rides are routes suggestions based on local knowledge built up over years of riding. Suitable for road bikes and often using quiet road options. Occasionally we need to re-route due to road closures and mapping errors. As a group please solve these problems as safely as possible. Anyone is welcome to provide a ridewithgps course for us to follow in future weeks.

Those who lead out a group, the route planners, those who send the postings out each week in no way make any assurances as to the safety of any rides organised under the ‘ivinghoe Velos’ banner. Each participant is wholly responsible for their own safety, road worthiness of their steed, legal requirements to abide by the highway code and any insurances each individual feels are necessary.

Rides are usually between 14mph and 17mph depending on elevation. When rider numbers allow we split into groups based on pace. Generally our motto is ” we leave no one behind” but riders need to be realistic when joining a group with an expected pace, it’s no fun for anyone if one riders pace is considerably slower than all the other riders. Equally if a couple of riders push the pace beyond what is expected, the rest of the group might not be having fun.

When riding in a group the main benefit is the draft effect, saving around 25% effort when tucked in behind other riders. We expect riders to take a turn on the front when they able to do so and “hold the wheel” of riders in front on flat sections and shallow climbs. Looking over your shoulder and moderating your pace to ensure riders behind are still attached to the group is important wherever you are within your group and communicating if it looks like a riders has become detached (why not drag them back to the group rather than pushing on yourself?). On the flat the group should be close together so everyone benefits from the draft, work as a team, if there is a few bike lengths between riders you are not doing it right! On hills we wait at an appropriate safe spot to allow slower climbers to rejoin, you might want to make sure you are past the strava segment end!

Occasionally we have ridden in large groups with rider numbers in double figures. It’s important to remember we are quite a big obstacle to overtake, splitting into two small groups on main roads allows vehicles to overtake in stages. If you are mid-group take responsibility to manufacture this split- that’s you riding in position 7 in a group of 12. If a rider has manufactured a gap for this reason, don’t overtake and close the gap.

We have a stylish Ivinghoe Velos team kit which allows the public to identify us. Please be considerate, courteous and respect our reputation when riding in our groups. Shouting at motorists is unlikely to achieve anything other than a raise in your blood pressure. Smile and wave at other cyclists, even those too pro to wave back.

Occasionally due to traffic or mechanicals there can be splits in groups and we lose visibility of parts of the group. For this reason and for your time you spend on the front it’s important that every rider has a full understanding of the planned route.

Please arrive before the expected start time of our rides. We currently meet by the bus shelter outside Ivinghoe church. There is usually a poll on our facebook rear hub to establish who is out and riding which route.

Mudguards are much appreciated on winter rides, without them the rider behind you might as well be riding in the rain.

As we ride in a group, pointing out hazards is vital, riders within the group wont get much notice of dangerous pot holes, gravel and other slip hazards and maneuvers away from the usual line, please give visual and audible signals and also let other riders know if cars are unexpectedly close by.

Stay safe, have fun and enjoy the journey.

On the weekend starting Friday 19th May we have a touring group heading to Holmfirth in Yorkshire. We have four amazing rides leaving from the centre of town put together after extensive reasearch by Clayton. Anyone is welome to join us for any of the rides! As this is a hilly multi-day tour there will be no expectation on cycling at a particular pace, we will regroup often, there is no shame in putting your foot down to get your breath back!

Friday 2pm https://www.strava.com/routes/3059976602629544580 & https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42092720

Saturday 10am https://www.strava.com/routes/3063589269129539428 & https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42098497

Sunday 10am https://www.strava.com/routes/3059971802043400054 & https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42098507

Monday 10am https://www.strava.com/routes/3059974125285615540 & https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42098530

If you do all the long ride options you will cycle 150 miles with 17,000 feet of climbing!

Shorter versions of routes have also been suggested for

Saturday https://www.strava.com/routes/3063591736247297678

and Sunday https://www.strava.com/routes/2994700828381488710

We have coffee stops planned for each day plus a chance to meet up in the evenings to relive the activities while enjoying some carb loading and hydration (grub and beer). The Old Bridge Inn is our destination on Friday and Saturday evening.

Friday 23 miles, 2,860 feet of climbing.

A clockwise route from Holmfirth, this short ride heads
towards Emley Moor Mast, a Grade II-listed TV transmitter tower that dominates the skyline. At 1,047ft high, it’s taller than the Eiffel Tower. Optional café stop at 10.5 miles: Thorncliffe Farm,
Westfield Lane, Emley Moor, HD8 9SZ

Saturday 38 miles, 4,350 feet of climbing,

Two routes to choose from that head west over the bleak but beautiful Saddleworth
Moor, made notorious as the site of the Moors Murders. The longer route
heads north towards Scammonden Water, while the shorter route cuts through
Marsden, birthplace of poet laureate Simon Armitage, and the inspiration for much of his work. The routes follow several A-roads, but they are not too busy. There’s a café stop at the cycle-friendly Handmade Bakery Café in the mill town of Slaithwaite (Upper Mills, HD7 5HA) at 28.9 miles for the long route and 21.1 miles for the short route.

Sunday 57 miles, 5782 feet of climbing

The big one and an absolute classic that takes in some of the best countryside and climbs in the
Pennines. The route heads south over Holme Moss, a superb climb that marks the
boundary between the Holme Valley to the north and the Peak District to the south. The climb was used when the Tour de France started in Yorkshire in 2014 and you can still see the words Cav and Froome painted on ‘Le Col de Moss’, as it was named, as you slowly ascend.

After the descent, the route eventually heads to Glossop and over Snake Pass, a long climb which was originally a toll road designed by Thomas Telford. At the top you’re in for a treat, with an almost continuous nine-mile descent to Ladybower Reservoir. There you have a choice. The longer route head towards Hathersage and the spacious café attached to the David Mellor cutlery factory. After lunch, if you are feeling particularly brave (or foolhardy), then there’s an option to briefly detour off the route and visit Bamford Clough – reputed to be the world’s steepest paved road, a truly vicious half-mile climb that tops out at 36.5%. There’s a pint for anyone who can make it to the top on two wheels unassisted.
The shorter route skips the visit to Hathersage and both routes re-join to head up Mortimer Road past the Strines Inn, which is a food stop option for those who didn’t stop at David Mellor. Go easy on the beers, however, as the Strines beckon – three successive short but steep climbs that will eventually take you up to Langsett Reservoir and to the junction with the A616. Look out for Bank View Café, on the other side of the road, if you need a final refresher. It’s hard to miss – painted white with red King of the Mountains polka dots.

Monday 37 miles, 4,829 feet of climbing

If you have some go left in you then this hilly ‘greatest hits’ ride takes you
on some of the highlights of the last few days. It heads over to Emley Moor
and then south towards the pretty village of Dunford Bridge
before weaving to the foot of Holme Moss. Unlike the previous day, this
tackles the climb northbound. Change into a small gear and spin; it’s a very
long climb that never gets too steep, allowing you to drink in the scenery one last time, before
descending through the villages of Holme, Holme Bridge and finally Holmfirth.

Massive thank you to Clayton for putting the package together, Clayton can’t promise good weather for the full 4 days, but has guaranteed it won’t be too hot to ride!

This week we continue our summer evening rides with a 6.30pm departure from Pitstone roundabout. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42807646

This weeks theme is “one become two” there will be two pace groups splitting when we get to the first climb. Once in your pace group riders can measure their effort up the long but shallow climb to the top of Aston Hill by getting into a steady cadence. Thanks to Dave B for providing the route of 20 miles.

Three routes for your enjoyment this Sunday, with the summer timetable now in place our early ride starts at 9am and being the first Sunday on the month has a coffee stop option at Spire and Spoke, Watlington. This route is quite simply the flatest 100km route, a good prep for Ride London and the tour of Cambridge. It’s so flat, there is more climbing on the 10am route which is less than half the miles!

At 10am we have a few hills on the menu, The Beacon, Pedley hill and Pipers Hill await rides on this 30 mile outing.

At 10.30am we have a 24 mile route heading through Halton, it’s a mini version on the 9am route, a good chance for beginners and returners to work as a Peloton together

***Save the date*** our first Sunday in July coffee stop ride will be “The Benson Finger” a club favourite, this will coincide with the Benson Vintage Bike club annual Rally which starts from the playgound just off the B4009 on our route to Benson, the rally is quite a sight with riders in vintage clothing on some amazing old machines.

9am 64 miles, 1,700 feet of climbing https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42762986

10am 30 miles 1,880 feet of climbing https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42761729

10.30am 24 miles 600 feet of climbing https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42761777

So see you on Sunday for some fun on two wheels…. Roll on Sunday.

This week our rides depart from Ivinghoe church at 9.30am, 10am or 10.30am. After this we will be switching to “summer mode” when Tuesday evening rides will start at the roundabout in Pitstone at 6.30pm and the longer Sunday rides will start at 9am.

Thanks as always to Dave Bembridge for providing the 10am and 10.30 routes. This week a 31 mile ride takes us to Soulbury while our 21 mile offering loops out to Tottenhoe

Our 9.30am route https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42687782 The Kimpton Kracker, 47 miles with the hills in the right direction (shallow side up). Kimpton is bypassed by two Roman roads, Watling Street and Ermine Street and there is evidence of a network on minor Roman roads through the parish. A chariot bell was found at Blackmore End, a spot we cycle past. This could have been a relic from the bloody encounter between Boudicca, queen of the Iceni and Roman governor Suetonius. Kimpton recieved 138 children from the great evacuation of London in 1938 and two years later this forward thinking village decided to allow female voices to be heard in the church choir!

10am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42673480 This week a 31 mile ride takes us to Soulbury. Soulbury in an Anglo Saxon name meaning “stronghold in a gully” it was mentioned in the doomsday book as Soleberie. Just before we turn left out of Soulbury there is a road on the right called Chapel Hill, close to the junction with the high street there is a glacial rock on the middle of the road. It is said that the Devil himself once came to the village, but the villagers came together to fight him off. One of them took his sword and cut off the Devil’s foot and as it fell to the ground it turned to stone. The stone came to be known as the Soulbury Boot and the pub being named the duke of Wellington is a nod to the boot! Soulbury has a dark past, with a strong association with the cottage industry of straw plaiting. The Plaiting saw girls as young as 4 years old introduced into long working hours, working with bleached straw. Death rates in the 19th century were 50% higher amoung straw plaiters than the general population due party to having to lick the sulphur covered straw to make it workable.

10.30am https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42673499 21 mile offering loops out to Tottenhoe. Tottenhoe was named in the Doomsday book as Totene Hou meaning look-out house and spur. The knolls were part of a Norman Keep and it was considered to be a fine Motte and Bailey Castle. The stone quarried from the knolls end of the village has been used in many local churches and also St Albans cathedral and Woburn Abbey. At the start of the 20th century Tottenhoe was served by a railway line with the station down at Stanbridgeford, there was a siding for the local lime works and the line attracted many day trippers from the big towns for a day in the country at Tottenhoe. The line was cut during the beeching reforms and is now the “Sewell Greenway” a pleasant cycle route, but maybe not on your best road bike.

In a future week we will be putting out a treasure hunt style ride with some more historic facts to look out for, so keep your eyes peeled and enjoy the rides!