A tale of two rides

It’s the Bank Holiday weekend and we are going big with the rides this week.

Giro d’Aylesbury

Dave ‘The Hill’ Howe has designed a great route circumnavigating Aylesbury that is actually pretty flat. Just as well because it will be around the 55 mile mark, so we plan for this ride to leave earlier than normal. It will depart from the Rose & Crown at 9am. If required, we will split in to groups based on the assembled abilities. Given the distance, please bring enough liquids just in case the sun makes an appearance.

Giro d’Aylesbury route – 55 miles, 9am start

Bembridge Beautiful Bonanza

Our other resident routemaster, Dave Bembridge has put together a great route for the regular ride on Sunday. He will be leading the ‘steady’ paced group that is suitable for all riders. We don’t have a lead yet for the 13mph group so we plan to elect one on the day. This ride will start at the usual time of 10am from the usual place, The Rose & Crown, Ivinghoe.

Bembridge Beautiful Bonanza route – 33 miles, 10am start

Action Davina 100

We would like to congratulate the Vinghoe Velos Ladies who successfully competed the Sussex Davina 100 ride a couple of weeks ago. They did a FAB job of representing the club and the finishing times were pretty flipping brilliant. Well done girls, you did us all proud. Also well done to Mr Hetherington for completing the very tough job of being Ms MaCall’s bodyguard for the event – we aren’t jealous at all, honestly.  

Saturday, 10am, The Rose & Crown.
It’s a beautiful day outside – whatever the weather when you’re on a Tea Ride!

Riding My Bicycle
So Smooth…

When I was nine years old
I had my bicycle
Now that I’m thirty one
I think it’s just as fun
So fun…

Before I got my Guitar
Before I had my first car
I had my training wheels
A bicycle made of steel
So real …

It’s a beautiful day
for a ride!
You know you
wanna come along!
Its a beautiful day outside
the air will do you good

Riding My Bicycle
So Smooth…

I wish that I could be
Bicycling on the sea
I’d have a paddleboat
My Bicycle would float
And float…

I wish that I could fly
Bicycles in the sky
My legs are getting strong
Bicycles all day long
So long…

It’s a beautiful day
for a ride!
You know you
wanna come along!
its a beautiful day outside
the air will do you good

Riding My Bicycle
So Smooth…

So Long!

The Jellydots – “Bicycle”

Our route this week has been planned by Dave Bembridge, who has also kindly offered to lead out a ‘steady’ ride again. At this time, we don’t have a volunteer to lead the 13mph group so we will sort that appointment out on the day. As usual we meet at the Rose and Crown, Ivinghoe from 9:45am with a view to starting off at 10am.

The route – 28 miles with one or two slopes on the way

One last thing. We were reminded last week by one of the group that we probably should be clear about our legal standpoint regarding everyones’ personal responsibilities – so here goes.
Those who lead out a group, the route planners, those who send the postings out each week, and those who organise things like our trip to France, in no way make any assurances as to the safety of any rides organised under the ‘Vinghoe 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. 

Sing a song of cyclists
All pedalling down the lane
We are off to the Tea Shop
Then back to the pub again

You’d be very welcome
If you would like to come
And bring along your bicycle
To join in with the fun

The Rose & Crown at 10am
Is where you need to be
Bring your pocket money
And come cycling with me!

A tale of two Daves

While I am afraid that this post doesn’t have the eloquence and wordiness of my partners in crime, I can at least entertain you with news of a new main route for our enjoyment this Sunday. Route-mapper extraordinaire Dave “Hardly any hills, honest” Howe has come up with another corker that takes us over to sunny Redbourn. Jose has kindly agreed to lead out the 13 mph group on this ride. For anyone who wants a faster pace, there will be a “bat out of hell” group that follows the same route.

A special word of caution for this route – there is a bit at the end of a dead end road a (around the 13.5 mile mark) where we have to get off the bike to cross a pavement. It is so that we can get across the A5183 safely so don’t be too concerned if your presented with a No Through Road just after riding through Redbourn.

Main Group Route : 28 miles

Another piece of good news this week is that Dave “cycling tutor to the stars” Bembridge has planned a shorter ride for the more sensibly paced amongst us. The length will be 25 miles but there is a sneaky short cut built in for those who just want to do 20. The route isn’t ready for publishing yet, but Dave assures us that it is relatively flat and he will be leading it out. Our normal motto applies – no rider will be left behind so please feel free to join us no matter what your ability.

is nimble
Jack is quick
Jack rides races
His tyres are slick.

Mary rides steady
And trust me, I know,
That to the Tea Shop
Her ride will go.

She’s been left in charge
And will decide where to go
And before you ask –
She’s definitely a pro!

And this is what
It’s all about
We meet at the pub
Come rain or drought.

On Saturdays
At 10am
We go for a ride
Then back again.

So even if
You’re new in town
Pop on round
To the Rose & Crown.

No-one EVER
Get’s left behind
And NO rider
Is ever declined.

This week, I promise
Mary will look after you
‘Cos here at the Velos
That’s what we do!

Sarah has volunteered to lead a steady paced ride again this week.

We haven’t had a volunteer in advance to lead the 13mph group this week, so if you would like to, please step forward in the morning.

Meeting at 9.50am, Rose & Crown, Ivinghoe, for a 10am departure please.

This is where Sarah’s group will be going.

And this is the route for everyone else.

While pedalling through the lanes one day
In the merry merry month of May
We were taken by surprise
By a pair of roguish eyes
We were scared but didn’t run away!

He walked along so daintily
Moving as graceful as can be.
His legs were like the trunks of a tree
We hardly came up to his knee.
He looked at me again
And I knew we would be friends.
He’s just a little bigger than me!

He had the cutest baby too
About as old as me and you.
Maybe soon one day
We could all go out and play
And be friends with one
Elephant in Pitstone

He walked along so daintily
Moving as graceful as can be.
I though I’d seen a lot of things
From Mentmore to the town of Tring,
From his tail up to his trunk,
From the back up to the front.
The elephant is so astonishing!

Apologies all, the sudden and it would seem, ongoing, sighting of a gorgeous golden glow in the skies appears to have gone to my head.

So, ramblings complete (had to go for the nursery rhyme version rather than Ed Haley original lyrics), all on parade for 10am please, Rose & Crown, Ivinghoe.

Helmets, sunglasses, shorts & sunscreen:- recommended
Wildlife spotters guide:- optional

A Message from Bono

First off this week, we have a message from one of our regulars, Mark Wilson.

I’ll be riding 250 miles between May 30th and June 2nd to raise funds for Help For Heroes. This great charity raises funds to support and improve the treatment, rehabilitation and ongoing help for British service men and women injured in conflict. The charity has already achieved great things but the demands on it’s resources continue.

The ride I’m on will leave the National Arboretum on the Thursday and join up with 2000 other cyclists at Blackheath on the Sunday. The 2000 will then cycle into Whitehall making the largest single group of cyclists ever riding through London.

 If you would like to sponsor me please go to www.bmycharity.com/markwilson . You can see the details of the ride at www.pedal4heroes.co.uk . And you can follow my training on my Facebook page .

Thanks for any support you can offer Help For Heroes.

Mark (Bono)

This Week’s Ride

Looking at the forecast, we might have just missed the worst of the hail and rain – we have our fingers crossed.

Sarah has kindly volunteered to lead out the ‘steady’ paced group this week. The route is 20 miles and has just a couple of small ‘bumps’. This group rides at the pace of the slowest rider so should be good for all abilities.

The main ride is going a different route (28 miles) and likely to split again in to two teams : the ’13 mph average’ group and the ‘fast lot’. At the time of writing this, we don’t yet have a pre-ordained leader for the main group. If you fancy being the lead, please let yourself be known at the start of the ride. If you can’t lead us this week but are able to offer your services in the future, please use the contact form on the website to put yourself forward and we will create a rota.

As always, we meet from 9:50am and depart at 10:00am from the Rose and Crown, Ivinghoe.

Sarah’s Steady paced Ride – 20 miles

The rest of us Ride – 28 miles

Meet at 10 am outside the Rose and Crown for more tea, cake and adventures. Very gentle pace, walking up hills is totally acceptable.

See you there.