Are there any intrepid riders out there? I think tomorrow will be one for mountain bikes so I may not be out myself, but will keep an eye out to see who turns up! There is always good tea and cake at the Rose and Crown for those who get that far, and decide its far enough!

Sally

So as 2012 drew to a close a number of our untrepid group gathered again for what is becoming a traditional Boxing Day Walk to the Brownlow Cafe at Ashridge (thank you Ian and Jensigne, we thought of you sunning yourselves in Spain!) before returning to, yes you’ve guessed it, the Rose and Crown.

A great opportunity to talk to great friends and drink Sloe Gin!!  Get it in your diaries for next year.

2013 a New Year

Look out for those new bikes, chaps I fear the Ladies are leading the way with a nice Scott CR1 and a Trek 7.6 (I think) recently seen out for their inaugural rides and watch this space for a lovely piece of Italian ladies specific machinery (no it’s not a chap called Mario!) rumoured to be joining the peleton shortly.  But leading the fashion stakes look out for those lovely red kangaroo skin road shoes 🙂

Challenges seem to be the order of the day for this year and they can come in all shapes and sizes, but it is great to have a personal goal to aim at!  Next Sunday several of the group are looking to tackle the Harp Hilly Hundred, do let us know if you are planning it and please fly the Vinghoe Velos flag!  London to Paris is on the agenda again with at least 3 of the group taking it on details can be found on the Events page.  Please let us know of other events challenges you are planning that you would like to welcome others on!

Tonight at the Rose and Crown from 1930, there is planned a little bit of pre-ride hydration to say farewell to our founder sponsors Alistair and Tracella Owens who are returning to their native shores for several years lets try and send them off in style!

So to Sunday 13th’s rides meeting as usual at the Rose and Crown at 0950

Longer Route – kindly proposed by Dave ‘the hill’ Howe!

Shorter Route – kindly proposed by Dod ‘the mechanic’ Loxley, who has also offered to lead it out!

Volunteers for leading the shorter route each Sunday are asked to email in to let us know their availability please

Finally there have been a number of requests for Jerseys, these are available providing we get a minimum order of 5 at £38 each.  If you are looking to get one please email your interest through the site along with size required.  YOU ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO TRY ON A JERSEY FROM A FELLOW CYCLIST AS THE SIZING FROM THE SUPPLIER APPEAR TO BE INACCURATE, or of course in my case too many pies!

It looks cold tomorrow, so put on an extra jumper and extra socks. We are off to Leighton Buzzard for tea and cakes! 10 am outside the Rose and Crown. All welcome.

Sally

Tomorrow’s Ride

And Jim has kindly offered to lead a Shorter Route

See you at Rose and Crown at 0945 tomorrow!

The first tea ride of the year. Come and join us. 10 am outside the Rose and Crown, pace set by the slowest rider.

Sally

This will be the last ride of what has been a fantastic year for us cyclists. Sir Bradley & Co. have done us proud on the road and track and that naughty American chappie has finally been exposed as a cheating so-and-so. So to celebrate (and maybe to help with shedding any excess calories some of us have taken on-board over the last week) we are going big.

Peter Thompson, who organised the highly successful Normandy Invasion earlier this year, has kindly put together a great route which he describes as not containing any ‘serious hills’. It is around 40 miles but there is a nice shortcut at Stewkley for those who would prefer a significantly shorter route. As always, we meet at the Rose & Crown from 9:50am.

Last route of 2012

Finally, we would like to say a very big THANK YOU to everyone who has ridden with us this year. We have enjoyed some fantastic rides and more often than not the weather has been kind to us. Let’s hope that good weather continues for our ride tomorrow.

But the Tea Ride will go forth regardless!

Apologies for the ermmmm, “late” posting.

10am, Rose & Crown, for those who fancy what could be a spot of land yachting……

Carrying on the tradition we aim to walk from the Rose and Crown, leaving at 1000, on Boxing Day.

A muddy trail to Ashridge for coffee is planned before a steady stroll back to the Rose and Crown for a pint!

The Sloe Gin has just been decanted and ‘home made’ goods are the order of the day.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas

Firstly, many thanks to everyone who joined our Velos Christmas party on Friday evening. It was a FAB evening and once again the Rose & Crown did us proud delivering excellent food and refreshments.

Looks like the roads will be a bit wet and the wind will be blowing a gale for tomorrow’s ride – but the good news is that it will be warm for this time of year and we probably won’t actually be rained on (which is more than can be said for the Tea Ride this morning who braved positively monsoon conditions).

Given the time of year, we will be encouraging members to do something Christmasy for this ride. That might range from a bit of tinsel on the handlebars to a full on Rudolph outfit. Points will be awarded for effort and execution. We gather from 9:50am at the Rose & Crown.

The Route

Ride safely.