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I've got to get the turkey first from the butchers, and have relatives visiting for when I get home - but all the more reason to come cycling! Fingers crossed I will make it...

Not cycling related, but anyone in Buckingham over the weekend is welcome to visit the the BAFA Art Exhibition in the Community Centre (next to Waitrose).

Open 9.30 – 5 Saturday and 10 – 4 Sunday.
Free admission, refreshments available and some live music too from Buckingham acoustic club.
And of course lots of art by local artists.
Hope some of you can pop in - you may well see my wife Clare who helps to organise it all.

James

All,

This maybe of interest to some: a relatively local sportive on closed roads:

Tour of Cambridgeshire
Sunday 3 June 2018 (note: this is the last Friday of May half term)
Start/finish Peterborough
79 miles closed roads
Not cheap: £75 if booked before 31 Dec; £85 thereafter
Limited to 8000 participants

http://www.golazocycling.com/Tour_of_Cambridgeshire/Gran_Fondo_Sportive_Tour_of_Cambridgeshire.php

I'm going for it, maybe see some of you there.

James

@PatH you've only just remembered?

@TallTim we did thank you, and the food was delicious. Bacon sarnies, apple & cinnamon cake, scrambled egg on toast... Did you see the pictures?

@PaulW, all, sorry for short notice, but won't make it today, have come down with a cold overnight. Really sorry I can't make it, enjoy the ride, see you next week.

James

I am planning to head up to Birmingham on the Saturday to collect my registration pack - I will take one of my children as cover and visit a museum or something!

I am happy to collect some registrations packs on behalf of others. If so, you will need to get the following to me:

• a copy of your confirmation email
  
• a signed letter nominating me as the person allowed to collect your pack
  
• a photocopy of your photo ID.
  
  

(See: https://velobirmingham.com/why-birmingham/faqs/)

Let me know if so and we'll work out about dropping the documents round to me, and vice versa afterwards.

James

I've heard us talk about this, but can't find any posts - anyone up for a trip to Brill next Saturday (9 September) to see the Tour of Britain KOM?

Links to map, timings etc: http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/stages/stage-seven/

Race due to climb Brill between 11:59 and 12:18, although the lead cars will drive through at 11:54 and we would need to be there in reasonable time to get a good spot.

James

@MattH,

Yes I did:

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Hi James,

Thank you for your email.

Due to the early start on Sunday, registration has always been scheduled for the Saturday. Are you riding with anyone that can collect your pack for you?

Many thanks,
The Vélo Birmingham Team
+++

So as expected, no leeway.

I may consider taking the children up on Saturday for a day out in Birmingham (!!!) and register then. But it will be a right pain!

James

I just sent the following email to the organisers:

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For some time I have been looking forward to the Velo Birmingham ride. But I have just received an email saying that I need to collect my pack in person from the National Arena on the Saturday, the day before the ride, which has left me feeling quite upset.

I live 70 miles from Birmingham, and it is both uneconomic and not environmentally friendly for me to make two trips to Birmingham, once on the Saturday and then again on the Sunday. Given I have spent £78 on the ride itself, to spend another £35 on the train (plus driving to the station and paying £10 to park) to come up just to collect a registration pack is unfair and discriminatory - and no other ride that I have ridden has imposed this harsh requirement.

Please can you arrange to post my registration pack to me, or arrange for me to collect it on Sunday?
+++

I should receive a reply within 72 hours. I'm not hopeful, but thought it worth a try. Otherwise we shall have to try and work something out between us.

Just had a "two months to go" email from Velo Birmingham which says:

RACE PACK & GOODY BAG COLLECTION:
Unless you are a Fast Track rider, you will need to come to the Barclaycard Arena in the city centre to collect your race pack on Saturday September 23

I'm pretty sure I'm not a fast track rider, but having spent £78 on the ride, the last thing I expected was to be told I had to make two trips to Brum, once just to collect my race pack!!!

Does anyone know if we have to do this? What happens if we just turn up on Sunday?

James

@MattH,

Thank you for raising the issue and seeking views. Here are my thoughts, trying to be as honest and open as possible...

As a group of riders, we have all improved over the last 12 months (a year ago I would have been pleased with a 16+mph ride of this length) and roughly in line with each other (if anything I'm probably one of the slower core medium riders now) and probably continue to improve at roughly the same rate. As far as I can see we all know what to expect and the pace suits us all. Of course, it does make it difficult for a rider to step up from the ride below.

But for the same reason there is at least the perception that it would be difficult to step up to the fast ride, even though we are good for 17+mph, because (certainly in my perception) the fast ride is routinely faster than 17mph, perhaps above 18mph. While I can do 17.3mph it is right on my current limit and I'd be worried joining the fast ride that I would slow everyone else down - and this would feel a bit selfish.

Also, the average speed of 17+ mph doesn't quite tell the full story, as took a break at the top of a couple of climbs we did today to catch our breath and recover a little.

We do have riders of different abilities join us and if I am honest I suspect once or twice it has sometimes felt as I describe above - i.e., the core group wanting to keep up the pace. (Once I was dropped on the way home - having not ridden for a few weeks - but I didn't mind knowing that everyone is trying to stretch themselves.)

Due to work commitments I find if difficult getting out in the week, meaning that the Sunday ride is generally the only ride I do each week. But that is why I so enjoy having the club and coming out, because it provides the incentive for me to get out of bed and get a good long ride in - and stretching myself to 17+mph gives me a lot of satisfaction.

I know how tricky this is and as @Woodwheels70 (Guy) says I don't envy the committee in working out how to approach this. I recognise that the current set up makes it difficult for people to step up to the next ride - but on the other hand it has felt rewarding us all improving together as a group. That said, if the club comes up with some ideas to try something different, I'd be happy to go along with it.

Maybe one simple thing is just to re-introduce/re-emphasise the existing step up rides, and maybe we should all be more open to trying them out.

These are just my opinions and I'd be very happy to discuss. You will also have @PaulW on the committee who I am sure can give some insight into the medium group.

James

Having turned up last Sunday and found no medium ride planned, @BarryD, @Laurent and myself had a very enjoyable ride in fine but slightly windy weather to Kizzies via the Astons. After a welcome drink and cake in the sun next to the canal we had a wind-assisted fairly quick ride home.

@PaulS: How do I send the completed ride sheet to you?

James

Am afraid I will miss it too, pity as it looks a good route. See you next time.

See you there. @AdamPool you are leaving us early again!

Difficult to tell from that map, but looks as though it goes through Waddesdon and either up Brill or round the back of Brill.

Also, slightly too far for a midweek ride, but how about a trip to Daventry on Wed 7 June?

http://www.womenstour.co.uk/stages/stage-1/

Maybe... How long is long? (Thinking of time out rather than distance!)

Also worth noting that the route uses many of our favourite roads south of Buckingham, so we could meet a lot of cycling traffic out and about depending which way our rides head.

Link to purple patch 60 mile route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12053461

I will just say that I think the Committee are doing a great job. Three rides each Sunday, always enjoyable to ride, regular and new members, club kit, plus some social activities on top. And new ideas being developed this year.

Good to hear from you Chris, hope you recover quickly

An eventful ride. Riding into the wind outward, @TallTim retired at Pimlico, and Chris came off at Souldern - hope you recover quickly. @Julian waited with him to be picked up, while the rest of us made it up and over the Astons to Kizzies - open again, and a good choice of food. Julian joined us again, and we sailed home with the wind on our backs, only for Guy to come off at the ford in Bainton - although going slowly so no harm done. Back on our bikes, we came across the fast ride at Gawcott. @PaulW: Paul Tiller sends his regards, he and his group stopped with us for a bit at Souldern.

Nice poster!

I'm also signed up!

Four of us set out, but for one reason and another first Stephanie and then Paul had to turn back, leaving just Guy and me to head on to Kizzies... only to find it well and truly closed! But Swan Wheelers are a hardy bunch... we headed up the next hill, stopped for a quick energy bar, and completed the ride, even with the rain starting and a breeze that didn't appear to give respite from any direction! Good to get out on the bike again after a few frustrating weeks - but it did feel a bit of a test (for me) - Guy's strength training showed through!

Great ride @MattH, thanks. Definitely felt I'd earn the cake after Brill, Ashendon and Winchendon. And no punctures despite @StephenT winding me up as we set off.