South Bucks Midweek Cycling Newsletter - August 2022

We are always looking for ways to attract new people to try our rides and here is one that anyone can do. Don’t just recycle your Cycle magazine when you have read it, pass it on to someone else who might enjoy reading it or even take up cycling. Alternatively, try leaving it anywhere people have to wait and may pick up a magazine to while away the time. If possible, attach the contact details for our group so people are aware that they can join in locally. We are lucky to have a professionally produced magazine to represent us, so let’s make the most of it.  I can send you a page of the business card contact details if you contact me.

The Cog in Tring has permanently closed.  The Bread House in Chalfont St Peter has closed and become a "Craft Cafe", but even that was closed on Wednesday 17th August for summer holidays.  Service could be slow if you have to make your own mug and plate first!  Nearby Crumbs was also closed; it's like France in August!

Paul and Viviane are leading Trail Rides on some Wednesdays.  They are not on the Rides Schedule because they decide on the Monday if and where to go, so you need to be on Paul's email list.  Contact Paul at pthorne.greystones@gmail.com.

If you have met me recently, you already know I enjoyed a two week cycling tour in Slovenia in July with Rob Bunyan.  It has all the scenic elements I like; mountains, forests, big rivers, lakes and waterfalls. With a  population of just over two million, most of whom seem to speak English, it wasn't too busy.  We flew with our own bikes from Heathrow to Ljubljana and got a (large) taxi transfer to our first hotel where we left our bike boxes until our return at the end of the tour.  I booked all the B&Bs and hotels and planned the routes between them in advance.  Average daily distance was only about 70km but coupled with an average of 1060 metres of ascent and 30C+ weather it was enough.  The roads and everything else were well maintained and litter free.  We had no physical or mechanical problems and no rain while cycling; we were very lucky that everything went so well.  The tour was a bargain too; less than £1400 each for fares, accommodation and all food for two weeks.  We covered the main places in the northern half of Slovenia but I would happily go back and see the rest.

Another 3 week grand tour to enjoy!

The streets and waterways of Utrecht, Netherlands were decorated ahead of the Grand Depart of the 2022 Vuelta a España, with the team celebrations taking place on Thursday ahead of the team time trial that will see the 184 riders race through the city on Friday 19th August.  Could this be something to do with Jumbo Visma being a Netherlands based team and Primoz Roglic, Jumbo Visma, looking for a fourth consecutive overall victory.  Alexandro Valverde starts this tour 20 years after turning pro and riding the Vuelta for the first time. The Vuelta will start in the Netherlands, which was the starting point for the same race where the Movistar leader took his one and (to date) only Grand Tour victory. Add in a further six podium as well as 12 stage wins, and if it's fair to say the Vuelta has all but defined Valverde as a stage racer, at times he has become emblematic of the Vuelta, too.  Ever the realist, Valverde ruled out one last throw of the dice at the overall victory, in his last ever Grand Tour, saying a good result for him would consist of "avoiding crashes and staying healthy and helping the team, while taking a stage win would be great, too.  22 teams are competing, notable names Chris Froome , Fred Wright, good performance in the Tour de France.

BIG One Cycle Jumble at the Epilepsy Centre, Chesham Lane, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 0RJ on Saturday 3 September