South Bucks Midweek Cycling Newsletter - March 2023

The link below is to a BBC World Service, Business Daily programme which I thought you might find interesting.

Portugal is the biggest bicycle manufacturer in Europe. According to Eurostat, it produced 2.9 million bicycles in 2021, with exports generating around 594 million euros - almost 610 million US dollars - and sales are up 49% this year. 

Why did we not know that?  Because there are no Portuguese brands of note.  There is going to be a joint venture with a German and a Taiwanese company to start making carbon fibre frames; maybe they will back a racing team?

You will receive an email with the agenda in due course, but please note that the AGM will be held at Prestwood Village Hall, 1 Wycombe Rd, Prestwood, Great Missenden HP16 0NZ on Wednesday 10th May 2023 at 13:00 with refreshments available from 12:00 after the rides.  This is your opportunity to elect the committee who will organise rides and events for the following year and to raise points for discussion. If you wish to propose a motion to be voted on at the AGM, it should be sent to the secretary 10 days before the meeting for inclusion in the agenda. Please do come and give your support. 

For those of you who like an event that you can do with family or friends, this is the biggest and best.  It is not a sportive, but a charity ride and there is a short family-friendly route as well as more challenging routes into north Bucks.

There's full support along the route including regular water stops, marshals, first aid and support vehicles plus you'll be rewarded with a well-earned medal at the finish. There will also be massage, a barbecue and a bar at the finish so that you can recover and relax. Join up with your friends, family and work colleagues and experience a unique ride, all whilst helping us provide opportunities for disabled people to lead active lives.

This charity ride is organised by WheelPower, the Stoke Mandeville charity who  provide opportunities for disabled people to lead healthy, active lives. We would love you to set up a sponsor page on JustGiving.com to support our work.

Another local event; this one on 14th May 2023 is a Sportive based on Chartridge School under the British Cycling flag.

The routes of Ride Chartridge are designed to showcase the best of the Chiltern Hills, with stunning views and challenging climbs. The 100km (Black) and 60km (Red) rides are both challenging, but also rewarding, as riders will have the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful parts of the hills. Families can also take part on our 16km Blue route.

Along the way, there will be refreshment stops and rest areas, as well as plenty of opportunities to take in the stunning views. Whether you're a seasoned cyclist or just looking for a fun day out with the family, Ride Chartridge is the perfect event for you

Jill Armshaw reports:

Buckinghamshire Council are developing a county-wide Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) which will shape the Council’s delivery approach, support the emerging Local Transport Plan 5 and Local Plan, help tackle climate change, improve air quality, and create healthy and well-connected communities.

The Buckinghamshire LCWIP will be informed and developed using the sixteen Buckinghamshire Community Board areas. The Buckinghamshire LCWIP is strategic and will not provide detailed route plans, include every aspiration, or guarantee funding for delivery of the scheme. All proposals in the final Buckinghamshire LCWIP will be subject to further work (design, funding and engagement). The Buckinghamshire LCWIP is at Stage 2 of the process – Gathering Information. You can read the developing Buckinghamshire LCWIP at the link below.

As part of the process in developing the Buckinghamshire LCWIP, the North West Chilterns Community Board has developed a draft aspirational LCWIP, which includes our area. This draft LCWIP sets out the currently known aspirations for cycling and walking improvements within and across the North West Chilterns area and at a detailed level compared with the strategic Buckinghamshire LCWIP.

The Community Board hope that, once finalised, its aspirational LCWIP for the North West Chilterns area will be adopted as a supplementary document to sit alongside and support the strategic Buckinghamshire LCWIP.

The Community Board’s draft aspirational LCWIP for the North West Chilterns includes proposals already adopted by the Wycombe Local Plan. It also includes the draft Hughenden Greenway Project which connects High Wycombe to Hughenden linking with the National Trust property Hughenden Manor. This draft Hughenden Greenway Project has already undergone some design and study.

You are invited to comment on both the Buckinghamshire and North West Chilterns Community Board LCWIPs. You can access both documents on the North West Chilterns Community Board page of the Buckinghamshire Council website

North West Chilterns Community Board | Buckinghamshire Council (scroll to the bottom of the page).

The deadline for comments, feedback, and ideas is 31st March 2023.

Your input matters so please help shape these draft documents.

Please email your comments to: Jackie Binning - North West Chilterns Community Board Manager

Jackie.Binning@buckinghamshire.gov.uk