After a long gap, I thought I would try to revive the idea of a newsletter. How often it comes out will depend on what there is to say and whether I get contributions from the 250 Cycling UK members in the Aylesbury area who receive this. Contributions don't have to be great works of journalism (as you can tell!), but if you read an interesting article, hear a podcast, read a book, see a video or whatever that may interest other cyclists and can send me a link to it, please do.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Safe cycling,
Peter Robinson
The AA recently advised motorists to avoid driving through puddles, because they may conceal potholes, leading to vehicle damage!
Welcome to our world!
The AA received 52,541 call-outs in October 2023 for vehicles damaged by road defects - a 12% increase on October last year.
A couple of years ago, I rode through a long shallow-looking puddle, having watched a car go through. Halfway through, my front wheel went down a pothole pitching me over the handlebars. I lost my £200 cycling glasses beneath the muddy water and shivered home; luckily the bike and I weren't damaged, but it has made me more cautious.
Roger Lewis-Smith has taken over from Philip Baronius as our Rides Secretary whose job it is to maintain our online Rides List. Many thanks to Roger for taking over this vital job, that Philip has done so efficiently for a number of years
Roger also collects the statistics about attendance on rides which we have to submit annually to Cycling UK. Will leaders please fill in this simple report form after a ride, giving the number of male and female riders, to make the job as easy as possible? You can also find a link to the form on the online rides list.
If you are a regular rider, please take a turn leading rides. If you need help with planning a suitable ride, please ask me or have a look at the Route Library. At the moment the Route Library has Step Up and Moderate rides, but we can easily add the EP rides if leaders let us have them.
Tony Barnard kindly sent me a link to a newly discovered cafe in a narrow boat on the canal. It’s about half-way between Ivinghoe and Horton just off the B448 at The Brownlow, Ivinghoe, LU7 9DY.
I haven't been yet so I can't give it a review, but if you do visit, let me know what you think.
Jeremy and some of our other social night regulars are going to the Kings Head on Wednesday 20th December instead of the regular 2nd Wednesday and invite you all to join them from 7:30pm in the Hop Pocket room.
Despite the picture, a full range of non-alcoholic hot and cold drinks is available too and there may be mulled wine.
