Keep Moving Lazy Bones

Friday, 20 March 2026

Kenton to the Ice Cream Farm

Ride type:

Guided Ride

Ride suitability:

Local Rides Steady

Ride title:

Kenton to the Flourish Bakery

Start Postcode:

HA3 8AX

Elevation:

GPX reference:

Komoot route

Introduce your route:

New riders are especially welcome. We have a policy of leaving no rider behind so if anyone is struggling we will adjust the speed and take rest stops if necessary. If you have questions or concerns speak to the Ride Leader or contact them before the ride. We ask that you read the full details of the ride including the distance and terrain to ensure the ride will be enjoyable for you.

Kind of roads you'll be riding:

We will use a mix of roads and cycle paths on this route with hills and short sections of main road with fast moving traffic.

Stops on the way:

We stop for drinks and snacks at the excellent Flourish Bakery in the North Watford area. As they do excellent bread you may wish to have extra pannier space for the return trip.

What to bring:

Please check your bike at home before the ride leaving yourself time to remedy any issues such as brake adjustments and repairing punctures. Bring a spare inner tube of the correct size and valve type for your bike, the tools to repair a puncture, a bike lock, water and a snack. It is advised that you bring money for the café or unexpected circumstances such as taking the train home. Please be mindful that not everywhere takes cash payment.

Consider the duration of the ride, the time of day you will be riding and the weather forecast. Dress appropriately ensuring no loose clothing or long laces that could get entangled in bike parts.

Route description:

This is the ride for you if you don't like hills. Starting at Kenton Recreation Ground we pass through Harrow Recreation Ground and Headstone Manor before taking the busy Oxhey Lane towards Carpenders Park. We pick up the NCN route 61 to the Oxhey Activity Park and on to the Flourish Bakery. We initially retrace our steps for the return then use Hampermill Lane to reach the rear entrance to Moor Park station. There are steps down to the station then we return via Pinner including a ride through Pinner Village Gardens.

Starting point description:

We will meet at the pump track in Kenton Recreation Ground. Arrive at least 10 minutes before the published start time to allow for introductions, bike checks and any briefing; this ensures a prompt departure at the stated time. The pump track is one hundred metres into the park from the car park which is at the end of Carlton Avenue. There is parking on local streets though do look for any parking restrictions.The nearest stations are Kenton (Bakerloo/Lioness) and Northwick Park (Metropolitan). Neither has step-free access. Postcode HA3 8AX. what3words ///fleet.jeeps.sends

Ride distance (miles):

Riding time (minutes):

200

Ride level (Easygoing, Steady, Challenging):

Challenging

Overall duration (minutes):

260

Thursday, 19 March 2026

Leading Rides

Introduction

This post covers some of the points to bare in mind when planning and leading bike rides. In no way does this replace formal training though it can be used as an aide memoir.

Route planning

Before you start planning a route consider your audience. The only constant is the all important coffee stop and the social aspect.

Beginners may enjoy 5 to 10 miles riding on flat mostly traffic-free roads and cycle paths
Confident cyclists happy with 10 to 30 mile rides
Some riders enjoy cycling as a way to explore and see sights of interest
People wanting to have a good bike ride on open roads
Riders looking to go at pace and cover longer distances

Planning routes is time consuming so make use of resources.

Paper maps can play a useful role if you want to get a big picture view
The cycle.travel website and app will create routes for you including circular routes for whatever distance you require
Komoot, RideWithGPS and similar apps have route planning functionality
British Cycling has a library of routes

The Epic Ride Weather app is useful for longer faster rides and racing where you may wish advance information on how weather conditions will affect your ride. If you have a brisk tailwind on the outward leg and a strong headwind on the return you may wish to opt for a later café stop or change how you manage pace.

The briefing

Welcoming riders as they arrive allows you to check for lose laces, soft tyres and missing water bottles
Swapping bikes for a bike check lets people inspect different bikes and technologies though you can't force anyone to hand over their bike
You do need to cover the bases and if you feel the group is experienced you can skip the bike check but if you get confirmation from riders that they have checked their bikes

Image by Freepik

Leading a ride

There are different ride leadership approaches (or systems) depending on whether you have one, two, three or four ride leaders. If you are leading as a team then it is just that; this is especially true when leading as a team of three or four because the roles on the road rotate at every junction to be managed.

Do treat every give way line on the road as a junction and manage it in that way. This includes the mini-roundabout with no cars in sight. It is only the left hand turn off a main road to a minor road where you have right of way and you can take the left turn.

Junctions are where problems could occur or the group might split. Applying the rule of slow in and slow out helps greatly. Slow in allows the group to bunch up at the junction and slow out prevents separation and allows the ride leader to check for any split.

To signal riders through a junction ensure the rider responsible for the junction can get there early and uses a calm "Clear", not a frantic "GO! GO! GO!" and use big windmill arms whilst concentrating on the road and a clear hand out and "Stop." if the road is no longer clear. Ideally the last rider will shout "Last rider approaching" and then a shout of "Last rider" as they pass the person manning the junction enabling that person to concentrate on whether the road is actually clear or not.

There are calls and signals the ride leaders or riders may want to use and it is worth clarifying these in advance as there is no international standard.

"Easy!" as an instruction on pace. This could be from a ride leader on the approach to a junction or from a rider who is finding the pace hard.
"Single" with arm up and one finger up
"Double" with arm up and two fingers up
"Out" with left hand pointing behind back to signal a move to the right; this is usually used when moving out for parked cars
"In" with right hand pointing behind back
"Elbows" to get riders in a tighter formation when riding two abreast. Useful for oncoming traffic or situations where there is less road width available
"Pedal Ready" to get riders on their marks whilst waiting to roll
"Rolling" indicates that the group is underway
"Inside", "Middle" and "Outside" with finger pointing for any potholes or other hazards. This works best if you are in a formal two abreast formation. Otherwise a call of "Hole" with finger pointing will work for less experienced riders
The navigator can raise their hand for three seconds to get attention before signalling left or right, or to rotate their arm signalling a roundabout. Arm point forward can signal straight ahead at a roundabout

Concluding Note

If a problem occurs could you justify your actions.

Tuesday, 17 March 2026

Kenton to the Flourish Bakery

Ride type:

Guided Ride

Ride suitability:

Local Rides Steady

Ride title:

Kenton to the Flourish Bakery

Start Postcode:

HA3 8AX

Elevation:

GPX reference:

Komoot route

Introduce your route:

Kind of roads you'll be riding:

We will use a mix of roads and cycle paths on this relatively flat route which does have short sections of main road with fast moving traffic.

Stops on the way:

We stop for drinks and snacks at the excellent Flourish Bakery in the North Watford area. As they do excellent bread you may wish to have extra pannier space for the return trip.

What to bring:

Consider the duration of the ride, the time of day you will be riding and the weather forecast. Dress appropriately ensuring no loose clothing or long laces that could get entangled in bike parts.

Route description:

Starting point description:

Ride distance (miles):

Riding time (minutes):

180

Ride level (Easygoing, Steady, Challenging):

Steady

Overall duration (minutes):

230

Monday, 16 March 2026

Organised Rides

This post lists a number of bike rides and contains some of the information required to advertise scheduled rides. It can be used to provide some of the text for British Cycling's Let's Ride platform or other sites. If using Let's Ride then have the necessary text, photo and .GPX file ready to copy in because at the time of writing the platform can clear text fields when updating the photo or .GPX file.

Image from Freepik

Index of Rides

Kenton to the Flourish Bakery: Click here
Kenton to the Ice Cream Farm: Click here

Standard Advisory Text

Arrive at least 10 minutes before the published start time to allow for introductions, bike checks and any briefing to ensure a prompt departure at the stated time.

Please check your bike at home before the ride leaving yourself time to remedy any issues such as brake adjustments and repairing punctures. Bring a spare inner tube of the correct size and valve type for your bike, the tools to repair a puncture, a bike lock, water and a snack. Money for the café or unexpected circumstances such as taking the train home is advised. Please be mindful that not everywhere takes cash payment.

Consider the duration of the ride, the time of day you will be riding and the weather forecast. Dress appropriately ensuring no loose clothing or laces that could get entangled in bike parts.

The time for the ride is a best estimate by the Ride Leader. Sometimes this can be affected by factors such as the weather, mechanical issues and the queue at the café.

Start Locations

Start locations are often in parks so what3words references are provided as well as a postcode.

Pinner Rides

One of the entrances to Pinner Village Gardens (PVG) nearest the roundabout where Rayners Lane meets Marsh Road. Postcode HA5 5NS. what3words ///ranges.tame.boot

Harrow Rides

We will meet by the Seva Park Café in the middle of Harrow Recreation Ground. There are multiple access points to the park including one off Cunningham Park, Harrow HA1 4QW. The park has a free car park accessed off Roxborough Road where that roads run next to the park. There is parking on some local streets though look for any parking restrictions. what3words ///toward.winks.sticks

Kenton Rides

We will meet at the pump track in Kenton Recreation Ground. Please arrive 10 minutes before the start time to ensure a prompt departure. The pump track is one hundred metres into the park from the car park which is at the end of Carlton Avenue. There is parking on local streets though do look for any parking restrictions.The nearest stations are Kenton (Bakerloo/Lioness) and Northwick Park (Metropolitan). Neither has step-free access. Postcode HA3 8AX. what3words ///fleet.jeeps.sends

Friday, 25 July 2025

Over 60s tfl and National Rail travel

Check the latest situation from official websites. There are lots of savings to be had if you are 60 or over. You need:

✅ 60+ Oyster Card (free off-peak)

✅ Senior Railcard (1/3 off rail and TfL)

✅ Standard Oyster Card (yes, for peak travel when 60+ isn't valid so you get a Senior Railcard discount)

You can’t link your Senior Railcard to your 60+ Oyster photocard, because the 60+ Oyster is effectively a free-off‑peak season ticket for those aged 60 or over in London and adding a railcard discount to it has no effect .

What you can do instead

1. Keep using your 60+ Oyster photocard for completely free travel on TfL services and qualifying National Rail journeys after 09:30 on weekdays (and anytime at weekends/holidays) within its zone coverage .

2. For TfL and rail journeys outside those free zones or before 09:30, get a separate standard Oyster card (or convert it online to a standard adult Oyster).

– Visit a Tube or National Rail ticket office and ask staff to link your Senior Railcard to this standard Oyster. They'll scan your railcard and card number to add your ⅓ off discount for off‑peak pay-as-you-go travel and for Off‑Peak Day Travelcards .

– Staff at stations like Euston, Paddington, Watford Junction can do it—though not all staff have the system access, so be ready to ask someone else .

3. What that gives you on the standard Oyster:

⅓ off off‑peak pay‑as‑you‑go on the Tube, DLR, Overground, Elizabeth line, and eligible National Rail within London

⅓ off Off‑Peak Day Travelcards (e.g. a pay-as-you-go Day Travelcard covering zones 1–6) .

Example Scenario

You want to catch a train from London to outside Zone 6 on TfL after 09:30:

Use your 60+ Oyster from Zone 1 to Zone 6 — it's free.

For the trip beyond Zone 6, you need a paper ticket or the standard Oyster with railcard.

That way, you'll only pay for the journey outside TfL’s free zones — and thanks to your Senior Railcard, you get ⅓ off for that portion.

Summary

Card Free travel on TfL & Zones ⅓ off off‑peak PAYG & Day Travelcards

60+ Oyster photocard

✅ (after 09:30 weekdays)

❌ (discount doesn’t apply)

Standard Oyster + Senior Railcard

❌ (no free travel)

✅ (can link discounts)

What to do next

1. Continue using your 60+ Oyster for free within the zones.

2. Get a standard Oyster card, ask staff to add your Senior Railcard discount, and use it for pay‑as‑you‑go or Off‑Peak Day tickets when your 60+ card doesn’t cover it.

That way, you get the best of both: free zone-limited travel and railcard discounts on other journeys.

Tour: Tring to Bicester to Tring

This post describes a relatively flat 2-day cycle tour from Tring out to Bicester via Buckingham then coming back to Tring via Chinnor. Just add a start date and book your hotel!

Start Point: Tring Station

Finish Point: Tring Station

Meetup Time: 08:06

Start Time: 08:15

Route: Tring to Bicester to Tring

Route Alt: Tring to Bicester to Tring (ALT)

No. Days: 2

Day 1: 72km

Day 2: 79km

Elevation: 910m of total climb over 2 days which is moderate. The only real climb is up to Brill early on the second day as the route always keeps you north of the Chiltern Hills. If you wanted a more demanding route you could avoid Marsworth and instead drop down to Cholesbury on the return as this takes you into the Chilterns.

Overnight: Individuals can book their own accommodation in Bicester such as the Premier Inn or Travelodge. Bicester is approximately halfway.

Hotels

Bicester Premier Inn, in 2025 a room on a Sunday night was £47 though prices vary.

Average Speed: 10mph

Stops: Every 15 miles (24 km) on average.

Suggested Café Stops:

[Recommended stops in bold]

Nanna's Cakes café, near Mentmore (13km), Opens 10am on Saturday and Sunday only though sometimes they don't open.

Mursley Farm Shop, Mursley (28km). Opens 9am every day.

Twigs Nurseries, divert onto A421 from Thornborough (43km)

Meadow Row Tea Rooms, Buckingham (46km), closed Sunday

Cornwall Place Kitchen, Buckingham (46km)

Buckingham's Tea Room, Buckingham, (46km), booking recommended at this high class establishment

Many other cafés, Buckingham (46km)

Bicester (72km)

Base Coffee + Kitchen, Long Crendon (95km)

Waterperry Coffee Barn, near Waterstock with an off-road diversion (104km)

The Old Red Lion, Tetsworth (110km)

The Biker Bean Coffeehouse, Chinnor (121km), closed Monday

Millie's Deli, Chinnor (121km)

Tring Station (151km)

Shorten the outward leg:

1) Take the train to Cheddington

2) Cut a corner to get to Buckingham earlier

Shorten the return route:

1) Cut south-east from Long Crendon to Emmington then Chinnor.

2) Cut down to Thame and pickup the Phoenix Trail from Thame to Princes Risborough.

Alternative route:

The alternative return route comes back to Thame, follows the Phoenix Trail to Princes Risborough 44km into day 2. Then on to Great Missenden at 58km before arriving back at Tring at 76km. This route ducks into the Chiltern Hills so has a harder finish and sting in the tail but options to cut short so good for a mixed group.

Suitable Bikes:

Any, though bare in mind distance, pace and your abilities.

Surface:

Tarmac, though there may be gravel, rough surfaces and potholes on lanes. This route doesn't have the smoothest road surfaces.

Mechanic:

None

Support Vehicle:

None

Broom Wagon:

None

No Drop Ride:

Yes, no-one gets left behind, though note the rider requirements.

Rider Requirements:

Be responsible for your own safety

Follow the highway code

Carry equipment to repair a puncture

Carry lights if there is any likelihood of riding in the dark

Dress/pack for the forecast conditions

Be comfortable maintaining 10mph for about 15 miles of continuous cycling

Be self-sufficient with regards hydration and fuelling; on hot days this means drinking on the bike and possibly eating on the bike as well

Kit List for a short break

Organiser Tips:

Premier Inn and other chain hotels typically do lower Sunday and Monday night rates, higher Saturday rates. Local events can elevate prices so check costs for your dates. Check café opening times for your chosen dates and timings.

The organiser might sensibly pack:

- Power bank for any charging

- Toolkit to deal with some non-puncture related mechanicals

- First Aid kit

Rider Tips:

Pack light. Packing should be the same as for a day ride plus any overnight essentials. Seriously, pack light. If you have any questions ask the organiser.

In contrast to shorter rides the person navigating may not be familiar with the whole route, there may be roadworks and diversions so be aware and look after your own safety.

Premier Inn - for example - allow clean bicycles in rooms though some don't have lifts so phone ahead and request a ground floor room if this might be an issue for you.

Dining Options:

There are some options as you are in Bicester. Places close to the Premier Inn are listed here with Sunday closing times.

Brewers Fayre 10:30pm Sunday

The Bosphorus Turkish and Mediterranean 11pm Sunday

Grand Village Imperial 9pm Sunday

McDonald's 24-hour

Bicester Shopping Village restaurants are generally open until 9pm Monday to Saturday and 7pm on a Sunday.

It is a 20-minute walk to Bicester centre where there is a wide choice and the following may suit vegetarians:

Copper Kitchen closed Sunday

B. C. Thai Restaurant 10pm Sunday

Bicester Premier Inn logistics:

Bicester Premier Inn benefits from both a lift which is large enough for a bike and a suitably broad staircase.

Route Guidance:

The route and associated .GPX file includes some turns as prompts to stop at the suggested coffee stops.

As you approach Bicester there are some poor cycle paths alongside roads and these cycle paths are perhaps best avoided until you get close to Bicester Village Shopping where there is good quality cycle infrastructure which you should use to avoid the multi-lane complex road network on the approach to the Premier Inn.

Use the cycle infrastructure around Bicester Village Shopping then use the road. As you leave Bicester the road gets bigger and busier so as you approach the first large roundabout use the dropped kerb to rejoin the cycle path and stay on that until it dissappears.

It's a steady climb as you approach the Brill hill so when you leave the main road maybe take a water break and peel off a layer ready for a demanding climb.

Just as you feel you are leaving Long Crendon the route has a short spur which gets you close to the Base Coffee café which is a one-minute walk off the main road heading to a new housing development called The Stables at Crendon Manor.

As you leave Crendon do pause to peek inside the gates to Crendon Manor. Equally, do keep your eyes open as you pass through Waterstock.

Just past Waterstock on the return there is an option to branch off on a right turn to Waterperry Gardens for coffee or you can continue to Tetsworth which is another 10km. Even if you're not ready for a coffee take the 1km bridleway up to Waterperry Gardens; though not inviting at first it's a delightful ride and the cakes are a treat.

Entering Chinnor the Biker Bean café is on your left closely followed by another café on your left just before the left turn.

Friday, 11 July 2025

Kit List and Accommodation for a short break

Heading off for an overnight stay is a great way of avoiding the local roads and trains you may get all too familiar with. Compared to a month-long tour you can travel lighter as you will have an accurate weather forecast. The following assumes a hotel stopover.