Latest News
Evening Rides: Our campaign group is running a sries of evening rides on the 1st Thursday of each month during the summer. If you would like to come along you will find full details on our Events page. We will be having a refreshment stop at a pub on route so bring your lights just in case.
2010 Tour de Vale: This years Mix 96 Tour de Vale took place on 13th June with some new routes for the 2 longer rides. We have taken a number of pictures of some of the riders which you can see via our Photo Gallery.
The Chiltern Cycleway officially opened on 18th June. This circular route covers 170 miles throught some lovely countryside. Why not ride the local section - you can find route details here.
Buying a Boxed Bike: Do you intend to buy a bike this summer off the internet for home assembly? This Bicycle Tutor video shows you how to put it all together. Do make sure you read the manufacturer's instructions carefully before you start and enjoy your rides in safety. For more advice on cycle maintenance see our Cycle Care page.
Cycle Security: Our site now features lots of information on how to protect your bike when you are not riding it. Cycle theft is a growing national problem and you need to take as many precautions as you can. We can offer Immobitag to our members for only £7 and the retail price is currently £12.99 excl p & p. Membership of our campaign group is only £5 a year and also entitles you to a discount on spares at Buckingham Bikes. For more details of Immobitag see our Cycle Security page.
Potholes: The recent cold snap has taken a serious toll on local roads and the resulting potholes can cause expensive repairs to drivers & cyclists alike so be vigilant as you ride along. Our pictures below show road surfaces that have taken a battering in 3 residential areas of Aylesbury: Stirling Avenue, Long Meadow & Turnfurlong Lane.
Trunk roads do appear to be undergoing repair but many holes & ragged surfaces appear on numerous other local roads. If you spot a problem pothole or poor road surface then report this direct to Highways on Call in order for them to address the problem. Also call them about heavy falls of slippery wet leaves on the Gemstone Cycle Routes.
Do you ride on footpaths? Are you riding illegally or are you allowed to cycle there? See our new section on Footpath Cycling & find out.
Sustrans: Good or Bad? There are several Sustrans routes in Bucks that you may have used including the Phoenix Trail, the Leighton Buzzard section of the Grand Union Canal & the nearby Thames Valley Route. Do you find these meet your requirements? Ron Strutt a lifelong cyclist has written a critical review of their work and you can read his views if you click hereand select his 'Sustrans Good or Bad' link. Let us know your thoughts on cycle routes in and around Aylesbury via the Leave Feedback link below.
View our PHOTO GALLERY with our Tour de Vale, Tour of Britain pictures & many more. Just click here, select the group of pictures you want to see & view them either individually or on a full screen slideshow.
As prices continue to rise... 
Why don't you consider saving yourself money as inflation rises, the banking sector is in crisis & the cost of filling your car remains high at around £5 a gallon by cycling to work or your local shops? It's good for you, it's non-polluting & you can beat the rush hour queues at the same time. Why not try it & see how quickly you can get around the town - most 'in town' journeys will take 10 minutes or less & find out how much you can save on your car fuel bills.
If you drive a car for the purpose of your work the highest tax free amount you can claim per business mile from the Inland Revenue (HMRC) is 40p*. This rate is based on an allowance for all costs of driving generally, including long distance trips. If you live locally to your work then your driving costs are increased by higher use of fuel, wear and tear etc as the car warms to its optimum operating temperature by which time you may well have arrived at your place of work.
On the basis that this adds 30% to your driving costs this increases the HMRC rate to 52p a mile. If you live 2 miles from work then you will drive 20 miles per week to and from your home at a cost of £10.40. Over a year this will exceed £450 which equates to the purchase of a really good bike which you could use instead and benefit your health too. Even if you only cycled to work a couple of times a week you would still repay the cost of a very servicable bike costing £150, so its easy to recoup your costs. Why not give cycling to work a try?
* The AA have produced current tables of car running costs based on such factors as: type of fuel used, purchase price & annual mileage. Full details are available if you click here.
You can beat the financial blues & traffic queues by using your bike for local trips to shops & work.
