We’ve had a fantastic few weeks of riding: a big shoutout to our new joiners! Eight Bellas took on the Way of the Roses, riding coast-to-coast from Morecambe in Lancashire to Bridlington in Yorkshire. With great weather, even better company, and some brutal climbs (including a spicy little 20%-er), it was a ride to remember. Chapeau!
Planning and recce-ing is in full swing for our seaside escape to Wittering on Alison’s Awayday on 14th June. Please sign up to your preferred ride speed group on TeamApp. We’ll be enjoying a picnic lunch by the sea and catching the train home. The final route will be shared soon.
Keep an eye out for our special solstice weekend rides on 21st and 22nd June to make the most of the longest day of the year. The final weekend in June sees Ella’s amazing Bivvy weekend! Please buy your tickets now if you’d like to join.
🥨 Evening Park Laps Are Back!
Our evening laps in Richmond Park are making a return, starting Tuesday, 4 June. Enjoy the summer evenings and join us for a few chilled laps followed by dinner nearby.
The Way of the Roses
Candida writes: We had wonderful weather, great scenery, some memorable climbs - the hill out of Settle straight after lunch is not for the faint-hearted(me)! But also rolling past Ripon Cathedral as the bells pealed out, eating ice-cream beside York Minster, hearing curlews calling, posing with Eric Morecambe's statue, gate-crashing a 90th birthday party, so much fun, so much to remember.
💙 Event Report
Ride and Seek Out Adventure evening
On Wednesday 14 May, friends and family gathered at Giro for a special fundraiser in memory of BellaVelo co-founder Alison Dex, supporting World Bicycle Relief, a cause close to her heart. Winnie from WBR gave an inspiring talk on how sturdy bikes are transforming lives. She showed us how these bikes are used, carrying up to 80-100kg of water and provisions, getting medicine to people and girls to school. .
Sue Plater and Nadine Emsley entertained us with tales of their trip to Kazakstan - beautiful, remote and somewhat chilly - undertaken on mountain bikes and sleeping in tents. What an adventure! Alison’s son James spoke movingly about his self-supported trip through Chile and Peru, making lifelong friends on the way and reflecting on his grief for his mother.. He said the best way to honour Alison was to follow her spirit of adventure and live life to the full. I’m sure we can all agree on that!
Huge thanks to Alice Fowles for organising the event, raffle, and a beautiful musette in honour of Alison.
👏 Thank you to everyone who came - it was a truly special evening, which raised £2,000 for the WBR!
🌺 The Ride and Seek Out Adventure musette is now available on the BellaVelo website in the kit shop.
🔗 Recommended links
Did you know that the light blue in our BellaVelo jersey is an homage to Beryl Burton and her club colours? If you’ve not heard of her, you can read a little about this truly amazing cyclist. Jeremy Wilson’s excellent biography is well worth a read too.
Watch The Finisher - a documentary of Jasmin Paris’ historic 2024 win at the Barkley Marathons.
JOGLEJOG: Dr Sarah Ruggins set a new world record for cycling from John o’ Groats to Land’s End and back
Unbound XL: Heather Jackson smashed the previous women’s record of 22:25:15, set by Cynthia Frazier in 2022, and placed eighth overall, beating the majority of the men’s field in the process
Ultra Trail Snowdonia by UTMB: Stephanie Case won while breastfeeding - and didn’t know she’d won until after she’d crossed the line!
She spoke about her fairytale victory and what it meant for other mums: “I worry that stories like mine, while inspiring to some, can be frustrating or even discouraging to others,” she said. “They can paint a rosy picture and set unrealistic expectations—like new moms should be able to bounce back and win 100Ks.” Case is clear: Her story isn’t about setting a standard. It’s about expanding what’s possible, and encouraging more dialogue about motherhood. “If we were more supportive of moms in running in all kinds of ways—whether that means resting, returning to sport, or anything in between—we’d see more compassion and less judgment,” she said. “There’s so much scrutiny over how moms spend their time, and not enough space for big adventures.”