Sam (far right), Jane (2nd from left) and Sue Ibbotson (3rd from right) and the Fit-For clan

The theme was fairly simple. Meet for a ride to Fanny’s Farm Shop for tea and cakes. Cake was even served from the Fit-For team car as we assembled in the Car park outside Cycles Dauphin – the point where John had regularly met training partners and clients on Saturday mornings over the years. After John’s funeral on Friday this was a celebration ride in a style he would have been proud. Most of the 200+ riders wore ‘White Blinging Oversocks’ a fitting tribute as Ibbo was one of the most sock-obsessed riders to have graced the road.

In fact there were so many pairs of them that Assos and DeFeet must have sold out. Many of the riders on the ride wore team kit of teams that John had ridden for over the years. It was a happy friendly day and although the group was of road race proportions it was a chatty and well behaved bunch – a mix of young and old mingled. Close friends and family also rode the 10 or so miles on a warm and bright Autumn day.

Eventually the riders (many whom had travelled from all over the country to join representatives from many local clubs and teams) arrived at Fanny’s in a huge ‘peloton’. They all came to pay tribute to Ibbo and to eat cake.

Shoe covers all round

Needless to say we bought all the cake they had in the cake shop and they ran out of Tea cups, which will, no doubt, cement John’s reputation at Fanny’s for being their best ever customer.

Plans are underway for a few more fund raisers, perhaps races, perhaps Sportive’s – however we will bring you news of this as and when we there are some firm plans confirmed – something fitting to celebrate Ibbo’s life and love of cycling will no doubt transpire.

In the mean time contributions can be made to the ‘John Ibbotson Memorial Fund’ which will be set up to help young riders, please send a cheque to:

Sam at Fit-For
15 High Street,
Tadworth,
Surrey
KT20 5QU

Sunday best bling	standing room only in the carpark	Last one to Fanny’s buys the cakes