Cycle events – community cycle into Oxford & bridge naming and charity cinema screening in memory of Jonny Ives in support of Sobell House.

This page is dedicated to the memory of Jonny Ives, much loved by family and friends and a pillar of the Oxford cycling community who died in 2024 from a brain tumour.

Jonny was a sport and leisure journalist with a deep passion for all things cycling which saw him take an active part in the cycling community within Headington and Oxford as a whole. He cared passionately about active transport and was a long-term member of Cyclox.

His love of cycling extended far beyond the Oxfordshire borders, and he was an avid Tour de France follower, even completing several mountain stages of the Etape du Tour in France with friends.

When Jonny discovered, during renovation work, that Oxford had two bridges over the river Cherwell named after two Tour de France riders – Laurent Fignon and Greg Lemond- who fought an epic battle in 1989, finishing 8 seconds apart (the same time it takes to cycle between the two Oxford bridges) he began a mission to raise the profile and have the bridges “officially named” as a tribute to these two great cyclists – only fitting in such a cycling City.

Sadly, Jonny was not able to see this come to fruition before he died but friends and Cyclox took up the mantle and the official renaming of the bridges has been agreed upon with two shiny new signs and a collective cycle ride and gathering at the bridge to mark the occasion. (details below)

In addition, there will also be a screening of The Last Rider – the documentary that tells the story of the epic race between Fignon and Lemond – at the Ultimate Picture Palace. (details below)

All proceeds from both events will go towards raising funds for Sobell House who gave Jonny and his family such amazing care and support during his illness.