The Ongley Arms was the birthplace of Dan Albone on 12th September 1860. He started racing locally and was very successful. When he was thirteen he built a penny farthing and in 1880 he set up his own business, Ivel Cycles. The Ongley Arms was on the A1 and became a famous meeting place for touring and racing cyclists. Albone started the Biggleswade and District Bicycle Club and won over 180 cycling prizes.
It is thought that Albone had a track behind the Ongley Arms on which some racing took place. The Ongley arms and the Ivel Hotel next door were developed as a garage, which still exists.