A little summary of our rides in 2014 can be found here!

I have already pinched quite a few pictures that people have posted on the forum threads but if anyone has any more that they would like to add then please let me know!

There is also a collection of Binners’ artwork from the threads here.

Don’t forget that this coming Monday Night we are at the Belmont Bull, north Bolton if any one fancies joining us?

Monday Night Bike Pub Rides

FIFY

Too much time on your hands mate.

😉

Nice one fella.

As the evenings draw in again, and the rain gets more frequent and prolonged, Its great to look at the piccies, threads and routes, and see what a fantastic summer we’ve had. Dry dusty trails, clear blue summer skies, beautiful sunsets, viewed from lofty platforms in northern hills. Miles of grinning, gurning, cackling good fun with great people, even including southern (foreign?) refugees exiled in the north. 😉

Along the way theres been biblical horizontal deluges, slithering muddy chutes, and gullies, and axle deep filth. Lung busting climbs, blasts across Mordor, some massive offs, pulling people out of ditches, wrecked bikes, smashed mechs, ripped sidewalls, and massive bruises to arms, legs and ego’s. All followed by ample post ride pints, pies, and crisps, while talking utter and complete shite.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U4Pvodwm0U[/video]

Thanks all! Heres to many many more 😀

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlmMumA0CMU[/video]

This piccie is probably my favourite. Sums up the summer…

The end of Mordor

Cheers WW, that’s pretty cool.

My favourite* from the massively attended Belmont Bull ride

*nicked off trolleywheels.

Bregante, that’s still my desktop wallpaper!

Good work Craig. I was thinking of updating my blog (for the first time in 16 months) with something similar, but I’ll just hyperlink across to yours if you don’t mind.

There have been some cracking rides this year.

My abiding memories are…

• The smell of hot brakes at the bottom of the descent under Stoodley Pike.

• Coming off The Mordor Traverse past the cairn with the Union Flag on it.

• The aftermath of ejecting myself into that ditch above Todmorden and the conversation with Chipps afterwards. “This isn’t your bike. Your bike is over there.”

• Standing in the rain FOR HOURS whilst everybody’s bikes fell apart on the Vortex of Failure ride.

• Lancashire crisps and artisan pies.

• Upsetting the rhythm of various carpark doggers.

• San Marino at dusk.

• Being able to exchange the clutter of life for 3 hours of banter once a week.

• Getting some free shoes.

• The Blue Pig Root of Doom. “Watch out for The Root of Doom! – What root?” BANG.

Looking forward to the next 12 months!

On further reflection the highlight has been the free shoes.

Coming off The Mordor Traverse past the cairn with the Union Flag on it.

That was a blinder Harry…

Bloody love that descent! 😀

When you ejected yourself, I thought you’d ditched your bike and made a run for the pub. As there appeared to be no one anywhere in the vicinity. Just your bike lay there. Then we heard the faint moaning from the ditch about 15′ away 😆

Moaning? I was giggling at the fact that I wasn’t dead.

I’m not sure if you win ‘Off of the Year’ though. You’ve got competition from Bregante for his spectacular effort at the bottom of Waughs Well. He gets extra points for doing it in a place where you really shouldn’t be falling off, and for hitting the deck like the proverbial sack of spuds 😀

He was alongside me when he went down! And I felt the ground shake 😀 That’ll learn him to try and get around my immense bulk!

He can have it. First prize was a “Clown Thumb” and a month off the bike IIRC.

More like two months off the mountain bike with lots of road riding substitutes although in fairness to Harry, the trajectory of my fall can’t be seen on strava.

My favourite was the one where the panoramic shot was taken. Plenty of good rides though. Remember dodging frogs on a Prestwich one.

No riding for a while though. Went to the specialist today, he thinks I have a prolapsed disc. Got a MRI on Tuesday to confirm.

Ouch. Get well soon Daz.

Hope you get it sorted soon Daz. If you fancy a Local pub ride – the one where we don’t bother taking the bikes – give us a shout 😉

Sounds good Binners, I’ll be in touch.

One of the most memorable bits for me was probably the descent down past the union flag – what date was that?

Also the ride from the Hare and Hounds where we did Peel Tower several times before returning to the pub via Reddisher Woods. It was just turning dark as we descended the woods and the trail of 15 or so bright front lights, snaking down the hillside looked great!

Bregante’s careful dismount up on Scout Moor was certainly humorous but my vote would go to Binners on his descent to Littleborough. It wasnt asking a lot to avoid riding into the 3 foot deep rut but the subsequent somersault was exemplary.

Favourite pub is probably the Hare and Hounds (even better now that it has just been done up again)!