I was at Manchester about 7 years ago and still ride with 'em about once a year. It was ace. Riding Marple regularly with weekly trips away as possible. Also got out on the road bike up brickworks now and then. Boozing at Sandbar and plenty of weekenders make for a good time.
The current club captain is working hard to get some varied riding sorted, and with a van & Minibus, there are regular rides in the lakes, Yorks Dales, N Wales etc… This week they've ventured down to Devon for a a change of scenery.
Did my masters at Leeds afterwards – what a contrast. There were a couple of proper fast individuals (who have since gone on notch up some decent result on the domestic racing scene)and the rest aspired to it. Despite Chundercross, beer drinking was almost non existant, and most of the riding was training focused rather than getting about and riding new/different trails. This was 5 or so years ago so it may have changed, but this was my experience. There are good trails to be had in Leeds though.