Fresh Goods Friday

Finally, it appears that we can wish everyone a great weekend of bike riding in great weather. We appear to have hit the sweet spot between the assorted bonkers weather of the world right now and it looks like this is the weekend to go…

As that boat finally leaves that canal and heads our way – hopefully with a few bikes aboard – and you continue your search for elusive quick-links and cassettes, spare a thought for the people whose actual job it is to get things shipped between…

This week has flown by in a flurry of nettle stings, sun burn, midge bites and paper stitches. Bulk orders of midge repellent have been placed following a particularly biblical encounter with flying beasts of various sizes, but all of which had apparently giant venomous…

This week we’ve managed to fit in a house move, a haircut, and an engagement at Singletrack Virtual Towers. If we extend the family ties a little, there’s also been a birth and a new bike day. All the big stuff. Bigger still: the curly…

It’s all good fun here at STW Towers this week. We had Hannah’s birthday (and subsequent member discounts) though it was slightly dampened by her big birthday present not showing up. Her partner was supposed to be flying over from the USA in time to…

Oh god, it’s half term, we are out of practice going anywhere, the kids seem to be taking up a lot more space in the suitcase and car (their clothes in the suitcase, their actual bodies in the car). And of course we’re not off…

Yes, make sure you’re enjoying every day of the summer so far, you’ve got a month before it all starts fading away. OK, OK, it’s not all bad. We know that a British summer tends a little nicer after midsummer’s already gone. All those long,…

Do you ever set out for a ride and realise the moment you’re out the door that your legs are too tired to join you? It happens frequently to some of us here in Calderdale, probably due to the gradients on our valley climbs. Amanda…

Lockdown, week whatever. Or are we still locked down? Kind of not – we can ride bikes with five friends and sit outside a pub in all of our coats. That sounds like freedom, right there. Still, not everyone has been making the most of…

Have you got your Big Coats at the ready? A nice warm hat? A fetching mask and a handy bottle of hand gel? The pubs are soon to open, and this is surely all essential kit for anyone venturing out there. Remember the days when…

We’ve crammed so much stuff into this week’s Fresh Good Friday we worry we won’t have room for our Easter Eggs this weekend! If you have been following FGF recently then you’ll know that Andi spent some time on a not so secret mission. After…

Happy Friday everyone! This Fresh Goods Friday comes to you like a beam of sunlight piercing through the clouds. Optimistic, warm and filled with positivity. It’s a while since I (Amanda) have had much input to FGF. I’ve been busy doing handstands on my desk…

While we won’t argue with anyone at all that it’s high time for spring – after all, the flowers are popping and the winter was soooo long and soooo cold, but we’re not quite ready for spring time yet just because we’re still finishing off…

The countdown to (a bit more) freedom is on. We might (possibly maybe) soon be able to meet a few friends outside, or head to the pub after a ride, or travel to our favourite trail centre. Possibly, maybe, hopefully, if all goes well and…

It’s that time of year when each ride is an opportunity to look out for signs of hope. Snowdrops, daffodils, lambs, bees – with each sighting Spring gets a better foothold and we escape winter’s clutches. Of course there can be false starts – mild…

Opening with the obvious – it’s really cold. Instead of grumbling about this relentless deep freeze we’re experiencing, I’d like to show you this incredible ice sculpture created at the top of the hill out of Hebden Bridge. At first I thought it was field…

It’s a grey old world out there right now, but this week’s mailbox has brought us a shower of colour. Which got our thoughts turning to our walls. Did you paint yours at the start of Lockdown Mk1? A nice tasteful shade of linen mist,…

It’s a crazy time – in general, but also in bike land. First, everyone seems to have sold all of their bikes and there are some long lead times heading our way for new models, with some surprising Brexit-related price hikes for those you can…

What’s his name? Storm Christoph? He can bog off now, thanks. We’ve had enough ‘exciting’ weather for a while and we’d just like some nice, dull, grey, dry winter weather for a month or two before we ease, gracefully into spring. Is that too much…

What have you learnt this week? And what have your kids learnt? Have you thrown yourself into creative home schooling and your offspring are now adept at cooking, sewing, and can recite pi to 100 places? Or can they list all the episode titles of…

We know that it’s been pretty hard to keep track of what day it is all year, and whack the amorphous zone of Twixtmas into the equation and we suspect some of you might be very surprised to hear it’s Friday. It may not surprise…

Traditionally this would be ‘Mad Friday’ when everyone would be out on the town being inappropriately over familiar with their office mates while wearing a poor choice of jumper and perhaps headgear too. It might have taken until mid December to find a positive in…

We are going to start this week’s Fresh Goods Friday with a survey. The results will be sent to Mark, Chipps, Zoe, their MPs, your MP, and your parents. How do You FeeL abOut Fresh Goods Friday? A) indifferent B) what is it C) shocked…

Things are about to get better. No, we’re not talking about world events, we’re talking about the giant giveaway of goodness that is December 2020 Plus A Bit Of November And The Megasack Too. We’re still working on the name. But what you need to…

There are certain things that you know will happen. If you look at the square edged rock you don’t want to hit on your descent, you will hit it. If you really need the printer to work, it won’t. You won’t drop your phone, until…

Feeling a little tired? Thumbs suffering RSI from doom scrolling and refreshing? Now totally expert on US constitutional law? Still gripped? Go join in on the forum. Here, we’re taking a break from graphs, counts, and bemusing broadcasts with our own version of chaos. It’s…

Wasn’t that the thought of the Hitchiker’s Guide whale that turned into a plant pot (or was it the other way round?) Anyway, it seems that Singletrack Towers is locking down again and joining our fellow Tier 3 stalwarts just over the border. At least…

Put you left foot in, your right arm out, stick your bum into the air and shake it all about. Never mind tiers, levels, deal or no deal, or clips vs flats. Don’t breathe on anyone, wash your hands, don’t burn peat bogs, be kind,…

Are you here for the waffle, or the product? If you’re here for the product, Andi says: Just because he had 2 weeks away from the office doesn’t mean the industry stopped sending our ginger ninja fresh new kit. Check most of it out below…

Crazy times on crazier times. We find ourselves here at Singletrack Towers in the midst of local lockdown where we can’t go to someone’s house or garden, but we can go for a bike ride with them. So that’s good. But at the end of…