As a long-time mountain bike tandem fan, I've decided to try to get the few mountain bike tandem owners together for a weekend of tandem riding and fun in the Dales. To this end, I've got Stu at the fine Dales Mountain Bike Centre to reserve the bunkhouse for the weekend of November 9th/10th/11th.
The plan is to gather on Friday night, ride tandems for fun on the Saturday around the Yorkshire Dales, maybe throw in a few old Tandemania style games, like the trackstand... drink beer in the pub on Saturday night and then repeat on the Sunday. If the weather's any good, then I might try to get a tandem feature out of it for the magazine, but if not, then it's going ahead anyway as mountain bike tandems are great.
Please deal directly with Stu if you want to book space in the bunkhouse, he's expecting tandems to call, so although it might say that it's full for the weekend, it isn't if you're on a bicycle made for two.
Stu and the Dales MTB Centre can be found at: [url= http://www.dalesbikecentre.co.uk/ ]http://www.dalesbikecentre.co.uk/[/url]
The Dales riding is pretty good for tandems. Not too super-tech, not too steep, but steep and ruggedy enough for sure.
All mountain bike tandem owners are welcome. There's no entry fee or anything, and you don't have to stay at the bunkhouse; you can just turn up on the day if you fancy.
Email me if you'd like more details, but that's probably about as detailed as the plan is going to get. Please pass the word on to any other mountain bike tandem owners you know. Hopefully we can get a dozen or so, which would be quite an imposing spectacle. Non-tandem friends are welcome to turn up too, but I'd like to give the tandemists the chance to book a room first.
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Good idea we will see you there.
And yes, of course TJ is welcome. 🙂
runs off to check diary and hopes the other half isn't scheduled to work that weekend.
Can we come?
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7196/6973808601_a25f3b7285.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/6973808601/ ]P3110391[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/7971913714/ ]10450_10151223959466474_1611561866_n[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
We will try not to hold you up 😀
As long as you wait for the rest of us at the top of the hill Rich...
And, indeed, if there are any stoker-less tandems out there, we can see about getting you [s]stitched up[/s] er, set up with a suitable stoker.
Gutted 🙁 We're away on holiday that weekend or we'd be there.
Promise you'll do another in the spring!
Rob & Sandy
Bunnyhop and I are booked in already, we'll definitely be there. not too sure about trackstands and the like though, I might do the drinking beer and taking pictures as usual 🙂
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrsnbt/5880636479/ ]Can tha ride tandem[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/mrsnbt/ ]Mrs NBT[/url], on Flickr
Chipps and I have been trying to organise this ror ages, so come on folks, the more the merrier.
T.J. - if you're reading this, get yourself and the mrs. booked in?
nbt - had I fallen off at that point and been left me at the bottom of the hill?
bit of a bump
[quote=Bunnyhop ]Chipps and I have been trying to organise this ror ages, so come on folks, the more the merrier.
T.J. - if you're reading this, get yourself and the mrs. booked in?
nbt - had I fallen off at that point and been left me at the bottom of the hill?
No, you were taking pics as there was only us riding that day 🙂
(did you spot the subtle bump there?)
There were two guys on a/the Rock Lobster tandem at Up The Buttress at the weekend, I'm trying to get the word out to them now.
And we should try to track down the tandemists from the Weekender. They're all out there somewhere.
I've passed this onto one of the people who was in the MBUK (?) article way back when.
There are at least 5 of them who still go away annually.
Chipps, I'll send Stu (owner of the Rock Lobster) a link to this thread.
I am still recovring from the full run on the front of the tandem on Saturday.
If we still had the Colella We'd be there.....
jeznewsome - Member
If we still had the Colella We'd be there
Was that a yellow tandem by any chance?
Aye, Yellow One with Hope Big Uns/Brakes and Marzocchi Shivers up front
So was the verdict that tag-alongs are allowed?
We're away that week riding in Portugal, sadly (not with the tandem). In any case I think we'd be way too crap.
Hi Stu!
More tagalongs(more screaming) the better, we can keep out of the photoshoot! Immy likes tagalong company 😀
They are after all the future tandemeers!
jeznewsome - Member
Reckon we had a look at that tandem with a view to buying.
I remember looking at pics of a yellow colella - formerly owned by MoreEarsThanGears I think? - and showing them to Mrs NBT saying, "We should buy this". That idea was pooh-poohed, but a couple of years later we bought a hardtail tandem
beach-riding on the tagalong:
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/ir_bandito/7435066530/ ]DSC_0970[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/ir_bandito/ ]ir_bandito[/url], on Flickr
I'll try and get some more practice in on longer rides...
Aw that's lovely ^^
We don't think we know 🙂In any case I think we'd be way too crap.
ir_bandito - Member
now I aint saying you are not welcome but don't go telling us that your articulated child transport is a tandem. 🙂
That stoker looks fitter than me.
This [i]was[/i] ours
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at Rivi
Are the guys from the Lakes with the Orange/Strange one coming along
Hopefully I will see them outandabout in Kendal will tell them!
Ooh, we've got an old 'dale tandem that could be made working by then . . .
ir_bandito - Member
So was the verdict that tag-alongs are allowed?
Ask chipps, does not seem a problem to me, more the better.
I'd reckon that we should try to track down all the tandems we can first, it being a tandem weekend and all. And then, if there's room, then I don't see why tagalongs can't come too. I've not ridden one, so I don't know if they're going to be quicker, or slower than tandems on a ride - or would they go on their own jaunt?
Story is on the front page now. I reckon there must be ten tandem pairs we can track down to come on up to this... I bumped into one couple thinking of coming up from Essex, so if they can, you can...
I rode a tandem last summer for the first time.
Probably the most griningest ride ever. The bomb-hole was frightening though-the sort of thing you do once, survive and DON'T repeat!
Just saw this!! Might be the motivation I need to build up our Tandem! Not used since our tour of SE Asia.
Ooh, dare I nail the Tandem of Doom together again...?*
*Fortunately for everybody the answer is probably not.
Chipps - that was me & ap. No london league cx races to ride or commissaire that weekend so the adult discussion tandem may come out.
God dam MTB tandems are ****ing amazing. IF you are doign this next year I am definitely in. Unfortunately I just can't make this year 🙁
Adult discussion tandem? Look forward to hearing about that.
I don't think I have had an adult discussion on an tandem. I could provide a list of non-adult words used though, many completely lacking in consonants...
Hope to see you next month!
Yes, the adult discussion tandem - just think about a map, 4 water bottles and a very large patch of nettles which stung a lot when I had to go in and pick up all of the items above. Oops.
Will have to check as I have a Gate 2 the following Wednesday which may involve working that weekend.
Mmmm, will see if I can talk Mrs Bpd in to this, long long way from deepest Hampshire though. Not ridden with another tandem offroad since a ride with aP many moons ago or the old D2D tandem class that used to be such good laugh.
It looks like me and the missus will be able to pick up our Ventana ECDM by then, so hopefully see you there!
Ace! What is the collective noun for tandems? Cacophony? Flotilla? rabble?
I believe the International Standard is a "Shitload"
Not ridden the tandem for some months. Need to get out and practice I think...
It looks like me and the missus will be able to pick up our Ventana ECDM by then, so hopefully see you there
oooh, you'll love it. Our ECdM was a complete revelation, both downhill, and especially uphill. You'll find yourself pedalling through stuff you used to stall on. After 5 years we still haven't found it's limits.
And the collective noun? A stampede? A thundering?
Or, a tsunami of tandems?
Gutted we can't be there.
Rob & Sandy
Last night was our first tandem night ride. omg! Very exciting in the dark, also we got a tad wet when the rain came in half way through.
One refusal on a climb, so we went back down and tried again.
nbt's light went out on the last climb, so he was relying on a helmet torch.
We got home safely and in one piece 2 hours later, sadly too wet to visit the usual 'local pub after night ride stop'.
Much fun, however it would be great on a summers evening on dry trails.
Is anyone else booked in the weekend?
Next year, maybe?
slowoldgit - you get yourself up here with Jeremy.
Can we have lots of photos on the site of this weekend please.
Alas we can't be there as the Mrs has to work that weekend and hasn't been able to swap shifts. 🙁
I'll second Tandemwarriors comments about a ECdM. They are brilliant bits of kit. Sooo capable at climbing and amazingly stable down stupid steep stuff. Apart from a set of steak knives it's the only wedding present that I can remember receiving!
Oh, and I find we can still ninja into a pub despite filty conditions. As the pilot has the dirty front and the stoker the dirty back you just have to walk in close together with the stoker up front and hey presto the worst of the dirt is hidden between you 😉
Macgyver
McG - that means the stoker keeps paying. I object.
Sorry, bh, already booked elsewhere.
It was more the fact that the pub is a hundred yards form our house and as we were on our own, we just went straight back to hose off the bike and ourselves. THe regulars in the pub are quite used to us coming in absolutely filthy after night rides 😀
Hmmmmmm. How long/hard will the ride be (route in mind?). Tempted to come out with the young un (boxyounger?), but at 8, he's not going to be powering up Fremington Edge. Fully rigid tandem too - but it's quite bright orange (and my only memorable wedding present too)
Boxelder - is that the same instrument of torture I spent six days on......?
C
Yes it is Chris - minus the rear disc you blew!
You fancying stoking if Luke isn't up to it?
My stoking days are over....
seriously i would do but busy this weekend and Mrs ChrisE has been away all week so i want to have some time with her. sozz about that
C
Just heard from TJ, he's coming down for this!
Hurray, we'll have a proper flotilla / stampede / shitload... what about a rompede? Like a stampede but rolling...
There will also be a novice tandem to welcome to the fold. 
I think we're up to at least five tandems. There's still room for more. Stu from Dales is going to start letting rooms/bunks out to non-tandemists shortly though, so if you want a space saving, then tell Stu.
We're going to try to get some good local knowledge ready for some sensible routes. And I can't imagine that that pace will be that high 😉
Sounds really good, I'd even just about talked my missus into it, but we've got something else on that weekend. Boo!
Maybe next year???
There'd better be one next year, we want to come!!!
Nearly time... any last minute bookings?
😀
Packing tonight - night ride tomorrow and band practice on Thursday (should have been tonight but was rearranged to Thursday so the bassist ad singer could watch a bloody football match!)
On Friday Ihave to load the tandem into the car before heading off to work, I'll be picked up mid afternoon then we can get past leeds before it goes mental and be up to the Dales MTB centre in time to eat at a reasonable hour
Rumour has it that Stu is making beef cobbler.
There's food at the place? Was planning to find a chippy or go to the pub!
Saturday night, Stu is offering food. Here's what he says is on the menu:
"Sausage Cobbler
Vegatarian Cobbler served with seasonal veg and crusty bread
Sticky chocolate pudding and ice cream (stunningly good)
Tea/coffee
£12 per head
(bring yer own bottle)
At the moment we still have a 4 bed room spare we’ve had an enquiry so I’ll pursue that, although it would be great to fill the spot with Tandems."
Sound good? And there's still room for a couple more tandems. We might be up to eight...
See you Friday night at some point. I don't think there's food on for Friday, but there are always pubs
Chipps
Hope all have fun - maybe next year... Unfortunately the need to work has won.
Maybe in the new year, if anyone's interested we could have a southern chapter day out?
Have fun all and wish we could have made it.
aP, we'd be up for a southern chapter event in the new year, happy if you want to ride down my way again.
Pub on Friday for food for us then. will pick up a couple of bottles of beer too just in case 😉
*light dawns*
My mate should be delivering a crate of St Peters Ale tomorrow. Anyone want half a crate for a fiver? Slightly past the "BEST BEFORE" date so the crate only costs me a tenner. Half a crate is six bottles which is more than enough for me in a weekend
nbt I'll have the st peter of you. will be around Saturday.
Hey bugpowderdust - it's been too long! Meeting up for a ride would be ace.
aP, definitely should try to organise something down south then or a ride at least, drop me an email and we'll work out a date.
NBT - can't he bring TWO crates? 🙂
Looking forward to seeing everyone on Friday night/Saturday morning.
There might well be two crates coming 🙂
There won't be room for the tandem at this rate 😉
Looking cold but mostly dry for the weekend
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2639510
Pack your woolies!
2 crates of beer obtained 😀
Anyone know if we have to bring towels, or are they provided?
bump
IIRC you take your own, least I did the last time.
The Ventana is oiled and ready to go, any idea what time saturday we will be riding, is there a plan?
What a brilliant day. Blue skies, not much wind, excellent company. 7 tandems and a couple of solos tagging along to open the gates and so on. Some excellent trails, some very challenging (off camber and very muddy), bloody great fun all round
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8172493296_164369af19.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/n_b_t/8172493296/ ]Dales Tandem Weekender Day 1[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/n_b_t/ ]Notoriously Bad Typist[/url], on Flickr
More pics in the set here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/n_b_t/sets/72157631974647953/with/8172493296/
Looks like better weather than this!....
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmygrainger/5271099921/ ]003[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/jimmygrainger/ ]jimmyg352[/url], on Flickr
God's country up there innit?