That "best nine" Insta widget was a bit disappointing, using likes instead of aesthetic value.
So I'll curate my own "best three" instead...
My pal Chris riding a beautiful bit of singletrack in Kintail back in June on a perfect summer day...
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Paul and Mark dropping down Helvellyn towards Sticks Pass in October...
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Xmas Eve ride at Rivington, with a typically stunning sunset and the trail conditions of the last two months summed up perfectly...
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Now let's see yours.
Not a great year for riding for me last year.
Just couldn't seem to find the motivation and had a couple of injuries that just would not go away.
This is towards the end of an epic day out in the Black Mountains when far to much booze was consumed the night before. Proper struggle to get round but so worth it in the end.
[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5815/20814111085_e0fc0e7059_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5815/20814111085_e0fc0e7059_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/xHgL5e ]Block paving needs re doing.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]multispeedstu[/url], on Flickr
A week up in Scotland riding some of the GT/Inners/Golfy off piste trails.
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8887/17323429075_7a649e91c9_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8887/17323429075_7a649e91c9_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/soP6VD ]In the woods.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]multispeedstu[/url], on Flickr
Favorite ride from a week in Verbier.On the way up to the Col De Mille with the StBernard pass in the background.
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/460/18964253840_0b9275dbf7_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/460/18964253840_0b9275dbf7_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/uTNKXN ]IMGP0434[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]multispeedstu[/url], on Flickr
This one its not a brilliant photo or very well composed but it was at the end of a 4 hr solo ride in the mountains over Badachro. I left the beer in the loch and headed out, picked the chilled beer up at the end and just sat savouring the beer and the moment it near perfect weather:
[URL= http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv92/duncancallumsmith/WP_000190_zpsowfriw2d.jp g" target="_blank">
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This one is one the earlier rides this year only local round Tocholes, it was superb no wind and some nice hard frozen trails that are normally just mush
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http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv92/duncancallumsmith/bike%20stuff/IMAG0571_zps24e4a374.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
and probably this one of the torridan mountains, just cos
[URL= http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv92/duncancallumsmith/WP_000175_zpsotdi5dha.jp g" target="_blank">
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Lakes bikepacking
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/535/18616358005_d243305a35_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/535/18616358005_d243305a35_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/un4GDK ]James_Kirby_3399[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
Racin Dyfi Enduro
[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5327/17293822240_8c393f5468_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5327/17293822240_8c393f5468_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/smcmQY ]_DSC1498_1700x1130[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
Torridon bikepacking
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7710/17079085328_cb0e93686c_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7710/17079085328_cb0e93686c_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/s2dM3q ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/nzrich/ ]Richard Munro[/url], on Flickr
Great pics. Everyone's off to the NW Highlands these days, eh?
Mine are all from the top of Nan Bield Pass in the Lakes.
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This one is technically multiple shots merged into one composite of my mate Tom riding this out like a boss on his charge duster...
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The switchbacks at Nan Bields ...
[url= https://www.instagram.com/p/6IbnLpubsE/ ]
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I like these three.
My mate Rosie above Buttermere.
Rosie on Whiteless Pike
Me taken by my friend Kieran in Torridon. Bit of a slow burner but I love looking at the movement of the water, the shape and colour of the rock, the riding and the good times that went with it.
Not much MTB for me this year but lots of good riding :0)
Cleaning all the climbs at the fred whitton
[img][url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5639/23484384864_21372baba5_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5639/23484384864_21372baba5_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/BMeBrj ]orig_23722_155176498355509060b7845[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/54929817@N02/ ]rents2[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Riding the NC 500
[img][url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5649/24086625756_a3ecf350de_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5649/24086625756_a3ecf350de_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/CGsfEY ]IMG_20150904_172538083_HDR[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/54929817@N02/ ]rents2[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Going on an adventure with my lad and riding the Dava way
[img][url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5784/24086684376_57af70335c_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5784/24086684376_57af70335c_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/CGsy6E ]IMG_20150615_120924338_HDR[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/54929817@N02/ ]rents2[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Some great pics people, a bit of inspiration for me this year ta. 🙂
Not certain they're my best 3 but I like these 3 for different reasons.
Rivington in early November,the only time it's been 'winter' this winter..
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One of the group I was sharing dusty trails at Les Arcs with last summer,(Yes it was that dusty) 😀
[URL= http://i631.photobucket.com/albums/uu38/MarkF-XT/P1010700-LES-ARCS.jp g" target="_blank">
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And Crosby beach on a lovely autumn day
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I take loads of photos on rides, so tough to choose but choosing images that actually include a bike or riding on purely aesthetic grounds (rather than the ride experience) I'd probably choose these from 2015.
For anyone interested, all my 'A Photo a Ride' images from 2015 are here -
part 1 - http://goo.gl/photos/38hUV5FDuRVSgXAU7
part 2 - http://www.flickr.com/gp/robpaul/X8F00u
where is the rivvy one?
Been riding mainly CX and Darwen - it dries so much better over that way but sticking to the hard pack of late.
and helvellyn was horrible the day we did it near zero visibility and it changed from warm spring sunshine to freezing foggy rain. I was dressed for warm spring ...very cold.
I also take a lot of photos whilst riding so hard to choose! Probably these three though, all three of my mate Jonny who has come out to visit me in various place to ride...
1) This one because of the crazy scenery we were riding above in Geirangerfjord in Norway and the trail was pretty sweet and it was part of a great road trip we did around part of Norway
2) This, also on the road trip mentioned in the first photo, because the trails were just as perfect as they look in the photo, loamy, green, flowy and such good fun! In Kaupanger near Sognfjord
3) Really like the way this one is framed with the rock and the trail and the rider just small in the background, plus it was the first time I discovered this trail near Grenoble and it was ace!
where is the rivvy one?
Bustaspoke's is at the base of the Pike I believe, where the path starts winding up around to the back.
Mine is looking west (obvs) down the BW back to the barn, taken leaning over the gate near bottom of ICR.
Moel Hebog with the MBNW massive:
Decent ride? Walked it years ago and can't remember much about the trail.
Mine is looking west (obvs) down the BW back to the barn, taken leaning over the gate near bottom of ICR.
Yes that is it - I mistook the trail for a tarmac road hence my utter confusion whilst it looked completely familiar. That said i never ride down it* but I must have ridden up it thousands of times
KNow Bustas pic
* I assume you know the way back down to the barn at the side of the road?
Not that exciting but nice singletrack through the woods but more a test of nerve than skill.
I'm always surprised at the amount of rivvy pictures.
That n torridan would appear to be home to the highest number of us...
Best nine is easier to select that favourite three! So many favourite rides it´s hard to pick three.
For me it has to be riding on the Basque Coast by myself. I usually take a tripod and remote trigger to snap a couple of shots and then pop the lights on to get back to the van when I´ve had enough.
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Second shot is from a new trail on our Backcountry Pyrenees trip. New trails are always fun and new photo stops. This is a little section where you ride along a huge fin of rock and then find a notch in it where you can drop through on some tricky exposed switchbacks. It took me all season to find an angle on it to get a photo I liked and finally got this one which works for me.
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Final one is scouting for trips we are planning in the future. This was a massive day out, starting with a 2200m climb with a fair bit of hike a bike. I had a big injury at the start of the year and although my bike fitness came back soon my strength hasn´t and carrying the bike for a couple of hours really, really made me suffer. Somehow the rides you suffer most on are the ones you remember best and this is probably my favourite ride.
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If you like those then I wrote a post on my [url= http://www.basquemtb.com/2015-mountain-bike-holidays-photos/ ]top photos of 2015, have a look if you want. [/url]
Moel Hebog with the MBNW massive:Decent ride? Walked it years ago and can't remember much about the trail.
Yes, very good - it skirts around the base of Moel Hebog, rather than going up it, though. Very remote feel.
Some inspiring photo's there Doug.I'm tempted to book a holiday,just got to talk a few others into it 😀
Great pics Doug (and others)
2015 for me was almost bereft of off-road rides and I don't tend to take photos when on the road. Three I picked from my Insta, not chosen for their photographical prowess obviously...
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Came back from a ride and met my wee lad in the park on the way home, so we did a few laps. I think it counts as the first time we've ridden together!
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I work with a local youth cycling team. I was marshalling the Infantil (u14s) race, this is our guy Iñaki having a go off the front, he got a good lead but all in vain as there was a bad crash and the race was neutralised and ended in a mass sprint.
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Rubbish photo, story is Antton got a stick in his rear mech and ripped it clean off an hour from home. The weather was horrendous, no mobile signal and a visiting US neopro who was riding with us actually turned blue with cold, I thought he was going to cry. Nothing to do except push Antton up hill and down dale in the pishing rain until we found a village with a phone.
I'll join in, I've done some amazing riding this year.
Not a great but good ride at CyB, but I really like the pic of a couple of my riding buds
[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5689/22581767175_26f4519bfd_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5689/22581767175_26f4519bfd_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/AptsDn ]CyB - Pete n Karl[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/91843706@N08/ ]Sam Dexter[/url], on Flickr
From the best day I think I've ever had on a bike, the summit of Snowdon late in the evening
[url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3789/20164994876_7cd915c99b_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3789/20164994876_7cd915c99b_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/wHUSrs ]Top of Snowdon[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/91843706@N08/ ]Sam Dexter[/url], on Flickr
And me at the 'Ard Rock, which was great (though not doing it this year)
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/672/20130309063_9950e5e7a6_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/672/20130309063_9950e5e7a6_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/wER6yc ]'Ard Rocking[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/91843706@N08/ ]Sam Dexter[/url], on Flickr
It's threads like this that make me realise just how good being a "mountian biker" is!!
Amazing places, amazing scenery, and great laughs with your mates.
Roll on 2016 😀
Top gurning there fathomer. 😀
Not a great picture, or memory, but an [url= https://gcrapper.wordpress.com/2015/04/19/this-is-going-to-hurt/ ]early season crash[/url] in Swaledale, leaving me with concussion and needing a new helmet...
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Late summer session where established high pressure led me to [url= https://gcrapper.wordpress.com/2015/10/04/a-week-of-biking/ ]take a week off work to go cycling[/url]. One highlight was the Cross Fell loop, including the spectacular High Cup...
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A great day out on the [url= https://gcrapper.wordpress.com/2015/08/14/two-weekends-two-totally-different-aspects-of-our-sport/ ]'Ard Rock[/url]. Looking forward to doing it all again in 2016!
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Yes, very good - it skirts around the base of Moel Hebog, rather than going up it, though. Very remote feel.
Cheers, BWs or cheeky may I ask? Will have a look at the map later.
Some great snaps here, and stories to go with them.
Jr_bandito #1 on the Old Coach Road at Easter:
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8743/17121420775_250248bf2f_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8743/17121420775_250248bf2f_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/s5XKTV ]20150402_122922[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/ir_bandito/ ]ir_bandito[/url], on Flickr
Not actually riding, chest-cam capture heading up Cross fell in a blizzard in May:
[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8692/17354700386_10fc001301_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8692/17354700386_10fc001301_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/srznNb ]02320334[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/ir_bandito/ ]ir_bandito[/url], on Flickr
And from my best ride of the year: me heading down from Sticks to Glencoyne in September:
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/595/23261162486_75bedd8e87_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/595/23261162486_75bedd8e87_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/BrvxcC ]10636702_10101292751203389_2411390339374833558_o[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/ir_bandito/ ]ir_bandito[/url], on Flickr
Cheers, BWs or cheeky may I ask? Will have a look at the map later.
Mostly legit IIRC, but there was the odd cheeky section to link things up neatly - there are some quite new "mixed use" paths between Rhyd Ddu and Beddgelert. Will send a gpx file to the email in your profile when I'm on the other computer tomorrow.
Can I be cheeky and have a copy of the GPX too please Tillydog? Mail in profile...cheers.
Great pics by the way. Love the ones off the top of Hellvellyn!
Riding with minilugz always makes me smile
2 from the alps
[img] https://flic.kr/p/CDshBM [/img]
[img] https://www.flickr.com/photos/60246134@N02/23767482159/ [/img]
And one from the final straight of the Tour of Britain. Before the fast lads 😉
There was loads of people all cheering and clapping. It was mint.
[img] https://flic.kr/p/CBcCh1 [/img]
Wow, some great photos! Can't compete with those, but..
Local ride with my boy
[img] http://tinyurl.com/zcohhkp [/img]
A week in Scotland. Man, that was good.
Rich on that slab thing
[img] http://tinyurl.com/zycs9bm [/img]
No great photos, but the gravel bikes ride in the New Forest was superb
[IMG] http://tinyurl.com/jz9q68f [/IMG]
So have an autumnal QECP instead
[img] http://tinyurl.com/pmtngjv [/img]
Will send a gpx file to the email in your profile when I'm on the other computer tomorrow.
Much appreciated, cheers.
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