[Closed] Trekster and Si say goodbye to the Hub

I forgot to add that this Sunday is their very final day if anyone plans to say bye!

Heading down tomorrow for a farewell cake 🙂

It was good to see it still fairly busy today, given that it was a little bit of a damp Wednesday.

I don't think I have had so much fun in ages, ragging down all the berms and jumpy bits 🙂

As for the new cafe, we just didn't quite get the location as the veranda is in a ditch and has no view or sun at all!

Did the same route on Tuesday this week, and stopped off for coffee and flapjack at the Hub. I think they're planning on being open until Sunday assuming that they don't run out of food first..

Couldn't resist buying a hub mug as a momento. Interesting to note that the new cafe was deserted,

[img] [/img]

Was there last weekend. GT won't be the same without the Hub.
On Sunday afternoon the Hub was busy, the new cafe was pretty much empty 😐

The actual building looked ok, it was more the low location which wasn't so great. Shame about the Hub. Does anyone know who is running the new cafe? I guess they will need to work quite hard to get business going again.

Had some good times at the Hub, but I'd imagine most people will go to the new cafe once the Hub closes. Yep, the new building is in the wrong place but if it's persisting it down outside and there is room in the new cafe then I'll be quite happy. Think it's the guy from the Glentress Hotel that has the cafe.

Is the new cafe not being run as part of the Alpine Bikes franchise, it looks way too shiny and clean to welcome me in after a muddy sesh. Might be gregs in Peebles from now on..

It's a shame about the hub and the rest of the history with Emma and Tracey. I really hope they continue to make a living out of their skills courses and any other ventures they may have. To be honest though I've had better food, in better premises, on dodgy industrial estates! I'm all for the new cafe, god knows how they'll make it pay though...it's unbelievably cheap and has others have said, it's always empty.
My only problem with the new place is the cutlery...old fashioned with swirly patterns on...even the cheapest, plainest stuff would look infinitely better in such modern surroundings! 🙄 I may have a touch of OCD though?

It will get busier, I bet most of the "I'll never use the new place" shouters will do eventually. I'm guessing the competitive pricing at the moment may disappear when they start to get busier.

Awaits the usual 'there was glentress before the hub' and the hub knockers....

and whilst I can't really say I had a desperate afinity with the hub, or even rated what it offered that much. It was part of the furniture for some great times for me, and the girls did a lot for the place, so for that I am sad to see it go. I will be trying the new place and hope it's not as poxy as the new cafe at coed y brenin.

Shame about the Hub. Does anyone know who is running the new cafe? I guess they will need to work quite hard to get business going again.

You think?, the fatties will soon swap allegiance when they have no choice where to eat.

Hehe - sorry I missed you Trekster 😀

bigG - Member

it looks way too shiny and clean to welcome me in after a muddy sesh

They've proved themselves totally happy with mud and blood all over their nice clean floors/seats/tables. No worries there. I did like the Louisiana swamp hovel vibe of the hub but it wasn't fit for purpose really, they were letting business walk past every busy day.

Also, they have a[i] roof[/i], which is pretty ****ing gucci if you ask me.

Was down on Sunday, had a great time with Cowal mbc.. Even bought a tshirt although I wish it was a mug now!

bigG - Member
Is the new cafe not being run as part of the Alpine Bikes franchise, it looks way too shiny and clean to welcome me in after a muddy sesh. Might be gregs in Peebles from now on..

it WONT be the same for me there. the hub has so many memories.
i bought 2 hub mugs as i reckon i'll get £7 each for them in a few years when they are antique and that will give the bloke on tele in fence stain a nut twitch 🙂

Things change life goes on. It cannot remain the same for ever

I feel a lot of sympathy for Emma and Tracy however the old cafe was a long past its best and needed to be replaced. Its a shame they didn't get the franchise for the new one but at least it has gone to a local business with a good reputation.

It is very sad that the hub is no longer although as tandemjeremy said life goes on and I'm sure the new place will end up being not bad. I will miss the hubs flap jacks though 🙁

There's lots of people over at Trail Scotland who have been planning a good bye ride on Sunday, will post a link to the thread - http://www.trailscotland.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1437

At the end of the day the better facilities Glentress has the more likely they are to build more world class trails.

Is the new cafe not being run as part of the Alpine Bikes franchise, it looks way too shiny and clean to welcome me in after a muddy sesh.

No, the new cafe is run by Oli who owns the Glentress Hotel on the main road just where you turn in to the trail centre. Top bloke and a biker himself so I wouldn't worry too much. I fully appreciate that people have fond memories of the hub but as TJ says, at least it's gone to a local small business with a good reputation and I wish him the best of luck.......

did you enjoy getting the big air then Si??? (shopping trolley technique was it?...LOL)

Actually davy-g yes, my descent was a combination of your trolley technique on the blue jumps and Trekster giving me more advice on the berms, slowing down before I get into them and then speeding up on the exit. Oh and I am also working on loosening up on the drops too - had an awesome time! I'm still pulling up a little instead of pushing when I forget, but when I remember I am riding much more smoothly, although maybe I didn't get so much full airtime as the photo clearly suggests 😳

Tis a shame its closing.. had a spankingly good plate of nachos there after my somewhat washed out trip around the black route.. but life goes on as people have said..

must get myself back up to scotland next year and get Trekster to show me all the hidden local bits i missed last time in Mabie.. 😀 and ride the last descent at AE if the god of rain decides to play nice and not chuck it down all the way around! 😆 (and hopefully my car wont break this time!!) 🙄

glad you guys had fun 😮
lots of memories with the hubed f through the years and yes i find it sad.
having been binned from my home of nine years by a very large land owner i may have stronger opinions than others.
but IMHO it will never be the same.
some people will agree some will disagree
i used to ride in the forest long before the hub and it great the way thing s have evolved . personally i will never cross that bridge .FE can poke it!

Right on Tam..................the baguette shop in toon is more likely to get my dosh, has done for a while now actually.
Said my goodbyes to Teeny and Emma/Tracy
Dawn 😉 Ian and I [i]will[/i] defo get in touch re a ride in 2012 💡
Si was having SO much fun I had to keep stoppin to make sure e was OK, never sure if he was having an "off" or just enjoying himself ❗

Having bought my momento/mug pre ride I then left it on the table ❗ Post ride and Teeny had realised I had left said mug, washed it and kept it safe 😆 Stay safe & enjoy Whistler Teeny. Thanks, will miss the tatoo 😉

trekster if your heading our way its got to be this " with a few secrets thrown in" 😯

MOD: Image removed due to malware

Was in today - looked rather sad with all the stuff gone

Bought a hub nachos and banoffee pie

Did the black to the top of redemption then onto pie run , mushroom pie and magic mushroom nearly killed my mates legs 🙂

Best of luck to all involved !

p.s as walkerburn and innerleithen are on my way home we will either stop at the whistle stop innerleithen cafe or the nice one in walkerburn. in fact i would rather give my cash to macdiddlys in gala than FE. in facy we did so on monday after a night ride around the "PURPLE ROUTE"

Guys - why the antipathy to the new cafe? Seems a bit odd. its the Glentress hotel who will be running it - a local business with a long history of serving mountainbikers.

You really are cutting your nose off to spite your face and are not getting at the forestry commission at all. You would be better to boycott all foresty commission sites - like glentress.

Indeed - if you hate the forestry commission that much wnhay would you even consider going back to glentress - or any of the other 7 stanes

i just dont give FE any money anymore .
🙄
in a nut shell the peel centre was NOT NEEDED ,NOT WANTED and imho the money would have been better spent on the trails around the tweed valley
no parking ,no money through there cafes etc ,
at least not until they answer my question on what percentage of income from rent and car parking goes in to the trails
( freedom of information )

trekster a wee taster if you like

and return journey

tempted yet trekster?

deertrackdoctor - Member

i just dont give FE any money anymore .

A good principled stand, I'm sure you won't be riding the trails any more either.

Yes most of which are old motor x trails that were there long before they were way marked. Each to there own eh! 😯

I would be interested to see the results of the FOI request deertrackdoctor - do post it up here - it's kind of my field too, if you need any help getting the info released.

This hostility on the part of some towards the new cafe is really starting to annoy me.. Yes I understand that the Hub was loved as were Emma and Tracey and that's right and great, they were the perfect solution at the right time and have really contributed so much to the area. I was pretty shocked and surprised when they didn't get the tender for the new place.
Having said all that if the general hostility towards Oli and Claire (Glentress Hotel owners) continues then all that's going to be achieved is losing all the facilities at Glentress including the hotel..!

At this point al the arguments about fairness and what should have happened are moot, the fact is that a new local business is running the new cafe.. a local(ish) business is running the bike shop (Alpine is owned by Tiso, not exactly Peebles local but could be worse).
Now as far as the cafe is concerned, one of the arguments E&T used when they lost the tender was that the FC figures for turnover at the cafe was unrealistic and they used their own figures for their bid which is why they lost.. Well Claire and Oli used their own projections in their winning bid too but I know they didn't expect to be competing with the Hub (as the FC said they would be closed before the new place opened) and the fact that they have had to compete up until now and then face the continued hostility from Hub fans means they are going to be facing the real possibility of the new business failing and taking the Hotel with it.
Is that really what anyone here wants.??

Sorry for the long post but I actually know the people involved (on both sides) and the attitude of some people who seem to be taking pleasure in trying to bankrupt people is really galling.

If you are angry about the Hub then take it out on the FC not the other businesses involved. Oli and Claire pay an agreed lease for the cafe, how much money the cafe makes doesn't affect the lease that they are paying, so not using the cafe isn't hurting the FC it's hurting them directly.

deertrackdoctor - Member

i just dont give FE any money anymore .

Don't you pay the parking charges at any of the 7 Stanes?

The new cafe is excellent and best of luck to the new proprietors. The beligerent attitude towards the new cafe by some on here, and plenty at GT, is pathetic.

Just so I understand it correctly, you're enraged at two people losing the cafe and potentially their livelihood so you'll boycott the new cafe, which is run by decent folk who through no fault of their own won the tender to run it, and through boycotting the new cafe they could lose it and their livelihood?

Aye, because that makes sense...

This hostility on the part of some towards the new cafe is really starting to annoy me.. Yes I understand that the Hub was loved as were Emma and Tracey and that's right and great, they were the perfect solution at the right time and have really contributed so much to the area. I was pretty shocked and surprised when they didn't get the tender for the new place.
Having said all that if the general hostility towards Oli and Claire (Glentress Hotel owners) continues then all that's going to be achieved is losing all the facilities at Glentress including the hotel..!

At this point al the arguments about fairness and what should have happened are moot, the fact is that a new local business is running the new cafe.. a local(ish) business is running the bike shop (Alpine is owned by Tiso, not exactly Peebles local but could be worse).
Now as far as the cafe is concerned, one of the arguments E&T used when they lost the tender was that the FC figures for turnover at the cafe was unrealistic and they used their own figures for their bid which is why they lost.. Well Claire and Oli used their own projections in their winning bid too but I know they didn't expect to be competing with the Hub (as the FC said they would be closed before the new place opened) and the fact that they have had to compete up until now and then face the continued hostility from Hub fans means they are going to be facing the real possibility of the new business failing and taking the Hotel with it.
Is that really what anyone here wants.??

Sorry for the long post but I actually know the people involved (on both sides) and the attitude of some people who seem to be taking pleasure in trying to bankrupt people is really galling.

If you are angry about the Hub then take it out on the FC not the other businesses involved. Oli and Claire pay an agreed lease for the cafe, how much money the cafe makes doesn't affect the lease that they are paying, so not using the cafe isn't hurting the FC it's hurting them directly.

+1,000,000,000

OTOH if you are angry the the Hub lost you might take the view that this happened because of the other bids. Nobody forced the new lot to put in their bid as far as I am aware.

The Hub didn't lose in the tender process because of other bids.. they lost because (by their own admission) their bid did not meet the criteria.. they wouldn't have won the tender even if there were NO other bids. The bid process is (theoretically) non competitive, and certainly at the first stage where E&T failed the bids are graded against the criteria, not the other bidders.

That's frankly just a childish, school playground attitude that's completely unrealistic.

I have just gone back through this thread and I don't see that much hostility to the new cafe. This week is more about saying goodbye to the much loved Hub. No need for dramas on this thread really.

The new cafe position was not the decision of the new cafe owners, I think that that was a bit of a lost opportunity in terms of design.

But yes, if they are able to create a great biking atmosphere, and do some good quality cake and coffee and a reasonable price, then good luck to them of course! 🙂

OTOH if you are angry the the Hub lost you might take the view that this happened because of the other bids. Nobody forced the new lot to put in their bid as far as I am aware.

No, it happened because the Hub's bid wasn't as good as the winning bid.

So if nobody had won, the FC would have left the building vacant?

I'm guessing that if nobody had won then the FC would have run it themselves. THey certainly couldn't let it fail given the amount of money (not all theirs) that was spent.
In some instances that might have been best as then we could all have vented our frustration with them directly..

I apologise for tainting this (as it was rightly put) farewell thread but it's been a longtime coming, every Glentress thread that's come up in the recent months has had a certain amount of vitriol directed at the new cafe and it's reaching the point now where it's threatening real peoples livelihoods.

Still, perhaps a discussion for another time..
I would certainly like to add my heartfelt gratitude and best wishes to E&T for their years at Glentress, they were an instrumental part in making it what it is today and I sincerely wish they can use this as an opportunity to move onto bigger and better things..

No, they would have restarted the tendering process

We're off down tomorrow for a last big pig-out cake fest at the best cafe in the country. It'll be sorely missed.

As for the new place, I'll judge it on its own merits. I hope it's a great place though.

it seems i am a troll 😈
Im sorry if it upsets people that i now choose to spend my money in the villages in and around the tweed valley and use independent bike shops such as i-cycles, rather than fund FE coffers
thats the point i have a choice as do others and they are voting with there feet!
Please remember the original funding granted was to bring in tourism to rural areas after foot and mouth not fund FE coffers IMHO..
As Mr Bob McIntosh, Chief Executive of Forest Enterprise explained
the funding will help make the South of Scotland a first class destination for mountain bikers:
"As Britain's largest provider of outdoor recreation, we have been working in partnership with a vast range of organisations and mountain bike clubs to help promote this very popular sport. Not only are we providing fantastic trails for cyclists, [u]we are helping bring in visitors and money to rural areas[u]. This is vitally important to the South of Scotland which was badly affected by the foot and mouth outbreak."[/u]
If we put the tender issue to the side for a moment and any loyalty's / feelings i have with the hub for all there help they have given me with getting up to speed coaching for TCL and MBL awards.
I still feel The peel centre IMHO was not wanted,not needed and a waste of money,any investment should have been in the tweed valley trails and specifically the development of innerleithen as a MTB venue for all with a all year uplift.which in my opinion would secure a tourist industry based future for the people of the tweed valley after the devastation of the death of the tweed mills then foot and mouth.

However what do I know !!!!as stated in the first post

having been binned from my home of nine years by a very large land owner i may have stronger opinions than others.
but IMHO it will never be the same.
some people will agree some will disagree

p.s sorry to trekster for the drama on your thread humble apoligies mate.
Highlander i would not wish anyone to loose there living and im not aware of me ever having a pop at the new cafe owners?.
However surely if the cafe fails it should not put there other venture the glentress hotel under ?
if so that seems rather a silly risk IMHO

Fair point.. as you rightly point out everyone is entitled to their own opinion and to take their trade where they please. As a longterm resident of the Tweed Valley I'd like to thank you for your custom.

I simply take issue with people's ire at the situation being directed at a different local business which is simply trying to provide a service and make a living.
At the end of the day, the Peel is here, the money has been spent. If the whole endeavour fails then it will only hurt the Tweed Valley as a whole.. and seeing as I live here I'd rather that not happen.

As has been stated above.. I think 'judging the new place on it's own merits' is all that those involved would ask.

p.s sorry to trekster for the drama on your thread humble apoligies mate.

Highlander
i would not wish anyone to loose there living and im not aware of me ever having a pop at the new cafe owners?.
However surely if the cafe fails it should not put there other venture the glentress hotel under ?at least i hope not as it cater for a hell of a lot of visitors in a year.
if so that seems rather a silly risk IMHO

Apologies for the confusion, I have waded in here not because of your specific comments, but because they are indicative of the kind of comments that have been cropping up since this whole sorry mess went public. Don't get me wrong, I am as royally fed up with the FC for the whole thing, the money spent, their treatment of the Hub (not unprecedented if you look at other FC projects around the country) as the next guy.
The only thing I take issue with is the directing of said irritation at the folks who simply bid on a business opportunity and are now caught in the middle of a real life 'flamewar' where they are taking the brunt of it on behalf of the FC.
As I understand it, the Peel is a separate business entity from the Hotel. However to believe that the Cafe would go under and not affect the Hotel is, i think unrealistic.
They are basically little different from E&T, local people sinking their lives into a local small business that they believe in.

in fact i would rather give my cash to macdiddlys in gala than FE.

I can't believe the morons who say they won't/don't want to give money to the FE...who do you think owns the forests you're riding in? Wouldn't it be great if they thought they weren't going to make any money and closed the forests to the public?!?

every Glentress thread that's come up in the recent months has had a certain amount of vitriol directed at the new cafe and it's reaching the point now where it's threatening real peoples livelihoods

I really don't think a few threads on an internet forum are going to threaten the livelihood of anyone. Once the Hub closes people will be more inclined to go to the new place.

I can't figure out why the new cafe was built below an earth bank with no view, whilst the toilet block was built on a hill with a nice view! If they switched them round I'm sure it would be more popular.

Wouldn't it be great if they thought they weren't going to make any money and closed the forests to the public

WEll, they can't really do that can they

The problem is that there are likely 100 times as many people read this forum as post on it.. unless there is discussion (which is what the forum is for after all) then a lot of those people will simply take to heart what they read.

Not to mention that it wouldn't be the first time (even in this specific saga) that lazy journalists have taken the contents of 'a few forum threads' and written it up as 'popular public opinion'.

who do you think owns the forests you're riding in

eh we do ! the people of scotland 😆

IMHO ive just went all braveheart how stereotypical !

i have to say that within the riding friends i have and online riding buddies popular public opinion is that the peel is a farce !

woody only when on a night ride and all the other cafes are shut 🙄
ie its that or the volcano take away for a coronary

im off now as i am starting to sound like the troll that i am 8)

😀 Thanks for clearing up that misconception.

I'd almost forgotten that the environmentally friendly, healthy diet promoting organisation which ploughs profits back into the local economy that is Maccyd's, is preferable to a traditional local business.

First up; I wish Tracy and Emma well for the future.

As for the new place, I'll judge it on its own merits. I hope it's a great place though

Been there just the once a short while ago and thought it was great, the food was lovely and the toilets spotless.

All the best to Emma and Tracy. It's been a great ride.

I have to agree about the new place though. While it's sad to say goodbye to the Hub, the new cafe is big, clean (but very welcoming of mud and blood), friendly, run by a local (mountain biking) family and the food TOTALLY ROCKS!!!!!!!!

Wow what a sulk fest!
Ok so the hub was good, the new cafe is at least as good and given the chance the people in the new place could be just as friendly and helpful and Emma and Tracy were. Why not try it? Build a new relationship, make some new friends. If E&T are as nice as you say, they will understand.
It really is not the new cafes fault that the hub didn't bid as well as it should.
As for the FC, it's not actually their fault either. They would have a specification/ and tender with set criteria which they probably hired a consultant to produce and which must be adhered to. They can't just rip it up to ensure the hub stays as that would be hugely unfair to all of the other bidders.
I'm grateful to the FC for providing great trails and facilities and very happy to throw them a few quid to ensure it continues.

I ride at GT a lot, and know loads of folk who do likewise. I'd say the opinion of the vast majority is:-

1. They are sad and angry the Hub is closing.

2. They wish Emma and Tracy well in whatever they do.

3. They have no gripe whatsoever with the folk at the new place. They are locals too, who want to make a living.

4. They plan to try the new place, and if it's good and friendly they'll go back.

At the end of the day, while I think the Peel Centre is a huge waste of money, it's there and there's no going back now. It being succesful is bound to be good for the sport as a whole, so I wish them well. They aren't the ones responsible for the Forestry Commission making a daft mistake.

Equally though, although the Forestry Commission are in the wrong here (in my opinion), on the whole they have been a huge boost for mountain biking all over the country. For that they deserve credit.

I still think the fact I can go ride at one of the best mountain bike centres in the world for absolutely nothing is quite amazing.

But finally however, nothing will ever match the friendly atmosphere at the Hub, and I'll raise a glass to them this weekend for what was brilliant decade of the best sport in the world.

Well put that man

Is it just me that prefers to eat in a roomy, clean environment with decent toilets and showers on hand then? Maybe it's because I'm a relative newcomer to cycling (and GT), only going back to 2005 (2008 at GT), but I'd never heard of Emma & Tracey up until last year.

sounds like you need a bib mate

yup

Yep, well said kennyp.

Remember, there's more people than just mountain bikers use Glentress. Many that do will not have the sentimental attachment that many on here do to the Hub and I'm sure will use the cafe. I'll give it a try when I next go along.

deertrackdoctor - Member

Yes most of which are old motor x trails that were there long before they were way marked.

Which of the current trails do you think is an old moto x trail?

You know what they say; better a bib than a bedpan.

Was in the HUB in oct hols, heading home from canoeing, and that was the last time. Loved that jarlsberg cheese panini.

Today we did the red in the snow, rain, wind etc.

We went to the cafe, huge Q. So once we were changed, we went back in and had good food. A chap broke the back of a shiny plastic 'christine keeler' chair, bashed his head but seemed ok. So good cafe, watch the chairs !

I can't quite fathom why the outside seating area is on the north side of the new building. It is sheltered from the wind, but also from the sun and it is not a good place to wait with a cuppa whilst keeping an eye out for you mates arriving.

Was at gt last Sunday
Had a great day and post ride we decided to go to
new cafe (3rd time I've been )

Foods good , settings ok if a bit sterile

Suggestions to improve
1 - more staff serving ( q was 15 mins ffs )
2 - chalet style seating ( not enough seats )
3 - some good music

Good start though
Keep the prices keen & quality and I'll happily pay

Was at the Peel cafe for the first time today. Queue was half an hour with a further wait to get cooked food! Not much fun when cold and wet after the ride. Two of our party left after waiting about 15 minutes and a few mumbles were overheard from others. Progress?

Was at the Peel cafe for the first time today. Queue was half an hour with a further wait to get cooked food! Not much fun when cold and wet after the ride. Two of our party left after waiting about 15 minutes and a few mumbles were overheard from others. Progress?

Was it busy? Would the hub have served quicker?

I've been to Glentress a few times. For me the place has grown up and developed. I'll be using the new cafe and won't look back. Sorry but it was 'ok' but not amazing.

Saying that I hope the new Hub doesn't become like the shiny CYB cafe. The worse service on the planet bar none.

Was there a 2nd hub at GT which I wasn't aware of?

One which wasn't in a stinking run-down shed and which didn't have grumpy staff slowly serving punters tasteless overpriced food and puddle water coffee?

In cafe today for first time. It was busy so queue was long and TBH I was grumbling a bit to my friends. However soon got over myself and it gave me a chance to peruse the extensive and fairly good value blackboard menu.

There were only 2 staff on in front, but they seemed to have a good system going, were friendly and the queue soon went down.

Maybe could do a little better, but for me it was just the ticket after a few hours on the trails

oscarvictor, is that you Stewart?

We were in the new place today, very busy, I think they could have done with more staff on... unless it was a blip with a load of us and others finishing riding at the same time.

The victoria sponge was lovely..

The only thing I miss about the old hub- come on, admit it folks.....was the wooden veranda. It felt 'right'. Take that away and its a very very small wooden shed with minging toilets.

Come on, admit it. It was bloody tiny.

Their proposal should have been better. Sorry.