Man down :-( RIP Simon F Barnes

This is sad news. Definitely one of the Forum’s characters who posted some amazing pics over the years. I still remember a pic of a massive Bogtrotters ride where they were climbing over stiles with their bikes, caused a stir on here at the time.

A cruel demise though. RIP Simon.

Very sad news. RIP Simon and sincere condolences to all his family and friends

I remember Simon’s posts from years ago, yep known for his large group rides. I didn’t know he was in care.

RIP Simon

Some of Simon’s photos are probably the best way to remember him.

Sad news! I always enjoyed Simon’s Bogtrotter posts in the past.

RIP fella, ride free.

Very sad news, RIP SFB

Sad news. I used to bump into him on the trails every so often and it was always good to see him and his unsuitable shorts. RIP Simon. 🙁

Sorry to hear this. Remember him on here from the early days!

Sad news indeed. RIP

Another one who remembers him from the early years, and his great photos. Never met him, but a shame to lose him.

Sad news. Never knew him in person but i remember his posts and the big trotters website. Packed with great routes and photos.

This book is quite a legacy.

I just counted 38 of his photos in it. Many of them stunning

Very sad that his active life and life were cut short. But i take inspiration from the way that he lived

When’s the funeral? Clearly we cannot go but I reckon a moratorium should be agreed to go on a ride that day, up a footpath wearing unsuitable shorts and with a massive rucksack, as a tribute to one of STWs icons of yesteryear.

Very sad. I never knew him but I liked him a lot.

This makes me sad. I recall his lovely photos and from his posts he was very supportive and generous to new riders. A real loss. I didn’t realise he had an accident and been in care – I hope he managed to find enjoyment in this period.

up a footpath wearing unsuitable shorts and with a massive rucksack

I’ve been abusing the alternative bridleway network around these parts for the last 20 years as a result of Simon. This is a plan I can get behind.

We have lost the nation’s most prolific photographer of water splashes 😰

In seriousness, this is sad – I only met him once or twice but Simon was generous with photography advice and a nice chap.

Very sad news indeed, never met him but loved the photos he put on here. RIP fella.

Aww shit.

Ride on fella. You were crackers in a nice way.

RIP SFB

Incredibly sad news, happy trails 😞

Oh. sorry to hear. I’d wondered what had happened to him. that’s too early. 🙁 sympathies to those left behind.

I remember the thread about his heart attack on here, think he recovered then had another one on the trail IIRC. Didn’t realise he’d been in a care home since; such a shame for someone so active to be incapacitated.

He used to be quite a large contributor to the forum back in the day.

RIP

Aww man, I remember him as one of the early characters on here but thought he ha smashed years ago. RIP, happy trails ( with water splashes).

Sad news.
A character to be sure – we chatted on here about routes etc a number of times.
I met him out riding a couple of times too – the first time was around Calderdale and we met a huge group of bogtrotters and a guy in lycra with too much camera equipment.
Life is short and fragile – best enjoyed in the here and now.

Sad to hear this. Always remember his succinct advice regarding the installation of Hope Head Doctors after I sheared the bolt on mine and whined about it here about 15 years ago. RTFM!

He seemed like a good guy. RIP Simon.

As said above a legend on here and I’m sure well remembered else where. RIP Simon

Sorry to hear that – Simon’s contribution to discussion on this forum was a definite highlight. Used to enjoy his Bogtrotters exploits no end!

He even got a cheeky shot of my bum as we climbed past.

Pics or it didn’t happen etc.

Simon was a really nice person and  I have fond memories of chatting to him at the back of Bogtrotter’s rides.
His ride reports were always a good read, RIP Simon, still can’t really believe what happened.
I’m going to do my own tribute ride, unfortunately not in the Lakes.

For some reason, I was thinking about Simon, and how he was doing, just two days ago. Only to then discover this thread later that day. Although I never met Simon IRL, we’d communicated via SM for ages, and he was one of the few who remained in touch following my banishment from here. A great contrarian, and a true Master of Argue™, Simon always had a very strong sense of justice, and would always speak out if he felt something was wrong. And like say, Larry David, he’d often voice those thoughts others felt unable to say ‘out loud’, a trait I think many people secretly envy. One of the most honest and genuine people I’ve ever encountered online. He was far from perfect, but who’d want to be?

Simon was also an extremely kind, sensitive and thoughtful person tough. Whilst it may have seemed he didn’t consider the sensibilities of others, he was invariably right about people being a-holes, or possessing ridiculous misplaced sentimentality. He really got under the skin of narrow mindedness and insularity, and exposed it for the insecure self-righteousness it really was. But driven by that sense of justice, Simon genuinely cared about others. I know many people who’ve spoken warmly about him, and all of them have said the same thing about him, that he was ‘lovely’. He was very kind to me, at a time when kindness was what I needed. He had a ‘Bastard and Proud of it’ T-shirt made specially for me, just because he knew I’d love it.

This forum, and MTBing in this country, owes a massive debt of gratitude to Simon, because without people like him, many people wouldn’t have been enabled to enjoy biking in quite the same way. There is a big Simon shaped hole on STW, and it will never be filled.

I feel angry and upset that I’ll now never meet him. Let his legacy be that he was someone we’d want to meet, whom we’d be proud to call our friend.

RIP Simon. You’re a true legend, and a lovely man.

X

@aziz who were you when banned? Some very nice words, I’m also liking the pics above tomaso

Lovely words aziz

Well this is a real shame, I recall the bogtrotter weekend ride threads, always filled with phots of thrills spills, water crossings and female riders bums all done is the best possible taste of course.
I remember arranging to meet up in Grisedale with him and others for a night ride one freezing midweek December day, turned out I was in the wrong car park and on the wrong day, froze my bits off riding round awaiting the cavalry.

A reminder that non of us are getting any younger and that we should take every opportunity whatever the weather to get out and ride.

Ride on Simon, may your shutter be quick and your rubber grip.

Very sad news. I too fondly remember Simon for his posts and photos over many years on here – my condolences to his family and friends.

Ive just seen this…sad news!

it was Simons brilliant photography, website, knowledge and routes that kicked off my obsession with the Lake District.

I would travel from Bolton each weekend to tag along and explore this (new to me) beautiful playground that is The Lake District. I would wait eagerly once home for Simon to upload the photos taken that day.

almost 13 years on and I’m still chasing that buzz and enjoyment from back in the day when I rode with Simon and The Bog trotters MTB club.

what an adventure!

my condolences to his family and friends. x

(is the old Bogtrotters website still around? I remember feeling sad when Facebook took over)

Craig.

All the Boggies ride info is now on a private FB group Craig.

I think the hosting for Simon’s old site lapsed and the content is sadly gone

Simon was a funny onion for sure, could get under your skin, But once you became friends with him, he a lovely bloke, with a very dry sense of humour.
i picked him up from his home and dropped him off too, a few times for lakes rides.
we had so great conversations.

RIP Simon. i for one will miss you mate.

just trying to post a pic of simon.i failed sorry

Afraid I didn’t know the man or really know much about him, but I do hope this thread definitely gets shared with his (non-biking) friends and his family – It seems to be a fitting tribute and I’m sure they’d get some comfort from knowing what a great influence he had on so many.

RIP

Sorry to hear, sad news.