I’m embarrassed to say it took me a couple of nudges before joining the GUTM gang for a ride out. Firstly, years ago when my friend Charlie suggested them after we’d hosted an event with the Rough Stuff Fellowship Archive folk. I put it off at the time with only a very sturdy commuter to …
New bike day
A new bike day. But this time with a difference. I’ve had many new bike days over the years, mostly enjoyable yet uneventful and certainly with no emotions, other than the thrill of breaking in a shiny new frame and set up. In October 2022, I experienced the best #newbikeday of all time. My father, …
Sheet 117 — Doorstep Adventures
My doorstep adventures gathered speed about 9 years ago, coincidental the same time when my daughter was born. It was brought about due to time or more accurately, lack of time. Doorstep adventures are just that, adventures or outings straight from my home. No driving, no faffing, just more riding time and a chance to …
The Old Ghost Road…
It's been some time since last putting pixels down on my screen for the GUTM Blog...Prompted by a recent correspondence and 'Lay of The Land' conversation with Steve M which coincided nicely with a recent ride adventure. Well timed! A planned ride to the Old Ghost Road late Winter had been planned with my riding …
Ride Report: GUTM Anglesey Bivy Weekender…
Friday Pulling up in the car park at Cemaes on the Friday night, I was greeted by a very excitable cockapoo that seemed to pop out of nowhere before disappearing just as quickly. Equally excited, I quickly reassembled my bike and strapped down my luggage. Just as I was finishing up, Steve and Aidan arrived …
Clearance acquired…
I was idling away my Thursday in the bike group-chat admiring pictures of T & T touring over pristine German gravel tracks when Ned chimed in with something very close to what I was thinking: 'I wish I was doing what T is doing'. Impulse took over and I hurriedly replied 'Saturday night let's go, Delamere, …
An unexpected treat…
I’ve been back on the coast for a while now, post Covid recovery somewhat hampering the miles but nonetheless enjoying the summertime. Its always a busy time around here, but just now the roads are full of tractors towing freshly cut grass, I think the farmers have already gathered their third cut this year. Meeting …
R I D E R E P O R T (Isle of Man 2022) A Circumcision…
The Conceit... A modest two-man bikepacking tour of the Isle over a long weekend, using campsites and coast roads, in search of wild wallabies* Kean – younger, stronger and definitely more AustralianNeil – older, slower and rather contraryA Minion –an ineffectual mascot We manage to leave the house in south Manchester as my boy goes …
Continue reading R I D E R E P O R T (Isle of Man 2022) A Circumcision…
Keeping local…
For nearly twenty years at the start of most rides I’ve had a view of a hill not far away. As the crow flys about 3 miles. I’ve never been there, only viewed it from a distance. It’s the high point between the Cotswolds and the Malvern Hills. The approach is through narrow lanes abundant …
Gravelicious..!
04:20 and 5°C... Sixty minutes on very quiet roads. Quiet at anytime but especially so on a Sunday morning in April. A roe deer startled by my passing slips and scratches on the road surface until it reaches more familiar grass and gravel under its hooves. I feel sorry to have disturbed its morning routine, …
Grass up the middle CC 