The 2023 Spring-Forward Bivvy

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 …

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 …

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, …

A rainy day in Manchester…

After almost three weeks of dry and dusty trails the rain arrived today, my enthusiasm for riding evaporated quicker than the trails could dry out, three of us met up for our traditional Sunday Service, a short spin out for coffee and the usual putting the world to rights was sufficient for today given that …

Spring Forward Bivvy Weekend: A Weekend Of Firsts…

I was a little anxious when I left home at about 7.30am to ride the few miles to Chester station. There was a crisp frost carpeting the ground that demanded a jacket, gloves, beanie and neck warmer. It was to be a weekend of firsts for me. The first being taking my bike on a …