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 …

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 …

Budget Rando’s first adventure…

After I finished my first long ride in October plans were quickly made for an overnighter with some friends at the end of May. In the mean time I upgraded and swapped parts on my 1978 Koga Miyata that I have now baptized... the Budget Rando! Because (a) I want to do randonneuring and long …

Yodonia…

The week before we left was spent in a predictably 2019 manner, the six of us that would be riding spending our time chatting on WhatsApp, discussing tyre choice, comparing carrying methods for kit on our bikes and mostly talking about the weather. It had been a pretty poor start to summer and in the …

White up the middle…

`Ghost town´ remembering The Specials. This ride of about 30km was the last segment in a 250km bikepacking route I have been planning on the island of Zealand in Denmark. The route is made up of three local bike routes which have been connected with farm tracks, forest roads and minor roads. So this 30km …

Into the valley of the proles…

I am a Free Man on Sunday, but it is on Friday when I make good my escape.  Semi-retirement sees me semi-unretired on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in a windowless, Windows driven, air-con’d and strip light lit awfulness in the Flatlands of Eastern England. Rides, mostly in to the circle of white light cast on …

A perfect day…

About a month or so ago I sent a letter. Wanting nothing in return it was sent with one purpose, to say thank you! It was sent to David Warner. The man responsible for bringing the world of one Charlie Chadwick to life ( please see previous post - Pot of gold... ) Charlie’s diaries ( 4 …

Fun-sized McEpicness – ScO 24…

I'm still a newbie when it comes to bikepacking – let’s make that clear from the outset! Several group adventures yes, but solo? I have just the one outing so far and that regressed rapidly from being ‘slightly-too-wild’ to sneaking onto a desolate campsite with a portaloo. A story for another day perhaps. Hence another …

Flaps…

It gives me great pleasure to announce... That the official #grassupthemiddle mud flaps are go! They come pre drilled, with all fittings included. The print is double sided, so you can fly the club flag from any angle. A two week pre order window, until the 14th of October is now open via the lovely …