Pic of the Day

[The Hodge]

This is what was forecast for our late afternoon ride out of Old Bewick on the far Eastern side of the Cheviot Hills ..


..the reality was somewhat different with one of the heaviest downpours while driving there that I've ever encountered with visibility down to just about zero .
This in turn led to a delayed start as the conditions proved too much for some poor buggers and the inevitable crash occurred ( supposed to have been a bad one) and we had to re-route on some minor roads ...
Just the three of of us myself , Wayne & Colin .
Along with Jaco ..Colin is one of our " elder statesmen " riders and an absolute inspirational character ..well into his late 70's and with one or two ops on both hands & knees ..he's still out there in all weather's although admittedly he doesn't like anything too technical these days.
Having missed the recent Scottish Highland trip with mechanical issues it was great to catch up with him again .
Anyway onto the ride ..It was wet with the ford's & stream crossings in full flow a bit more of a challenge than they usually are ..
13+ miles covered ..which seemed like a whole lot more due to the conditions ..did I mention it was wet ..well it was ..very wet ..however the sun did peek out from time to time and if you don't mind your technical garments being soaked through..it was also fantastic fun .
Some pics ..

Thanks to Colin & Wayne for an excellent evening jaunt ..and to the latter for the pint afterwards
Cheers

 

[The EMF]

I have given the above post a “Hot” descriptive because it was a relatively short ride in very very wet conditions in great company, riding fantastic moorland singletrack in England’s most beautiful county. What lucky men we are
Excellent pics @The Hodge my friend see you at the weekend

 

[Tubby G]

in England’s most beautiful county

That’s not Yorkshire though

 

[The Hodge]

I knew that comment would bring you Yorkies out of the woodwork
When the earth was formed Yorkshire as beautiful as it is was made as a natural barrier for the southern tourist hordes to think " well it doesn't get much better than this " ..and stops them venturing further north to the real gem which is Northumberland ..obviously one or two escape which is unfortunate so keep promoting it as "God's own Country " ..you are doing us a massive favour

 

[RustyMTB]

Quick spin round the joint, taking in the famous Iron age hill fort, Chanctonbury ring.

 

[Tonybro]

That’s not Yorkshire though

Yes, and everyday, they thank their lucky stars!

We have a saying in Lancashire...
"Never ask anyone if they are from Yorkshire. If they are, they will have already told you! If not, you don't want to insult them!"

 

[Tubby G]

Yes, and everyday, they thank their lucky stars!

We have a saying in Lancashire...
"Never ask anyone if they are from Yorkshire. If they are, they will have already told you! If not, you don't want to insult them!"

 

[Tonybro]

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I didn't realise there were that many Lancastrians in Yorkshire!!!

 

[KnollyBro]

Ladies Only is one of the original trails on the North Shore here in Vancouver dating back to 1992. It is a Double Black trail loaded with wood work and other demanding features. It even has a resident heron that lives in a pond that you get to traverse while going over a log with a teeter tooter on it. Lower Ladies is even more difficult with steep rock chutes and tight corners. It even has a roller coaster! I would like to be able to clean this trail this season.

A Lower Ladies section looking up

Lower Ladies looking down...

Who doesn't like a good roller coaster?

Ladies Only. One of the oldest trails on the North Shore.

 

[The EMF]

My only experience of “The Shore” is from watching the DVD’s produced by the Collective in the early 2000’s……..
Think I’ll dig them out for another look when she’s gone shopping
Spesh SX Trails and 26” wheels who would have thought it
Young Cam McCall, Hunter, and a very young Stevie Smith…….who sadly is no longer with us

 

[The EMF]

What a great DVD Roam is……. The bikes look like toys but with Wade Simmons Steve Peat, Berrecloth, Vanderham, Matt Hunter and in a time before Danny McCas Ryan Leech. All fantastic riders ( the narration is a tad cheesy but)
The soundtrack is not a bad mix either.

 

[Tubby G]

What a great DVD Roam is……. The bikes look like toys but with Wade Simmons Steve Peat, Berrecloth, Vanderham, Matt Hunter and in a time before Danny McCas Ryan Leech. All fantastic riders ( the narration is a tad cheesy but)
The soundtrack is not a bad mix either.

If you’re having a nostalgic evening have you watched all the Alex Rankin vids? Sprung & Earthed series. All available on YouTube

 

[The EMF]

If you’re having a nostalgic evening have you watched all the Alex Rankin vids? Sprung & Earthed series. All available on YouTube

No…….but I will

 

[Tubby G]

No…….but I will

Here’s Sprung:

https://youtube.com/@sprungvid?si=dSD4ElvfnH-2QFqB

 

[Armor11]

Finished buffing out my fave local jump trail. Nice dirt for the bottom of the trail finally. Suns on the way too!

View attachment 141225

Where in BC are you? I'm in the Okanagan.

 

[Dirtnvert]

Where in BC are you? I'm in the Okanagan.

I was in revelstoke and often went do thru the ok(rock oven, penticton/knuckleduster/code4), westbank(powers,smith), kelowna(gillard, cox,vapour), vernon trails(ss pass for yrs), the loops(mainly just the classic and sunpeaks). Im in NB now for a bit. I miss revy and having the OK on my doorstep. Crazy good there and sooo many trails and so diverse from semi arrid desert to sup tropical old growth forests and huge vert. I've never ridden naramata/3 blind mice area and that Emtb festival looks like itll be really really good.
Where are you?

 

[The EMF]

Great local ride out today with @The Hodge and Jaco, a loop out of Whitney Chapel south of Hexham, Northumberland.
The weather was good and fearing the worst for the trails after what seems like weeks of rain in this part of the we set off. (Jaco joined us part way round the loop after recovering from a short illness……to get his confidence back). We’ve rode these trails many times and always great to revisit them.
A road section to the foot of Kings Law and we were on sublime moorland singletrack taking in Hangman Hill and navigating the sizeable bog below it, Pikeley Rig onto the Broadway, a quick sarnie in the shooters hut and onto the steep grassy and fast descent that is Fell View (this where we met Jaco).
Then a pleasant road section along the river before the long climb the takes up to the Black Way ( Issacs tea trail) bridleway to Sparty Lee. An excellent pristine little used bridleway that’s great to ride. Loads of mini bogs to clear. We managed to ride most of them but a couple caught me out sinking immediately above the front hub and almost loosing a Five 10 in the process.
A couple of pics of Neil, a couple of pics of Jaco on Fell View and shot of the Cheviots in the background of a scenic pic maybe 60 mile away but don’t quote me on the distance.
That’s Neil in control
That’s Jaco coming down Fell View

That’s the view to the North Northumberland…the Cheviots.
Thanks lads for another memorable days biking.

 

[The Hodge]

Not much more to add to Wayne's write up ..it was an excellent ride out and great to see Jaco working his way back to health & fitness ..
Wayne sporting bog trotting trews ..patent pending .

Lunch stop in the shooters hut ..the track is "motorway" stuff on an ebike ..and in certain sections they have destroyed fantastic singletrack laying this crap

Wayne & Jaco on the driest part of the Black Way ..a good old fashioned portion of singletrack with a varied selection of bog thrown in to keep things real...fantastic stuff

Nice to feel a bit of sunshine on the old bones ..Long may this weather continue ..
A ride in the heart of the Cheviots next week on dry & dusty tracks ?
Fingers crossed
Map & numbers ..although Wayne's ascent number was closer to 3,200ft which my legs are telling is true

 

[Cobee]

Trek Powerfly 9.9LT with gen4! motor

 

[Jase]

Heartbreak Ridge, followed by Tarland Trails 2 the next day. We normally have an annual trip up to the Torridon area, but gave it a go this year in the Cairngorms. Nice to cut 4 hours of the journey and got pretty lucky with the weather. Tarland amazed me, £5 parking for the day and so much fun. Love Scotland

 

[Husky430]

Not bad for the 2nd day of winter

 

[Hattori-Hanzo]

32 miles today, mostly dry until you hit the woods and it's still a bog

 

[irie]

Took 2 hours to do 22 miles yesterday but didn't take any pics.
Wore long trousers and long sleeve top because the stinging nettles are growing like crazy everywhere, some are already riding head height but still got stung really bad.

Had to wear mitts, too hot for gloves, hands were a red mess

When finishing met a couple of riders going the other way on Orbea and Mondraker eMTBs who asked me about what is was like where I'd been. They were wearing shorts and short sleeved shirts so wished them good luck with the stinging nettles ...

 

[RustyMTB]

32 miles today, mostly dry until you hit the woods and it's still a bog
View attachment 141531

View attachment 141532

Hey, get your tanks off my lawn.

 

[ragnor]

Another blue sky day before the snow returns to the high tops IN JUNE! Incidentally this area is scheduled to be trashed in the Lochan Na H-Earba pumped storage hydro scheme. Must be a profit in there somewhere but not for me nor thee!

 

[ragnor]

Just as an aside if you're interested in the continuing saga of how to trash Scotland please see: The Lochan Na H-Earba planning application (3) - Scotland's pump storage fiasco - parkswatchscotland

 

[Binhill1]

Pensioners outing , the choice was a bus tour with a visit to Balmoral Castle and tea off a coronation tray or Tarland Trails. Weather was brilliant 3 hrs moving time cycling and another 3 not moving ????. Not sure what happened with the building of that gate .

 

[Binhill1]

Another blue sky day before the snow returns to the high tops IN JUNE! Incidentally this area is scheduled to be trashed in the Lochan Na H-Earba pumped storage hydro scheme. Must be a profit in there somewhere but not for me nor thee!

View attachment 141554 View attachment 141555

Yes I was hearing about that scheme pretty severe . They reckon four years of heavy traffic on that road that will be interesting. Great wilderness cycle there but for how long.

 

[Mcharza]

In the forest, feel so good.
It has been very hot about three weeks now, when you go to forest, there is much cooler air.

 

[Binhill1]

In the forest, feel so good.
It has been very hot about three weeks now, when you go to forest, there is much cooler air. View attachment 141583

You enjoy pal before you look round it will be frosty again.