Yea, Etoni has woken up. Good to see you back and posting great pics. That looks a stunning ride out. 
Pic of the Day
- Thread starter Kilham5
- Start date
steve_sordy
Wedding Crasher
Visiting my daughter in the South of France, near Nimes. In the Vaunage to be more precise. The Vaunage is a wide and flat valley with hills on three sides. They grow grapes and olives. I went for a ride with my son-in-law John. John rode his muscle bike, an XL carbon framed Trek with 100mm travel all round. He used to be in the British over 40's triathlon team and is still fitter than most. He was sweating a lot though. 
I had rented a Kellys emtb with a Panasonic motor. The motor had Eco, Standard, Auto and High. I found that all modes except Auto were either full on or off, resulting in a pulsing power delivery that I found disconcerting. Auto was nice and smooth so I stuck to that. My XL son-in-law had booked me a size Medium bike (I'm a Large), so I felt as though I was about to go over the bars whenever we were descending.
We did 17.6 miles (28.2km) and climbed 1700 feet (517m). The winding and steep trails are covered in what looks and feels like shattered limestone. The surface slips and slides under the wheels and the larger pieces rock and shift your wheels around. The trails are narrow and winding with spiny scrub and spiny trees hemming you in. I came off three times, twice ending up in the spiny undergrowth and needed a hand up and out. Once I got hurled off the bike backwards when I hit a broken-off limb of a tree that had fallen across the trail. It was black, in shadow, and I just didn't see it. I was lucky, although the mark on my chest is large and red, with scratches, it didn't bleed much at all.
We aimed for the local firewatch lookout tower, the highest point for miles around. And then back down and climbed again to a redundant windmill, just the tower, no roof or sails.
John's Trek in the doorway of the Fire watch tower, my Kellys bottom left. You can see some evidence of the shattered limestone that I referred to.
The Kellys, overlooking the Vaunage. Not a bad bike, forks a bit spindly with 32mm stanchions. That is the village of Sinsans below us.
"You can see our house from here!"
This is me with the Kellys posing in front of the old windmill.
I had rented a Kellys emtb with a Panasonic motor. The motor had Eco, Standard, Auto and High. I found that all modes except Auto were either full on or off, resulting in a pulsing power delivery that I found disconcerting. Auto was nice and smooth so I stuck to that. My XL son-in-law had booked me a size Medium bike (I'm a Large), so I felt as though I was about to go over the bars whenever we were descending.
We did 17.6 miles (28.2km) and climbed 1700 feet (517m). The winding and steep trails are covered in what looks and feels like shattered limestone. The surface slips and slides under the wheels and the larger pieces rock and shift your wheels around. The trails are narrow and winding with spiny scrub and spiny trees hemming you in. I came off three times, twice ending up in the spiny undergrowth and needed a hand up and out. Once I got hurled off the bike backwards when I hit a broken-off limb of a tree that had fallen across the trail. It was black, in shadow, and I just didn't see it. I was lucky, although the mark on my chest is large and red, with scratches, it didn't bleed much at all.
We aimed for the local firewatch lookout tower, the highest point for miles around. And then back down and climbed again to a redundant windmill, just the tower, no roof or sails.
John's Trek in the doorway of the Fire watch tower, my Kellys bottom left. You can see some evidence of the shattered limestone that I referred to.
The Kellys, overlooking the Vaunage. Not a bad bike, forks a bit spindly with 32mm stanchions. That is the village of Sinsans below us.
"You can see our house from here!"
This is me with the Kellys posing in front of the old windmill.
etoni
E*POWAH Elite
Again…
Did 20 miles through Venus Woods near Cocking with South Downs way in the left distance. Basically a test run for the new Maxxis High Roller 3 DH 29 front. With recent rain it's getting muddy - cleared mud really well and kept a downhill line incredibly well. Move over Magic Mary.
Astro66
Active member
Returned to the Royal National Park today. Fun day. But only 3 turned up to ride. Then 6 turned up for coffee and cakes afterwards ....... People are getting old ....... But not me ....... I'm getting younger ..........
Reminds me of that old Irish song , Forty shades of Green , brilliant.Returned to the Royal National Park today. Fun day. But only 3 turned up to ride. Then 6 turned up for coffee and cakes afterwards ....... People are getting old ....... But not me ....... I'm getting younger ..........
View attachment 148129
Busted out a cheeky 25km today at Woodhill Mountain Bike Park.
Solo ride today as the family are all broken and my riding buddy is busy.
View attachment IMG_4566.jpeg
Solo ride today as the family are all broken and my riding buddy is busy.
View attachment IMG_4566.jpeg
An outing to Glentress was planned so as to meet up with @Walkea (postponed for a later date)but the rain gods had other ideas…..shocking forecast for a 2.5hr drive so myself @The Hodge @drewbirks and @timberjack along with Jaco headed to Hamsterly with a dry morning and heavy showers from 13.00hrs. Turned out to be a good call Neil.
We started out on the black Pikes Teeth and a little off piste stuff before heading to the Reds.
We managed a few lops of Transmission, Poultys, Accelerater and finished of on loop around Section 13 in a heavy rain shower, totally soaked and quickly very cold. A great day out thanks Lads, already looking forward to the next ride.
We started out on the black Pikes Teeth and a little off piste stuff before heading to the Reds.
We managed a few lops of Transmission, Poultys, Accelerater and finished of on loop around Section 13 in a heavy rain shower, totally soaked and quickly very cold. A great day out thanks Lads, already looking forward to the next ride.
...those emojis are for the dopey look on my face on pic4..Nice one Wayne
I forgot to take my mobi from the car ..so no pics from me but can concur it was a great outing ..but hell that rain was cold
.The lack of Jaco in those pics was down to the fact that he thought we were meeting at the Transmission mast and headed back up to Poultys ..but that was OK as we got an extra half loop when we caught up again
.Now just about time to get the bike & kit sorted ( dry) before myself & Wayne are meeting up with @Hobo Mikey on Tuesday who has been heading progressively South from Scotland and has been in Northumberland over the past week or so ..for a ride that has been mooted a couple of months back ..the forecast ( so far ) looks as if it's going to behave itself ..looking forward to it .
Thanks to all for yesterday ..and to Wayne for the pint in front of a very welcome log fire at the Manor House on the way home ..
2WHLFUN
Active member
Halfway up at Fisher’s Peak State Park in Trinidad,, CO USA
Looking forward to it.
Nice one Wayne
I forgot to take my mobi from the car ..so no pics from me but can concur it was a great outing ..but hell that rain was cold
The lack of Jaco in those pics was down to the fact that he thought we were meeting at the Transmission mast and headed back up to Poultys ..but that was OK as we got an extra half loop when we caught up again
Now just about time to get the bike & kit sorted ( dry) before myself & Wayne are meeting up with @Hobo Mikey on Tuesday who has been heading progressively South from Scotland and has been in Northumberland over the past week or so ..for a ride that has been mooted a couple of months back ..the forecast ( so far ) looks as if it's going to behave itself ..looking forward to it .
Thanks to all for yesterday ..and to Wayne for the pint in front of a very welcome log fire at the Manor House on the way home ..
Not been on my bike for six weeks 🫣 It is still there I checked. Fitted the stabilisers, us old fat unfit blokes need them. Bring a tow rope to help me up the hills. 
Bit of Kintail Affric way today one half bone dry other half all puddles .Chew getting bike through these swing gates . Had a fast fall on a downhill bit nothing technical but front wheel just went. Convinced now that things definitely slow down or speed up in the brain when something goes wrong. A second between from being ok and hitting deck i remember thinking this is going to hurt and I won't be Kayaking tomorrow. I was ok shoulder and leg took most of it . Maybe I have the wrong tyre on eh we will never know. Cold today.
Top tip on those gates ..take the front wheel off if it's a quick release maxle ..saves a lot of effing & blinding
Never thought of that. That two weren't too bad some are horrendous. Jeep that in mind though.Top tip on those gates ..take the front wheel off if it's a quick release maxle ..saves a lot of effing & blinding
Tyjay
Active member
Back on the bike after a coupe weeks off due to the annual jaunt to Florida
Last minute change of mind and headed to kielder
We didn’t get lost we just didn’t know where we were haha at all times
Were gonna do the red lonesome pine trail. But that seems like most is gone deforested
Ended up following the bloody bush trail diversions till we were just about in Scotland
Decided to turn back and ended up
Doing dead water trail riding the last black sections a few times for a laugh
43 miles was a good ride
Last minute change of mind and headed to kielder
We didn’t get lost we just didn’t know where we were haha at all times
Were gonna do the red lonesome pine trail. But that seems like most is gone deforested
Ended up following the bloody bush trail diversions till we were just about in Scotland
Decided to turn back and ended up
Doing dead water trail riding the last black sections a few times for a laugh
43 miles was a good ride
Sudastone
Active member
A dry and dusty day at the county park, and all these lush pictures from England, Scotland and across Europe are making me jealous. We're still a month away from any rain here in San Jose, California.
I'm sure we could say the same about your sunshine. Lovely looking bike .
One of the best things about being on this forum is that occasionally the stars align and you get to ride with folks you have had a bit of banter with ( a lot of the routes now ridden are with riders I've met through being on here and have become friends with ) ..and it's great when that happens .
Todays ride was first talked about a few months back when @Hobo Mikey got in touch to say that he would be passing through Northumberland heading back to the South West after working the summer season in Scotland .
As he was staying in Powburn on the Eastern fringes of The Cheviot Hills ..that's where Wayne and myself headed.
An overcast / breezy day awaited wet underneath ( thankfully no rain until heading home) ..but that didn't spoil the fun and a pretty tough ( on the legs ) 23miles followed according to Wayne's stats ..my tracking stopped part way around .
Great to meet Mikey ..he's a good rider still recovering from a quite serious ( ebike inflicted) shoulder injury which required major surgery .
He also rocks an amazing beard which I could never get away with ..but suits him perfectly and in the words of the mighty Billy Connolly ..makes him look windswept & interesting .
Many thanks also to my partner in crime ..Wayne .
Hopefully you enjoyed yourself enough for a return visit in March on your way back over the border..when we would show you a different Cheviot route
A few pics from in and around an old ruin ( no not selfies ) ..Blawearie on Bewick Moor ..the rock formations always amaze me being where they are in terms of how did the end up there?
On Cateran Hill
Cheers Wayne & Mikey..really nice meeting you
Todays ride was first talked about a few months back when @Hobo Mikey got in touch to say that he would be passing through Northumberland heading back to the South West after working the summer season in Scotland .
As he was staying in Powburn on the Eastern fringes of The Cheviot Hills ..that's where Wayne and myself headed.
An overcast / breezy day awaited wet underneath ( thankfully no rain until heading home) ..but that didn't spoil the fun and a pretty tough ( on the legs ) 23miles followed according to Wayne's stats ..my tracking stopped part way around .
Great to meet Mikey ..he's a good rider still recovering from a quite serious ( ebike inflicted) shoulder injury which required major surgery .
He also rocks an amazing beard which I could never get away with ..but suits him perfectly and in the words of the mighty Billy Connolly ..makes him look windswept & interesting .
Many thanks also to my partner in crime ..Wayne .
Hopefully you enjoyed yourself enough for a return visit in March on your way back over the border..when we would show you a different Cheviot route
A few pics from in and around an old ruin ( no not selfies ) ..Blawearie on Bewick Moor ..the rock formations always amaze me being where they are in terms of how did the end up there?
On Cateran Hill
Cheers Wayne & Mikey..really nice meeting you
Was a great day and great to meet up with Neil and Wayne. Even though they made me go up a big hill to start with. My legs were burning half way around the route but I didn’t relize we were putting our motors on. No wonder they were in front of me all the way. Neil saw a white pheasant, me and Wayne saw seagulls All joking aside I had a great time and big thanks to Neil and Wayne for making it happen. It’s a great part of the world and hopefully I will be back one day.
My legs were burning half way around the route but I didn’t relize we were putting our motors on. No wonder they were in front of me all the way. Neil saw a white pheasant, me and Wayne saw seagulls All joking aside I had a great time and big thanks to Neil and Wayne for making it happen. It’s a great part of the world and hopefully I will be back one day.
I tell you it was a white pheasant ..its well known they vist here in the summer months from Tibet 
I tell you it was a white pheasant ..its well known they vist here in the summer months from Tibet
View attachment 148329
F**k off, Me nd Mickey both agree it was a bloody Herring Gull, and as for migrating here in the summer, what summer
A very different ride today compared with the blast around the Hamsterly trail centre. Todays ride was in the Eastern Cheviots between the A697 and the North Sea….Under leadened skys, it was cold, windy, wet in places and sometimes muddy. We crisscrossed the bleak moorland. This is a desolate part of Northumberland. Throughly enjoyed it.
I can only concur with @The Hodge with regard to meeting and riding with like minded souls found in this forum and our first meeting and ride with @Hobo Mikey was an absolute pleasure and certainly hope it isn’t the last one. Was good to meet you and enjoyed the craic.
The famous ornithologist Neil and
Mikey doing their thing.
I can only concur with @The Hodge with regard to meeting and riding with like minded souls found in this forum and our first meeting and ride with @Hobo Mikey was an absolute pleasure and certainly hope it isn’t the last one. Was good to meet you and enjoyed the craic.
The famous ornithologist Neil and
Mikey doing their thing.
Last edited:
etoni
E*POWAH Elite
Wallis Autumn colors.
Totally agree Neil it was great to meet your tribe at Applecross. Imagine a humungas meet it would be amazing.
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