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Back from Bike Right
Just back from a weekend of cycling in Northumberland - here's a brief photo report...
Bike Right 10 (or, as it's Halloween, BikeFright 10)...
BikeFright! Photo by Jason Patient Photography
...took place as usual in Wooler Youth Hostel, and as usual attracted 40 or 50 people (it booked out ages ago). The Bike Right events are off-season, sociable, loosely-organised weekend events, with rides in the day and participants' slide shows in the evening... they tend to attract an good mix of 'traditional' and more 'interesting' machines. This year saw several recumbent trikes (at least four ICE, one Greenspeed, one Redmount Roller), a good few folding bikes, and plenty of very nice upright tourers.
I missed Friday's ride, as I cycled over from Berwick-upon-Tweed station through a few showers on Friday evening.
For the first day's ride everyone went first to Belford, where volunteers at the new community hall (an old bank) had prepared a splendid spread of scones, flapjacks and cakes - the cheese scones were especially fine! Check out their website - they are particularly keen to extend a warm welcome for other groups, promoting Belford as a centre for exploring the region. Riders from Cyclefeast next year will be popping in for more of their excellent catering.
I then joined the longer of the two rides from there, and went with a big group over to the resort town of Seahouses. Although disappointed that the fishing fleet hadn't returned in time to stock up local caterers for the town's famous crab sandwiches, we availed ourselves of the local crazy golf facilities...
Unfortunately a full 18 holes delayed our lunch so that we weren't finished before the main group left to go back to Wooler before dark. So a select group of 8 riders went back via Preston Tower and over the moors, through the mist, back to Wooler. The four recumbent trikes with us suffered a string of punctures...
though all made it safely back in the end.
Another puncture, courtesy Jason Patient Photography
After more slides and videos that evening everyone rode the next morning to the Border Hotel, Kirk Yetholm, for Sunday lunch:
and after stopping in for tea at Kilham, I rode back to the station after a splendid weekend. I was enjoying it too much to do much photography, but to close, here's probably the best of the ones I took: Mark Marsh enjoying (?) one of the hills.
Crispin Bennett has a report with pictures up on his website, too:
http://www.crispinbennett.freedomnames.co.uk/BikeFrite10.htm
The next BikeRight event is at Longridge Towers School, April 8th to 10th 2005. Please e-mail Philip Stanbury for more details or to book.
Posted on 01 November 2004
Your comments ...| From: Seamus (etc) on 01 November 2004 |
So, who won the quiz what I wrote? The one at Kirk Yetholm and how poor was the score?
The other quiz, what John Turvey wrote, was won by Team Seamus on Friday night, ably assited by Sue Archer and, er, that bloke from the Herd who wasn't Le Gary, Luke or Becky. |
| From: Arch (@uni) on 01 November 2004 |
| I did! Well, me and the rest of the top table at dinner - Pete, Trevor, Sharon... damn, I knew I'd never remember everyone. Abject apologies to those whose names I've forgotton. Oh, and I got joint first in the Spot the Difference with Geoff Apps as well. Is there any way to beat me in competition? Yes, have a cycling up a hill race! Brilliant weekend... Thanks to all the organisers! |
| From: S (etc) on 01 November 2004 |
and the score was?
Out of 20. |
| From: Too much Seamus (etc) on 01 November 2004 |
Bit of drama on the way into Berwick on Sunday.
Downhill to town and a right turn at the roundabout to Spittal.
As I was going around the roundabout a car, coming up from town, failed to
stop and instead drove at me.
Fortunately it was going slowly enough to stop just before I got knocked over
but the bumper was pushing my left leg and I had to put my right leg down or I
would have fallen, all the while thinking that I was about to be driven over.
The driver and pasenger just sat there as I loudly berated the driver. After a while and a quick look at the bike I continued down to Spittal but had to stop
about half way down 'cos I'd started shaking rather a lot.
And then I caught the 3:09 train south no bother
|
| From: sorry (I couldn't resist) on 01 November 2004 |
"Another puncture, courtesy Jason Patient Photography "
So he's responsible, what is he a serial puncturer?
c'mon Jason own up, how many punctures do you cause to unsuspecting members of the cycling community? |
| From: Becky (on Windcheetah) on 01 November 2004 |
| Thought I'd say that despite this being my first Bike Right, and not knowing anyone at all except perhaps Peter, vaguely, I enjoyed myself. I don't think I've stopped for cake and tea so often before! |
| From: jase ([email protected]) on 01 November 2004 |
| I'm truly 'flattered' to be accused. Hey, even I suffered a very slow 48 hour slow one. BR 10 was truly frightening this year. Far too many scary moments. Roll on BikeRite 11 AKA 'elephant' |
| From: jase ([email protected]) on 01 November 2004 |
| Oh yes it's addictive. You may well become a regular............ |
| From: Arch (@uni) on 02 November 2004 |
Seamus: 9 or 10 out of 20, I don't remeber which. Gained through a mixture of sheer knowledge, educated guesswork and native cunning. Oh, and the fact that I read one of the tie-break answers in a newspaper over a stranger's shoulder on the train on the way up. Spooky!
Sorry to hear about your near miss. I mean, glad it was a near miss, and not a hit, if you see what I mean... |
| From: Arch (@uni) on 02 November 2004 |
| Oh, and what's with the elephant stuff? |
| From: S (etc) on 02 November 2004 |
Carlsberg Elephant?
Summat about never forgetting?
Jase is just a bit mad?
Maybe he's practising at setting a more challenging quiz than mine?
|
| From: andy scaife ([email protected]) on 02 November 2004 |
| Well there is a motorcycle event called the Elephant Rally, in which the lunatic fringe of european touring enthusiasts (so lots of BMWs then!) go camping somewhere near the arctic circle in mid-winter! John & Pat of Cyclefest, have been, I believe! |
| From: jase ([email protected]) on 02 November 2004 |
| BIKErite 11 ELEphant is 'ele' as in 'eleven' and John Turvey is keen on elephant ornaments/stuff and has never managed to combine with his passion for cycling. |
| From: John Turvey (jt@thecheesesconesareallmine) on 02 November 2004 |
| It is thanks to Ken Davison that the Belford venue was discovered - during his scouting for the Eco Trip he obtained an invite to the Community Centre for tea and biscuits for the Eco Trippers. We received instead a very impressive spread of home baking, and as Jason was with us that day he very rapidly made the booking for a Bike Right visit. My big mistake was to tell everyone on Friday night at Wooler how good the cheese scones were - on the Eco Trip I nearly managed to eat a plate of 30 all by myself - on this visit I had to fight of several people just to get 10 cheese scones! |
| From: Ann Onymoustopolis (no thanks) on 03 November 2004 |
Why don't elephants ride bicycles?
They don't have thumbs to ring the bells. |
| From: S (etc ) on 03 November 2004 |
| There's an old silent B&W movie about a race between; Elephant, Bicycle, Camel, Horse and Automobile." |
| From: Carlos Durango (.) on 03 November 2004 |
| Don't forget the Cuban comedy political movie, "El Elefante y la Biccleta." |
| From: Luke ([email protected]) on 03 November 2004 |
Sorry to hear about Seamus near miss. I've learnt something from this.
NEVER PAY THE HITMAN UNTIL AFTER THE JOBS BEEN DONE! |
| From: Mark Whitehouse ([email protected].) on 03 November 2004 |
| For Seamus, I'm the other bloke from the Herd,and I'm better at quizzes than crazy golf. |
| From: . (.) on 05 November 2004 |
| That is not funny Luke |
| From: Ann Onymoustopolis (no thanks) on 05 November 2004 |
Policeman: "One of your elephants has been seen chasing a man on a bicycle."
Zoo Keeper: "Nonsense, none of my elephants knows how to ride a bicycle!". |
| From: andy scaife (2muchtimeonmyhands@work) on 09 November 2004 |
| there was a David Eccles BCQ cover (was it 6?), with the ark, and some interesting animal/cycle interfaces. |
| From: Behind the scenes (???) on 14 November 2004 |
Also too much spare time at work and stumbled on this remarkable feed-back. I thought you were all a bit bonkers - now I know...
Linda (Hostel Furher) may not like elephants in the building
R |
| From: S (etc) on 16 November 2004 |
It's no wonder i couldn't remember Mark's name I was trying to remember his French name, Albert.
Apparently my near-death-experience made it into the Berwick Advertiser (it's a small town and nowt ever happens).
Jason'ss lined up some elephant droppings which he plans hiding in folks rooms for a laugh. |
| From: Arch (@uni) on 17 November 2004 |
I saw a piece of 'art' once in a modern art exhibition which consisted of varnished elephant droppings in a big paper bag...
Will we all manage to find a bell/t-shirt/waterbottle with an elephant on it? And I'm sure there should be a joke along the lines of elephants never forgetting and you never forget how to ride a bike, but I can't quite work it out...
|
| From: JT ([email protected]) on 17 November 2004 |
| I already have my elephant sweat shirt! |
| From: Arch (@uni) on 18 November 2004 |
| That must be huge! |
| From: Leicester's most handsome ((you fill in this bit)) on 18 November 2004 |
| I don't think elephants sweat do they? |
| From: S (etc) on 18 November 2004 |
| Why have elephants got big ears? |
| From: Arch (@KM) on 18 November 2004 |
..Because Noddy wouldn't pay the ransom.
Good question about elephants sweating. I don't know, but shan't rest now until I find out. I know pigs don't. |
| From: Arch (@KM) on 18 November 2004 |
| No, they don't. |
| From: Seamus (etc) on 18 November 2004 |
Oh deary me Arch.
I would not have expected it to be you who'd fall into such an obvious trap. I said, "big ears, " not, "Big Ears."
Elephants have big ears;
(a) as a cooling system developed over generations of elephantism. (Not sure if it was teams of elephant scientists or natural selection though I favour the former).
OR
(b) 'cos that's how God made them on day 6.
Distracted slightly, just seen a reference for another fracky cycle movie, "Noddy - A Bike For Big Ears." |
| From: S (etc) on 18 November 2004 |
...and
"Noddy and the Broken Bicycle."
What a waste of a lunchtime/life. |
| From: andy scaife (skiving@last) on 18 November 2004 |
How would you design a bike for Big ears? I'd have thought that the ears wouldn't affect the riding of a bike, except of course for the inevitable aero disadvantage. If the rider could control their ears, they could be used to provide downforce or lift, as required, or even to balance if riding no-handed.
At least elephant's sweatshirts don't need to be wicking if they don't sweat. I think that's why they bathe daily. to cool off, so I suppose a bikie ride would be good for them if they kept up the speed. Again, not easy with ears like that.
Maybe the guys at Cycles Maximus could come up with something strong enough? |
| From: JT ([email protected]) on 18 November 2004 |
| Re bikes for elephants, this has already been done - and Jason has the picture to prove it - if you ask nicely he may send it to you! |
| From: Arch (@KM) on 19 November 2004 |
Yes, there's a picture here...
http://www.littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=3915
Captions please... |
| From: Roger the Hilldodger (hiding from the cold) on 19 November 2004 |
| I could say something with regard to a proposed cycling venue - Tom and Arch will be sniggering now - but I don't want to upset a cycling luminary. Honest. |
| From: Arch (@KM) on 19 November 2004 |
Oh! (In a Geordie Accent)
Sorry to the millions of you to whom this doesn't make any sense... |
| From: Tom (Fraying ) on 22 November 2004 |
|
| From: Ann Onymoustopolis (no thanks) on 22 November 2004 |
| Woul Roger, Arch or Tom care to explain to us. Sfterall, we all enjoy a smirk at the expense of ol' Jinmbo |
| From: v.Norti Rascal (@hmp.com) on 22 November 2004 |
There's a 'orrble rumour goin round that CoC are changing their name to Rhino Exhibitions coz Ji..(EDIT FOR LEGAL REASONS)....a lot.
HAHAHAHAHA!!! Fuuny that. |
| From: Arch (@KM(but going home soon)) on 22 November 2004 |
| I couldn't possibly comment. For a start, with all these aliases, I've no idea who I'm talking to.... |
| From: Peter Eland ([email protected]) on 22 November 2004 |
| Watch it you lot, my finger is hovering over 'delete'... |
| From: Ann Onymoustopolis (no thanks) on 23 November 2004 |
| I'd have thought Mr Eland would have been too busy ensuring the next Velovision comes out on time to bother himself here. |
| From: andy scaife (?) on 23 November 2004 |
| OOOh ! Get Her! |
| From: Seamus (etc ) on 24 November 2004 |
Well, actually, Miss/Ms/Mrs Onymoustopolis isn't far off the nails head.
In an email in response to summat about The Times online vote for the Greatest Invention (bicycle currently has more than half the votes so that'll not win) he admitted he was so busy on the next VV that he had insufficient time to put new stuff on this site. |
| From: andy scaife (hiding@cafe) on 25 November 2004 |
| Well I called round the office yesterday to play with the Bridgestone (but there was an airnimal there instead) and Peter was too busy with magazine preparation to chat... or was that just an excuse? The last 2 p***-ups have been Elandless as well, due to pressure of work, so maybe it IS me! |
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