The January 2010 Bike of The Month poll is now up here . This month it’s a Saracen (or saracin mate if you read @singletrackmag) special.Get votin!

The results for Retrobike’s prestigious Bike of The Year (BoTY) contest, the blue riband event of the retro world, are in. The title of ‘Bike of The Year 2009′ goes to ameybrook’s Yeti C-26 replica.

2009 BoTY winner – ameybrook’s Yeti C-26

Following some initally close voting the well fancied Yeti stormed the vote. The full result is as follows -

1st – ameybrook’s Yeti C-26 (76 votes)
2nd – Defiant’s Serotta TiMax (44 votes)
3rd – Dr S’ Pace RC-100 (32 votes)
4th – Sinnett177’s 1993 Team Raleigh Dyna-Tech (26 votes)
5th – Pete McC’s Doug Bradbury Manitou Full Suspension
6th equal – Archangel’s 1991 Specialized Stumpjumper Epic Ultimate (15 votes)
6th equal – Pete McC’s Yeti Ultimate (15 votes)
6th equal – Ragnar1984’s Miyata Century (15 votes)
9th equal – bushpig’s Mantis X Frame (13 votes)
9th equal – Gary Turner’s GT STS (13 votes)
9th equal – Hairstream’s Yeti Ultimate (13 votes)
12th – Oneschnark’s Grove Innovation Titanium (10 votes)
13th – 24pouces’ 1988 Cannondale SM600 (3 votes)

Unable to follow last years BoTY victory Defiant took a fine 2nd place with his Serotta. The final step on the podium went to DrS’ Pace RC-100.

2009 BoTY 2nd and 3rd – Defiant’s Serotta TiMax & DrS’ Pace RC-100

The coolwall votes on Marin and Thumbshifters have been closed. Retrobike has judged both COOL!

Next up on the vote is e-stays (or elevated chainstays).

Welcome to the latest in Retrobike’s 20 questions series. This month the spotlight falls on Charlie Kelly (aka Repack Rider), a man who genuinely needs no introduction.

Retrobike: Hi Charlie, how’s life? What’cha up to?

Charlie Kelly: I have a piano moving company. My daughter is about to start her second year at the University of Oregon, and I am still married to my first wife, named Mary. I work a lot, and most weeks I can only get out on the bike on Sunday, so I try to make it count. Fortunately I have some great places to ride.

RB: Ok, many will know you from the early days of MBUK. How did that MBUK connection come about back in the late eighties? Through FTF?

CK: I don’t remember how I got started with MBUK, but I was friends with John Stevenson and Tym Manley. I know I have copies of the photocopied MBUK that preceded the slick version. I wasn’t too hard to find in those days. In the ’80s I had the advantage of being the only functionally literate mountain biker. Now I understand there are three more. I was writing for several US mags as well as the Flyer, and I was friends of Richard Grant and Richard Ballantine, two English cyclists who were the among first in England to understand the concept.

RB: Early on, important question…what’s your favourite (music) album of all time?

CK: Since I spent a long time as a roadie for the somewhat obscure Sons of Champlin, it would be treason if I didn’t cite one of theirs. “Loosen Up Naturally,” 1969.

RB: ‘Fat Tyre Flyer’ – your publication and the only mountain bike magazine until 1985, is still the best Mag title I have heard of to date. You reportedly loved doing it, any dreams of a re-launch? Surely there’s space on the shelf as the other titles grow ever more similar. ?

CK: A magazine is a life sentence, and I have already paid my debt to society. I don’t think the cycling experience itself changes much from year to year, even though the equipment does, and writing for the major publications I found that there was about a three-year cycle and the same articles would repeat, because the mags are for new riders. There are lots of products for mountain bkes, but I’m into people, not widgets, and I think “bike reviews” are bunch of…what is that word you chaps use…BOLLOCKS. Did I use it correctly?

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The cool wall vote on Spinergy has been closed. Retrobike has judged Spinergy uncool.

Next up on the vote is Marin.

The poll to find the Retrobike Bike of The Year (BoTY) 2009 is now up here. Get your votes in quick becasue the poll closes on the 15th January at 23:59 GMT. The entrants are as follows-

Now taking nominations for January 2010 Saracen Special Bike of The Month contest here.

The December 2009 Bike of The Month was one of the stongest to date. A fine victory went to Bushpig’s Mantis X Frame.

Dec 2009 BotM winner – Bushpig’s Mantis X Frame

Second place was taken by Bduc61’s Breezer Lightening and third place was taken by Tallpaul’s Orange Vit-T2.

Dec 2009 BotM 2nd and joint 3rd – Bduc61’s Breezer Lightening & Tallpaul’s Orange Vit-T2

Don’t forget to check out the January 2010 “Saracen Special BoTM and of course the 2009 Bike of The Year vote.

The cool wall vote on Trimble has been closed. Retrobike has judged Trimble cool .

Next up on the vote is Spinergy.

The Bike of The Month December 2009 poll is now up here.

Pulling up at U.S.E HQ it dawns on me, over the years we’ve known each other, I had never taken up Rory Hitchens’ offer of popping by anytime for a tour round (they’re only 5 miles down the road). Right, better turn round and pick up some cakes then hadn’t I? Pulling up at U.S.E HQ for the second time in half an hour, I am greeted by a flurry of bike business activity. “We’re moving into the unit opposite” a huge pile of Exposure Lights boxes said as it crossed the road on the small industrial estate that is so often the type of place you find an industry legend like U.S.E.

Am I going to be met with an air of confused derision at my longing to unearth a pile of anodised purple loveliness gathering dust in the loft?
Probably. This place has after all ridden (pardon the pun) the waves of varying bike trends over the years, from the early days when you could “make something new a whacky colour and people would buy it” through first the ti, then carbon explosions and onto the successes of the growing night riding/ racing market and cordless light set ups. U.S.E may well have a fair few of the old faves still in production, but they are also firmly ‘up there’ with products as innovative and lovely (in a CNC’d kind of a way) as the Olympic winning TT bars and the Exposure Lights LED light range.

As it turns out, I am met by an ever enthusiastic Rory wearing an even more enthusiastic flouro green and pink race jersey from back in the day. Good start I think to myself. He still gets it.

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Ladies and Gentleman of Retrobike,

We are pleased to be able to take the wraps off your essential guide to Retrobike riding in 2010! Break out those new diaries and insert these key riding retro dates and get that precious bike out of the shed and onto the trail!

As part of the process to ensure that all events are of the highest standard, we have recruited Area Events Coordinators and Deputies who, with good knowledge of their riding areas, are best placed to organise these activities. The AECs also manage their Area Sub Forums - here you will find regionally-focused chat and latest information on all rides and activities. Please make sure you check your area sub forum regularly!

Please note that the events on the National Calendar include several non-Retrobike organised events that we highly recommend and support.

Retrobike 2010 Calendar

JAN
30th Dunkeld – MacRetro

FEB
13th Thetford – Lincs and East Anglia
27th Trough of Bowland – NWest

MAR
7th Haldon – South West
14th TBA – East Midlands
27th Ffestiniog – NWales

APR
11th HONC - S&W Mids

MAY
1st Three Tribes, Peaks – NE&YORKS/E Mids
8th Lake District – NWest
15th 10 Under the Ben – MacRetro
29th Set2Rise – South West

JUN
5th Moel Famua – NWales
18-20th Mountain Mayhem – National
28th TBA – Lincs and East Anglia

JUL
11th IOW Ride/Camping – South West.
18th Forest of Dean. S&W Mids.

AUG
6,7,8th Big Dirty Weekender II – NE&YORKS
15th TBA – Lincs and East Anglia

SEP
4,5,6th OWMTB 2010 – National
18th Mr K’s Day in the Peaks – NWest

OCT
23/24th Glentress – MacRetro

NOV
TBA Real Ale Wobble -
21st Appetite Seminar UK – NE&YORKS

DEC
27th Turkey Twizzler – S& WMids

We at Retrobike Towers are all looking forward to seeing more of you out riding retro in 2010 and believe that we have the diversity of events to tempt you onto the trail – hope to see you there!

Mr K