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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...

The cool wall vote on Spinergy has been closed. Retrobike has judged Spinergy uncool. Next up on the vote is Marin.

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 :D. Next up on the vote is Spinergy.

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...

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...

By popular demand we'll be running another special offer this year. A little late but better late than never. Anyhow for the bargain price of £20 you can get ->Retrobike Mug ->Retrobike Black Beanie ->A couple of individual retrobike logo stickers Click here to take advantage of this offer!

Just taken delivery of a fresh batch of mugs ready for Christmas delivery. Imagine the look of joy on your Wife's / Husband's / Boyfriend's / Girlfriend's / Mother's (delete as appropriate) face on the morning of the 25th December when they open a retrobike mug instead of another boring blu-ray player or bottle of perfume. Don't dissapoint them! The mugs can be purchased from the retrobike shop, click here to order. Will even chuck in a couple of retrobike stickers for every order recieved between now and the 25th. Please note last order date for Xmas delivery is the 17th Dec for the UK.

The cool wall vote on Raleigh has been closed. The heron has been beaten :( . Despite over 100 years of history, Tour de France victories, National & World Mountain Bike Champions along with countless other wins Raleigh of Nottingham, England has been voted UNCOOL. That's right the company that brought you the Burner, Grifter, Chopper, Lizard, Mustang, Dynatech, 753 Team Professional and countless other classics has been consigned to the wrong side of the coolwall by the good people of retrobike. Raleigh has failed where Proflex succeeded. Ah well, nevermind. Next up on the vote is Trimble.

The retrobike google map for registered forum users is now back online here. If you've not added yourself to the map and you'd like to you can do so by updating your profile, just click 'search my coordinate' and get your pin on the map.

This just in from Neill, the man behind the GoatSurfer Retro MTB website. Planet Earth, November 2009 - GoatSurfer Retro MTB officially launches online. GoatSurfer Retro MTB has been started primarily to put something back into the RetroBike Community and that 'something' is the Pace Forks Timeline. The object of this is to have a chronological timeline with high quality pictures, model numbers and product info for all the Pace forks. This took a while to get together and is still missing some info so if you can help with any corrections, photo's or tech specs please PM me. Also located at GoatSurfer Retro MTB is a small vintage catalogue collection, a bunch of random MTB info that you might find interesting and links to the...

The November 2009 "Mid Range Special" Bike of The Month was one of our more controversial contests. A well deserved win went to 24pouces' 1988 Cannondale SM600. Nov 2009 BotM winner - 24pouces 1988 Cannondale SM600 The second spot was taken by Easy Rider's Dawes SE and third spot was shared between ElCani's Muddy Fox Seeker & Oneschnark's Progear STX 1995. Nov 2009 BotM 2nd and joint 3rd - Easy Rider's Dawes SE, ElCani's Muddy Fox Seeker & Oneschnark's Progear STX 1995 Don't forget to check out the December 2009 BoTM.

Cook Bros is alive according to the recently updated website. Look forward to seeing what they come out with.

Good to see the Cunningham Bikes website back up, an outstanding resource for all things 'ham.

The cool wall vote on GT has been closed. Following some complex statistical analysis it was decided GT would be 'OK'. Next up on the vote is Raleigh. Do David Baker, John Tomac, Andy Ruffell & Joop Zoetemelk make up for the Activator, Max and Lizard? From this vote onwards we have removed the 'OK' option. No more fence sitting ;-)

Just been sent a link (thanks to @cdnprairiedog on twitter) to a very interesting advert on craigslist. The advert reads as follows bicycle framebuilding jigs - $8000 I'm selling all my framebuilding jigs / fixtures / tubing / brazons. These are all the jigs and fixtures used to make the 4000+ handbuilt brodie frames over a 15 year period... a liitle bit of history you might say! I haven't built a bicycle frame in about 5 years, so it is time to move them on, hopefully to a good home where they will be used. The price is $8000 firm. Call Paul @ 604 xxx xxxx Could be a chance to own a piece of history or at least setup your own frame shop. More pictures and discussion in the forum here.

Updated classified rules here. New gold trader status trial here. Please check them out!