RetroBike National Ride Series 2011 - Peaks Ride Aftermath

Nice to see we're on page two of the aftermath thread already.
Thanks for starting it up Andy. :D

I'll gather my thoughts and pictures and do a full write up later, but for now I'd firstly like to thank everyone for turning out to ride yesterday. It was great to see so many new faces amongst plenty of regulars too. It was a real pleasure and great fun.

I think the official count was 56 altogether including those who joined us at Edale. All of which made for a bit of a challenge not to lose anybody.
Anyway with plenty of assistance and cooperation from everyone, we all made it round without too many mishaps, mechanicals and blood injuries.

I didn't get back home until midnight despite living only 35 minutes away such was the great post ride entertainment.

Quick thank you to Marctwotone for the 100GS rear mech, and to EdEdwards for the mental pictures that cannot be erased no matter how hard I try.

There's also a good list of caravan names here.
 
Re: Mr K's Peaks Ride

Imnotanumber-06":hfxiteyo said:
Men of the ride?
3. Whoever it was who gallantly ground up the last hill only to be overtaken by a runner: A real show of mind over a clearly knackered body, well done.
John B

I think that was me. :oops:

Thanks for waiting to include me in the photo. Very much appreciated. I had nothing left at that point, despite the cake at the cafe. :-D
 
Quick thank you to Marctwotone for the 100GS rear mech, and to EdEdwards for the mental pictures that cannot be erased no matter how hard I try

I'm gonna start collecting 100GS as an investment. Looks like it's gonna be the new M900 XTR.
I dont think I'll ever find the "unicorn" 70GS. May just remain a dream. ;-)
 
The weekend didn't start promisingly after being invited to an intimate 'BBQ' (read Spanish Steak and Kidney Pie made with frozen solid pastry) Chez Ruddock. It all went downhill from there, even if I frequently didn't.

Friday evening was spent in a maelstrom of inarticulate finger wagging with only dim memories of the subject matter - I imagine old bikes and my lack of integrity featured large. I think it ended with Ruddock locked in his own cellar with only £121.87 of old bikes and parts for company.

Only too soon, almost as if I hadn't actually fallen asleep, I was roused. Despite not a mark on my body I was aching all over - had I indeed been beaten up by ex-Romanian Secret Police? Regardless, we had a 60 minute drive to the 9 a.m. breakfast RV Point in Hope and it was already 8.55 a.m. The drive over, despite being aided by a pint of Red Bull, was alarming and, possibly, illegal.

My spirits were both restored by arriving in Hope and the sight of 50 odd men with a splendid variety of old bikes (plus Andy B on his modern 'rig'). However this was actually worse - I was really going to have to ride. Naturally at such gatherings it is important to be bearing gifts and I've always enjoyed the socialisation of sharing food in good company. Strangely no one was up for a pickled egg at 10 a.m., perhaps there would have been more enthusiasm if I had given them away gratis?

Chopper gave some sort of rider briefing - I wasn't really listening - and then off we went. I bought up the rear of the first quicker group as we wanted to give the less fit riders something to aim for. After a gentle road trundle we hit dirt. Or should I say loose stones. My hangover had receded to just feeling desperately awful although the pickled eggs were feeling pretty solid and lodged in my chest, like an alien ready to hatch.

The folly of no granny ring was exposed on the climb to the radio mast and my mood was improved no end by being relentlessly remind that the cage on my rear mech was upside down (thanks to the wag who performed this mechanical sleight of hand while I was re-enacting 'Cool Hand Luke' before the off). It was helped no end by Gus and Tad introducing me to a new caravan naming game - I think Freud would describe them as being fixated on the anal stage.

On we went. Rocks. Uphill. Push downhill. Take the racing line off of Bramwell Common down through a farmers field. Avoiding the pointless descent to Edale. Failing to secure lunch at the cafe as they were out of wholemeal bread and processed meat and making do instead with three Penguins. Half a mile of sweet, sweet tarmac.

Finally, thankfully, we were back in Hope. The karma and prize giving while sheltering from the rain were awesome, as was the beer provided yet again by Spencer. But really, those 'polo grips' that were given out as prizes? We all know that they are really 'docking sleeves', don't we?

Summary
Kudos to Chopper and his team for a splendid day out.
 
Just got back about an hour ago , Totally shattered

Absolutely fantastic weekend all round, Met lots of new faces and plenty of old ones. The organisers did a fantastic job from start to finish certainly a challenging route !! :D

Thanks to everyone for making a top retro day out

Cheers

daj
 
I'd just like to echo the thoughts of those who've already posted and thank the organisers, gate openers and to all who made us feel welcome on first ever retroride :D :D

Despite feeling broken and having to face the daunting task of removing the now what appears to be welded mud to my bike I have to say It was a great day. Wished I could have stayed till the end but had to leave the cafe early to get back for other commitments in the evening :cry:

Highlights of the day for me were just to see so many great bikes and their owners in one place and to finally put some faces to avata's though it was such a good turn out there are so many I didnt' even get chance to chat with so looking forward to the next one.

Thanks also to those that took pictures as I was really crap and didn't take one :oops:

Thanks again

PS any chance I can have another sticker please as mine has ended up in the washing machine :x :x :x
 
awsome day riding with some awsome folk :D this was my 4th year riding the mrks peaks ride and it just gets better every year,the numbers,the banter, the riding quality etc etc and the bikes :shock: wow :cool: .

thankyou to all the aec's and organisers,you did a sterling job and its a credit to you guys the days always go wonderfully

highlights for me was the banter, getting free food at the cafe, my kili not breaking, seeing some good friends,new and old .the descent at the end chasing rob on his pace was awsome! i made it my mission to try and fly down it and after over taking andy on his modulas carbon weave all mountain freeeeeeride downhill rig i was happy,rob fecking flew tho :twisted:

thankyou to all who helped make the day a special one

heres a few pics i took on the phone

top of the rocky climb,botoom of the king o hill :roll:

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cafe stop will very little totty compared to previous years,food was still ok tho

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regroup,one of many, well good idea.

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nearly ride end at the top of the hill awaiting breakdowns.really windy and views are ace

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my fave pic i think :?

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awards a plenty, nos thumbies!!!!

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see ya'll next year :D
 

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