What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/MTB

[Silvergoat]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

Living in North London, I'd love to get out beyond the M25 and join in some rides, but quite often it's lack of time, family/work commitments, cost, etc, that get in the way.

For me, riding for fun, camaraderie and capturing the spirit of the old days, would be the order of the day. I'd hate to turn up and feel like I'd just gatecrashed a closed circle or exclusive clique.

Off on a tangent now – what happened to the idea of some kind of meet to mark 25 years of the Orange Clockwork?

 

[FluffyChicken]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

Orange meet for 25
As always it takes someone to say damn it I'm going to pick a date, place and go ride and invite others. If no one else turns up so be it, I'll still have a nice ride..
Sort of thing.

 

[Silvergoat]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

I quite agree.

I'm often takin' it to the streets most days in the spirt of celebration, but on my own.

When Orange announced the new Clockwork25, someone on the 'History of the Clockwork thread' asked how many Clockworks could we get out on an anniversary ride, but although there seemed to be interest in the idea, nothing happened. I guess one would have to decide on the spiritual home of the Clockwork and arrange accordingly...

 

[Gruff]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

My experience on the RB rides I've been on is:

on the climbs everyone goes at their own pace, but everyone waits at the top of the hill for everyone else, and gives the slowest the chance to recover too. No lording it over anyone for bike spec or fitness levels, just good camaraderie

I've been on around 5 or 6 National rides and i agree with Tim, 'specially as a 15 stone back marker
If i can do it anyone can

If anyone is in ANY doubt about joining in take it from me you'll thoroughly enjoy yourself have a great day and make some good friends to boot ( even if you are at the back ).

 

[bugloss]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

The back's the place to be anyway.
The back of the bus, the back of the class and of course the back of the bike shed. That's where the action is.

I've only been to one Retrobike group ride and enjoyed it immensely. I was a bit worried at first as I thought I might not fit in being a bit of an odd old fart and I don't really "do" the club thing, but there was no competition or sneering at peoples gear, which was brilliant. I've been to other group/club type rides and I've met some horrid snobs there.

I'm glad I made the effort to go and everyone was very friendly and relaxed about the whole thing. Riding around on a rusty old bike is a bit of a daft thing to be doing anyway and there's no point in being too up tight and serious about it.

When I first turned up I thought that this was possibly a bit of a clique, but I think that's because so few people turn up to these things everyone knows each other and it just looks that way and it isn't.

Some are faster riders than others and there are a few who are a hell of a lot faster and really should be made to ride round on the big ring all the time . Hills will naturally split the group, but everyone seems to go into their own little suffer bubble anyway. I'm not sure if there is any unwritten rule about dropping people, but everyone waited at the top and the fast ones went back down to check on the stragglers and we all survived and had a grin.

We did some climbs that I was dead worried about, but they weren't so bad after all, although I did think I my big end was going to go at one point

 

[Ian Raleigh]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

I used to go on VCC rides a few years ago and the best for me was that they all know how to ride a bike safely, ride as a group and everyone looks after each other, many of these riders are ex' pro's from the seventies so know how to ride as a group.

There are some newbie riders who have got into the retro scene and have no idea how to ride and when you give them advice on how to ride correctly, like never ride against the rear wheel or remember to shout 'on your left/right' but I get abuse from some because I'm an oldie and they are young and the young knows best which scares the shit out of me and known a few newbie riders bring down other riders because of their irresponsible riding, because of this I no longer ride with them as I don't want to smash my pride and joy up and to ride with an unknown rider is out of the question for me.

 

[Silvergoat]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

I used to go on VCC rides a few years ago and the best for me was that they all know how to ride a bike safely, ride as a group and everyone looks after each other, many of these riders are ex' pro's from the seventies so know how to ride as a group.

There are some newbie riders who have got into the retro scene and have no idea how to ride and when you give them advice on how to ride correctly, like never ride against the rear wheel or remember to shout 'on your left/right' but I get abuse from some because I'm an oldie and they are young and the young knows best which scares the shit out of me and known a few newbie riders bring down other riders because of their irresponsible riding, because of this I no longer ride with them as I don't want to smash my pride and joy up and to ride with an unknown rider is out of the question for me.

You wouldn't enjoy riding a classic RB through London daily then i take it – there's plenty of two-wheeled liabilities and candidates for the 'Darwin' awards out there

 

[bugloss]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

Just the thought of London makes me shudder.

 

[Ian Raleigh]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

Just the thought of London makes me shudder.

Me too mate, I have a friend who drives an HGV into London everyday
and has to contend with cyclists to his left and right which many cyclists
see it as a constant game to see who can get through the fastest!

Fcuk that! :facepalm:

I'm glad I live in Nottinghamshire.

 

[Rampage]

Re: What would make you turn up at a Retrobike event? Road/

I always forget to look in the relevant section, then I miss rides.
Could every ride be announced on the Facebook site so people are aware of them?

Although I think you can subscribe to a complete section on this forum now?

Wife's pregnant ATM so I won't be out for months anyway!