Kettlewell

Spent a weekend riding out of a youth hostel in Kettlewell. What a great place, mellow village with some great pubs. The Copper Dragon beer is excellent, brewed in Skipton. They do brewery tours too.
We had a good days riding on the Saturday taking in Moss Fleet and Buttertubs Pass on a foggy windy day. Very steep and hostile in high winds.
Sundays weather was shocking so no riding, which was as well after all the beer the night before!
The youth hostel had only us old folk in, not a youth in site!

Alnmouth

This week I am on holiday up in Northumberland. Just rehydrating after my daily ride with a pint of 'Rooster Leg horn' crazy name but very tastey.
Nothing funny to report really,  everyone is mellow up here, motorist are patient and not trying to kill me like they do back home.
Got a really nice training run of 25miles which has a slight twist. The sea is on my right when I go out and the castle is on my left. When I come back... Yep you've guessed it.
My new Probikekit shorts are tops although my mp3 packed up so I couldn't use the 'media pocket' in the shorts. Turns out the club kit also has a media pocket too, so that's what they are. I don't ever use a music player while I ride as Eric normally provides all my entertainment but I'm happy now I know what that little pocket is for. My son reckons I could get a hamster in it, but if I'm carrying a hamster its going to have to pedal too!
sent from my sophisticated handheld device.

I'm on holiday

Spent a very nice day at Matlock Bath in the sunshine. Had the bike in the car so I could ride home. Ticks all the boxes that way.
Forgot to pack a helmet!! Never had em in the 80's and I'm still here so figured I would look at this idea that motorists offer more space to riders without helmets. Its an urban myth my friends.
The pro drivers know they are giving you very little room but are very good drivers, its the once a year caravan drivers that scare me. Overtake an cut in like they arnt carrying their second home. Should be a separate test for folks that fancy towing a home without the common sense to remember what's behind them.
I know cyclists are on a par with rats but until we change the law you can't legally kill one on the road unless they have slept with your daughter. Maybe even that's illegal.
I don't hate all car owners, how can I, all my mates own them. Infact I have done all car owners a big favour by never buying one myself and joining them. I do have licence but think it better I don't ever use it, its for your good.
Rant over.
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Wriggley Tin

Eric chose this route as the cafe had reopened and I was excited about adding a new cafe to the website.

Adam reckoned if we were lucky we might stay dry, well we aren't that lucky! After a couple of hours in the saddle we arrived at the green building that is the Wriggley only to find it was a self catering hostel and guess what, we'd not thought to bring any food!!

Eric was quiet on the ride back as we headed to another cafe.

I don't like riding in the rain for obvious reasons but one of them is my brakes, just not very good and in the wet even worse. Got a lovely email from the site I got them from saying "enjoy the brakes". Should have said good luck! They are very lite which is why I got them but then again having no brakes at all would have been lighter and just as useful. I descend like a bike box anyway but these don't inspire confidence. I blame them for my hitting that tree out at Longnor last year although rider error has also been mentioned.

At the cafe we got talking of putting a Google map together of all Erics crash sites as he hits the ground often even with proper brakes. Every crash has one thing in common, a rider on the floor and a group of riders standing over him with their phones taking pictures and pissing themselves.

So at some stage I will get round to doing that. My favourite of Erics crashes wasn't exactly a crash , he got blown onto a metal barrier on Holme Moss right at the top and was stuck shouting for help.

I will leave you with this. Your never lost your just somewhere you've never been before, maps lie, all the time!
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Bus Stop

I have a little website called Pedal Stop that I put cycle routes on, mainly around the Peak District which is where I ride. I am pretty lazy so it doesn't get updated too often.
Last night I had an idea. The routes are nice with some great views but it's not the routes that are the fun bit, it's the company.

I ride on Saturdays with a group of lads made up of Sheffrec cc and ex Sheffrec cc riders and whoever else turns up at the bus stop that particular morning at 9am. I don't know why we meet at a bus stop and I've never asked anyone why. I was told  if I wanted to ride with Sheffrec that's where I would find them. That was seven years ago and I have never looked back.