The Few

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M

moclan

· #3 · Dec 19, 2005

Pic #2 made me smile.
"Man, it was so cold he didn't realise the others had decided to go home !"

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U

uktrailmonster

· #4 · Dec 19, 2005

We'll be back in the new year

Furthest we got yesterday was a 1 hour cruise around the local woods at the edge of our village. Not sure I really earned the Sunday dinner afterwards!

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ajr

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 19, 2005

uktrailmonster said:
We'll be back in the new year
Furthest we got yesterday was a 1 hour cruise around the local woods at the edge of our village. Not sure I really earned the Sunday dinner afterwards!

Have a nice one. We are going to Chicksands on the 27th.

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U

uktrailmonster

· #6 · Dec 19, 2005

ajr said:
Have a nice one. We are going to Chicksands on the 27th.

Sounds good to me, we'll certainly make that.
Have a great Christmas Alan and many thanks for a superb year's riding. When I decided to buy a Ventana I never realised how much more I was going to get from it! Send our regards to Lynne and Leon too.

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Milo Tweenie

· #7 · Dec 19, 2005

uktrailmonster said:
Sounds good to me, we'll certainly make that.
Have a great Christmas Alan and many thanks for a superb year's riding. When I decided to buy a Ventana I never realised how much more I was going to get from it! Send our regards to Lynne and Leon too.

Yep, same here. Thanks Alan.

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Pauliemon

· #8 · Dec 19, 2005

Me too!

Thanks for all the great pics Alan. One day I hope to ride your trails and meet all your mates. I do have roots there you know. My name being Fleshman and my wife's name being Thatcher but don't hold that againist her.

Merry Christmas to all our UK family.

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C

Ciclistagonzo

· #9 · Dec 19, 2005

Nice...

Nice pics and great weather!

NorCal got blasted by a wet storm.
1.4" in the valley and over 3" in the Foothills kept me inside, so no pics this weekend.

Did put my "free time" to good use, I'll post pics of that hopefully tomorrow.

-Aaron

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Y

young gun

· #10 · Dec 19, 2005

Pauliemon said:
Thanks for all the great pics Alan. One day I hope to ride your trails and meet all your mates. I do have roots there you know. My name being Fleshman and my wife's name being Thatcher but don't hold that againist her.

Merry Christmas to all our UK family.

so u want to met us of the ajr crew good on u

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S

steiny

· #11 · Dec 20, 2005

Can the Cake Shop light the chalice like a beacon?

Nice pics. Glad somebody got out this weekend. Those temps sound about perfect for hitting the trails before they get too soft from warming up. I'm still waiting for the snow to recede. Bugger.

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Pauliemon

· #12 · Dec 20, 2005

Ciclistagonzo said:
Nice pics and great weather!

NorCal got blasted by a wet storm.
1.4" in the valley and over 3" in the Foothills kept me inside, so no pics this weekend.

Did put my "free time" to good use, I'll post pics of that hopefully tomorrow.

-Aaron

Yeah it dumped on Sunday. I was bummed but I had to work anyway. I'm kinda busy next Sunday

how about a New Years Day ride?

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mtnbiker4life

· #13 · Dec 20, 2005

When did rain ever stop a mtn biker from carving the trails. We have an after work ride every Monday......Aaron, remember three Monday's ago it was pouring cats & dogs.....yep we road, why you ask? because we're determined mtn bikers that don't let a little thing called weather get in our way. Mind you, I'm still picking the grit from Granite Bay out of my !!!!!!!!!!!.

It's good to see pictures from across the pond. How's land access in the UK?

Ciclistagonzo said:
Nice pics and great weather!

NorCal got blasted by a wet storm.
1.4" in the valley and over 3" in the Foothills kept me inside, so no pics this weekend.

Did put my "free time" to good use, I'll post pics of that hopefully tomorrow.

-Aaron

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ajr

Discussion Starter · #14 · Dec 20, 2005

mtnbiker4life said:
When did rain ever stop a mtn biker from carving the trails. We have an after work ride every Monday......Aaron, remember three Monday's ago it was pouring cats & dogs.....yep we road, why you ask? because we're determined mtn bikers that don't let a little thing called weather get in our way. Mind you, I'm still picking the grit from Granite Bay out of my !!!!!!!!!!!.

It's good to see pictures from across the pond. How's land access in the UK?

In the UK land access can be a problem. Wales and Scotland have seen the benefits of opening up mtb specific areas and have many really great trails. In England there are many walkers who feel that the countryside is only for them. We still have plenty of great stuff to ride so no real complaints about access at the moment.

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ajr

Discussion Starter · #15 · Dec 20, 2005

Pauliemon said:
Thanks for all the great pics Alan. One day I hope to ride your trails and meet all your mates. I do have roots there you know. My name being Fleshman and my wife's name being Thatcher but don't hold that againist her.

Merry Christmas to all our UK family.

I look forward to that day. Merry Christmas to you. This forum makes the world a much smaller place keeping us in touch with all our riding friends wherever they may be.

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mtnbiker4life

· #16 · Dec 20, 2005

That's good to here. Does the UK have any groups that fight for land access for mtn bikers. Here is NorCal, we have the horse group to content with. They sh*t all over the trial and I'm sorry but I haven't seen one of them help on trail maintainance. I try to pick up as much garbage during my rides and often fill my back pockets with water containers and trail bar left overs......and we mtn bikers are the evil trail users......hmmmm sounds like a conspiracy in the making.

I haven't been to the UK in years since the mid 80's when I was stationed at RAF Alconbury. I might have to plan a visit.

ajr said:
In the UK land access can be a problem. Wales and Scotland have seen the benefits of opening up mtb specific areas and have many really great trails. In England there are many walkers who feel that the countryside is only for them. We still have plenty of great stuff to ride so no real complaints about access at the moment.

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ajr

Discussion Starter · #17 · Dec 20, 2005

mtnbiker4life said:
That's good to here. Does the UK have any groups that fight for land access for mtn bikers. Here is NorCal, we have the horse group to content with. They sh*t all over the trial and I'm sorry but I haven't seen one of them help on trail maintainance. I try to pick up as much garbage during my rides and often fill my back pockets with water containers and trail bar left overs......and we mtn bikers are the evil trail users......hmmmm sounds like a conspiracy in the making.

I haven't been to the UK in years since the mid 80's when I was stationed at RAF Alconbury. I might have to plan a visit.

Horse owners to are powerful over here as are the ramblers. We do have groups that fight for our access rights. We cause less damage than horses or walkers but because we are considered as a new intruder in the countryside we have to fight to ride in some areas because we are classed in with 4x4 and motorcycles. I have a bell fitted to my bike and I make a point of being very friendly to anyone I meet walking or horse riding and I very seldom get problems even if I am on a footpath.

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paddlefoot64

· #18 · Dec 20, 2005

To be so cool, the grass sure is green. Must be winter grass. Very nice views. Thanks for the pics.

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B

Beagle

· #19 · Dec 20, 2005

ajr said:
Horse owners to are powerful over here as are the ramblers. We do have groups that fight for our access rights. We cause less damage than horses or walkers but because we are considered as a new intruder in the countryside we have to fight to ride in some areas because we are classed in with 4x4 and motorcycles. I have a bell fitted to my bike and I make a point of being very friendly to anyone I meet walking or horse riding and I very seldom get problems even if I am on a footpath.

A UK branch of IMBA has been up and running since about 2003 (from memory). They seem to be picking up a bit of momentum now with access news in the UK mags, membership/finances growing and website getting better etc. I'm not sure how you guys view IMBA work in the states? But, with our UK trail access framework they seem to be doing a sterling job. I'd urge any UKers to join up and get involved. Its only £12 for crying out loud! Horse wise - the British Horse Society has been fighting for trail access which can actually benefit MTBers sometimes when certain paths are opened up to both. As I'm sure is the case in the US, so many different fingers in the pie with so many different aims - sometimes these aims run in parallel, sometimes not.

I agree with ajr though. Always polite as possible and on the whole no problems. We have some great riding in the UK and also some good budget airlines opening up riding opportunities in wider Europe.

Nice pics Alan. I know its an old tune but I need to hook up with you guys in the new year!

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