Page to contact your Biking Networkers!

I have been looking at ways of enhancing the Biking Networking group, and I have created a linked member's page to allow you to contact each other more easily, whether for business, networking or more importantly for just seeing if anyone is up for a bike ride!

The webpage allows members to display their usual business card / contact details and a brief profile. I will not put your details on the site unless you ask me to do so.

Only members who are on the Biking Networking database will be able to view this, and in order to do so you will need to register with a google password (it takes about 1 minute and is very straightforward - an email will explain what to do).

If you would like your details putting on the website, please email me your basic business card / contact information and brief profile. Please do not exceed 60 words.

Betws-Y-Coed - Penmachno update

Thanks for coming along at the weekend - I hope you enjoyed it, and for those who rode on the Sunday....we made it back alive without using Mountain Rescue - hurrah! [...it was epic....] Here are a few photos and a couple of videos. I think Dean (in red, below) is still on a high after the last section of the Marin trail

The Penmachno riders are just grateful to have survived the night...!

Check out the last photo...in the dark after crossing fields, climbing over fences and knocking on doors to ask directions...! Its not that we were lost in the dark.....we just didn't know where we had come from, where we were or which way to go!

[12.08 Update: I went back to finish Penmachno on 1 December with "the Professor" and a couple of local riders - it was icy but we finished. On our previous attempt, we had made it all the way round apart from a 500 m climb and a technical 2km final descent section. p.s. The Professor's bog has now been surfaced, much to his disgust! . John.]

A special thank you to Glenwood B&B in Betws-Y-Coed where we stayed. They were fantastic hosts, cooked a huge breakfast, and also very kindly returned Alice's hire bike to the shop on Monday morning... (our Epic ride finished way after the hire shop had closed and we had no mobile reception on the trail). Thanks also to the the bike hire shop Ultimate Outdoors for their patience (sadly, I think they are the only bike shop left in Betws-Y-Coed).

Penmachno MTB circuit information:

Please note that we have now discovered that if you do loop 1 you can then either return to the car park or continue round loop 2. If you combine loop 1 and loop 2, the circuit is 30km, and returns you to the car park. The last 2 descent sections of loop 2 are the most technical, fast tight singletrack with rocky drop-offs (6inch to 1 foot), switchbacks, and steep sections. Great fun, but much tougher than the rest of it. The whole circuit is a lot more undulating and contouring than Marin, and hence slower. I reckon an average rider would need 4-5 hours including a bit of chatting and waiting.

Penmachno Video - The Professor rides the bog!

Video - Penmachno Boardwalks and Bogs

Through the woods at Penmachno as the daylight fades, lights, camera and action - boardwalks and bogs included...!

Night Ride Tuesday 4th November

A few of us braved the November night to do a night ride around Hayfield and Lantern Pike. Conditions were surprisingly good and all enjoyed it, despite overshooting the occassional bend...! Thanks to all who turned up. There will be another night ride soon, fear not!






Please email John if you would like to come along to future night rides. You will need a bike and lights !

Macclesfield Event on 3rd September

Thanks to everyone for coming along, despite the torrential rain, to what was a fantastic event with a really strong turn out. Photos of the Mountain Bikers are posted below, but I'm afraid the roadies escaped my camera! Thank you again to Mark Slater for organising the MTB route, and Stephen Jackson for the road route and for arranging an excellent venue, with great beer and good sturdy sandwiches, a perfect way to recover and warm up.

Suggestions have been made about an evening at the Velodrome, the Ski Dome, Night Rides and a possible Saturday trip to Llandegla Mountain Bike Centre (where there are also road routes on the surrounding roads http://www.coedllandegla.com/), or possibly an overnight weekend trip. We will be in touch to see if any of these are of interest, but any feedback from you would be appreciated.

Macclesfield 3rd September - MTB photos

Welcome!

Wednesday 3rd September - Macclesfield

Venue: Car Park opposite Waters Green Tavern, (opposite Macclesfield Station)
Waters Green Tavern, 96 Waters Green, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 6LH (Parking free after 6pm)
Time: Meet at 5:20 to set off at 5:30
Ride: 5:30 until 7ish
Pub: Waters Green Taver for drinks and refreshments
The pub is fairly basic but its in CAMRA guide (sells real ale), and they have promised to put on sandwiches and chips etc. Stephen Jackson has kindly offered to pay for the food.

We are expecting a big turnout for this event. Please contact John Kitching if you would like to attend, and indicate:
1. If you are doing the Road Route or MTB Route
2. MTBers - are you driving and can you give a lift to another MTBer from the Venue to the Forest.

Road Route:
Stephen Jackson is planning a road route around Macclesfield, his initial thoughts for the road ride: 15 miles trip: up the Cat & Fiddle and then back via Wildboarclough and Langley reservoir. View it here

Mountain Bike Route:
Mark Slater is devising the Mountain Bike Route around Macclesfield Forest. We will need to drive to the forest from the meeting venue, so as to make the most of the daylight.

The route will be moderate to intermediate and around 8 miles long. 3 stiff climbs - one is reasonably steep but climbable in middle ring - second is a granny ring climb with little traction - good fun though. 3rd is on road but you know you have climbed at top. One rapid descent through forest and final technical descent down charity lane to leave smile on face. Should take about hour and a half with filming stops and comedy crashes. You will need a Mountain Bike for this ride!!

Hope to see you there for what will be the final daylight meet of the year.

Team Pannone 2nd at Nocturne Event

The Salford Nocturne Event at Lowry Quays on Saturday 30th August was a great success, (with plenty of media coverage for Pannone who sponsored the Elite Criterium, and John Kitching's moment of fame on Channel M...!) Chris Hoy raced exercise bikes on stage, whilst other Team GB Olympic medallists featured in the Pannone Elite Criterium race. In the corporate challenge, Team Pannone finished second thanks to strong performances from Nick Harrison, Duncan Lanser, John Kitching and Bruce McLaren. Great atmosphere and an exhausting event.

John having passed the guy in pink tags Bruce

Marple 7th August 08

Marple - The Fox Descent - Simon Racle

Marple - The Fox descent - Paul Hayhurst

Delamere Forest 10th July 2008

Delamere Forest was our first meeting