The Rough Stuff Fellowship
In the Beginning...
top of climb on Highway 377
Bob McHardy
The history of the RSF goes way back to its foundation in 1955, long before anyone had ever heard of Marin County. It was formed by cyclists who wanted to get away from roads and cycle off-road on tracks, and byways.
Bikes then were a world away from their modern-day counterparts. Steel frames, no suspension, no disk or V-brakes and gearing to make your hair curl. That was only part of the story though. Clothing, too, has seen major advances in materials and design in the intervening years. Of course, some prefer the more traditional approach...
Why the name "Rough Stuff"? Read more about the organisation and derivation here
The RSF has a number of established local groups around the UK who organise local rides and events. Details of these can be found here on the website. Details are also published in the bi-monthly RSF Journal. Also in the Journal is a wealth of news and trip reports from around the UK and further afield.
A number of route descriptions and trip reports from near and far have been archived - feel free to browse them.
You don't have to be a member to use the noticeboard section. If you want to place your own small ads - either a For Sale or Wanted, then this is the place to do it. Local group organisers might also want to put up messages concerning meets, or whatever...
The RSF promotes responsible access to the countryside. We have a Code of Practice, which members are asked to adhere to. For legal reasons, the RSF has formed itself into a Company. More details of this, and of insurance issues, can be found on the Legal & Admin page.
The RSF has members scattered across the globe. Most, of course, are UK-based. Membership includes free copies of the Journal and access to many other RSF publications. If you're interested in joining, then details can be found here.
The Easter Meet and AGM are held at various locations around the country. Read more here...
Steve Griffith has written an article describing the origins of off-road cycling in the UK.
Bike Bytes
Charlie Chadwick
Charlie, born in Bolton in 1904, was an early pioneer of off-road cycling and, in fact, became the first Chairman of the RSF. The Veteran Cycling Club has produced a book describing those early years based on Charlie's diaries. It is called "Rough Stuff -
The Pre-war Diaries of Charlie Chadwick"
There's a selection of photos on Flickr
The price is £10 plus £2.00 p&p. Order now from Club Sales Officer: Lynn Bickle, Campbell House, 2 Front Street, Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland NE64 6PJ Tel: 01670 816595 E-mail: lynn.bickle@btinternet.com
(cheques payable to: Veteran-Cycle Club)
More information on their website
Heartride 2012
The British Heart Foundation is organising its 2012 Heartride event which will be held in Dumfries and Galloway this year on 23 June. There are a number of different rides and more details can be found on their website.
Chapel Gate and Roych Clough
The Peak District National Park Authority has imposed a temporary 18 month experimental ban on motorised traffic along the Chapel Gate track from Rushup Edge to Edale (GR SK093825 to SK 113842). This is to be welcomed as the ancient track passes through an area of exceptional beauty and has become extremely badly eroded and disfigures the landscape. It is to be hoped that the ban will eventually be made permanent.
The adjacent section of the Pennine Bridleway through Roych Clough (GR SK091824 to SK066842) is equally sensitive, subject to erosion and to disfigurement. However at present motorised users are only being asked to follow a "code of conduct" and there are apparently no proposals for a similar restraining order though the need is equally as great.
Monsal Trail
The 8.5 mile Monsal Trail between Buxton and Bakewell is now complete with a number of the original tunnels having been renovated and opened recently. More information and a leaflet can be found on the Peak District website
First Aid
Steve Evans, a Paramedic and cyclist has created a first aid course which is aimed specifically at cyclists. He is trying to distibute it as widely as possible and at no charge.
Unfortunately, first aid is an issue that can often be overlooked and ignorance of even basic procedures can result in unnecessary trauma and serious situations becoming worse. If it's an area that you haven't looked at for a while - or even if you have - then the course is freely available to download and use.
Copyright, of course, belongs to Steve but he assures us that he's happy for anyone to use it as they wish and to help in the effort to circulate it.
You can download it from the link here and it comprises a free-standing Powerpoint presentation - just save the file and double-click to fire it up. You don't need to have Powerpoint installed and you can use your mouse to navigate through it.
NB: some of the images may make you wince a little, so you have been warned.
Sales & Publications
Our Sales & Publications page has recently been updated and you might want to take a peek at what's on offer.
Publicity & Recruitment
Jane Gill has a selection of posters and smaller flyers advertising the RSF and can send them out to people in the mail. One idea is to ask local bike shops to display them. She adds that her local shops were very keen, with the attitude that anything that encourages cycling is good for all of us! We've already had one enquiry as a result of this.
If you think you can help then please contact Jane at jane@peakbagger.co.uk
Spa Cycles
RSF is negotiating a deal with Spa Cycles and it seems that they may be able to offer substantial discounts for members on Dawes bikes.
More details are available from Spa on their website.
Green Machine Bike Shop
Of particular interest to members in and around Lancashire is the latest offer from the Green Machine Bike Shop of Horwich. RSF members will receive 10% off most items, and special deals on new cycles, mountain, road racing or touring, just ask for details! Expert, friendly advice from real cyclists, whether it be solo, tandem or trike, on or off road, leisure or competition. Full workshop facilities are available for the maintenance or modification of your cycle. Well worth a visit!
Green Machine Bike Shop
146 Lee Lane
Horwich
01204 696831
Wheely Good Bicycles are now offering special rates for members. They are a mobile Cycle Repair Specialist based in Whittle-le-Woods. The company is run by RSF member, Laura Pringle, who is a City & Guilds Qualified Bicycle Mechanic. They offer a range of services: bike repairs, servicing, upgrades, wheel-building, second-hand bikes, vintage restorations and refurbishments, bespoke bike builds - as well as parts and accessories.
Wheely Good Bicycles
4 Kem Mill Lane
Whittle-le-Woods
Chorley
PR6 7DZ
07789 915710
wheelygood@o2.co.uk
GPS and mapping issues
We'd like to offer facilities contributors to the Routes Archive to supply GPS data and/or Google Maps for users to download and/or view - further information and discussion can be found here and there's more information about using Google Maps here
Hostels in the Western Isles
Some, but not all, hostels in the Western Isles are run by the Gatliff Trust. For more information about the facilities on offer by the hostels you might want to take a look at this page
...and as at June 2011 it appears that the Garenin hostel has now closed permanently, leaving just three others.
Wiggle...
The RSF is happy to endorse Wiggle.co.uk as an online supplier of cycling equipment. A number of members have commented on the quality of service that they have received. As part of Wiggle's affiliate scheme, using the link here to connect to Wiggle's site and subsequently placing an order with them will generate some income for RSF funds at no cost to the customer. Please feel free to avail yourself of that service...
Note: in order for the affilate scheme to work for us, you must either use the link above or edit your browser's bookmark to Wiggle to include our user ID as follows: www.wiggle.co.uk/default.asp?ReferID=rsf
Alternatively, you could use the link above and then bookmark Wiggle so that it will include the user ID automagically. Having the user ID as part of your bookmark has no effect at all on the way you browse their website, it simply means that if you do choose to buy online, then they will know that you were referred through the RSF and so we will benefit as a result.
Saddle Skedaddle
We're also happy to add a link to Saddle Skedaddle who organise cycling holidays in the UK and around the world. Some of our members have been more than happy with the service they have received so if you feel like a taste of adventure without the hassle of organising it yourself, then this could be for you!
