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A number of route descriptions and trip reports from near and far have been archived - feel free to browse them.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.

Bike Bytes

Autumn Meet

Arnside Youth Hostel, Friday 10th to Sunday 12th
Prices Adults £15.95 per night. Juniors £11.95 per night
Evening meals £9.00 Breakfast £4.50

Bookings direct to the hostel:-

YHA Arnside
Oakfield Lodge
Redhills Road
Arnside
Carnforth
LA5 0AT
t: 0870 770 5674
e: arnside@yha.org.uk

Please refer to Rough Stuff Fellowship and quote booking ref : 8101/1008/005

The hostel is a large Edwardian house overlooking Morecambe Bay and the Lakeland Fells. An excellent touring area. Rides will be organised on Saturday and Sunday.

Singletrack magazine

It's been pointed out to us that in the January 2008 edition of Singletrack the following comment appears in the review of the year section: Editors' Choice

"Event Of The Year: Riding with The Rough Stuff Fellowship (Singletrack issue 32) - reminded me to look up from my front wheel and consider the bigger picture..."

...and, of course, we're only too happy to offer a reciprocal plug for the magazine...;-)

York Rally 21/22 June

Anyone interested in helping out with the RSF stand at the York rally is asked to contact Geoff or Lynne Rowbotham on 01539 737797. A number of tasks need to be done but you don't have to volunteer for all of them and neither do they need to be too time-consuming.

Blocked Passages?

Obstructions on trails? Fallen trees? Locked gates? The CTC has launched a new service that allows cyclists to report such problems online. Councils have a duty to maintain access and if you come across problems then you can navigate to www.clearthattrail.org.uk and ensure that your complaint is noted and hopefully acted upon.

In a similar vein, potholes - and other road hazards - can be reported at www.fillthathole.org.uk so the tools are there and you're encouraged to use them...

Walna Scar Road, Lake District

Walna Scar Road, linking Coniston and Seathwaite, currently has the status of a public bridleway. A proposal has been put forward that would change its status to that of a byway open to all traffic. Clearly there are implications here for cyclists and other outdoor users and you may wish to comment on the proposals. More information can be found here

GPS Route Data...

We'd like to introduce the option to download GPS data for (some of) the routes in the Archive. At the moment this notion is really in its infancy and we'd appreciate comments as to its useability and - more importantly - any suggestions for improvements.

In addition to mapping software, you may also need to convert the file format for your own purposes and/or export to your GPS device. We've chosen to use the (hopefully) widely accessible .GPX file format; but, again, any comments here would be welcome. Free software which supports this format and also integrates with many GPS devices is available for download from EasyGPS

Currently, there's just one route available and it's hoped that as many people as possible might be able to download it, view it in their mapping software, and check that it can be loaded into your GPS. If comments are positive and if there aren't any insurmountable difficulties, then perhaps we can make more routes available... over to you, guys!!

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.
 

Scotland Access...

Scotland's new access laws came into force in early 2005 giving access to pretty well all open areas provided users adopted a 'responsible use' approach. All of this seems perhaps a little vague, but we await to see how it all works...