Response to Mick Ely’s letter in Jan/Feb 2022 magazine
A couple of years ago I replied to Mick’s
It was so good to see friends again last weekend in the Chilterns, after waiting so long!
Many
...Well, this was another great success, about 30 members turned up at St Katherine's and were
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Just along from my mother in-law's house, the tarmac becomes dirt. It's two years since I last
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I cycled on NCN1 from the east side of Edinburgh to the car park at the eastern end of the
Being of the disposition to be constantly scouring over maps, mostly of my local area, in the
With the backend of storm Brendan forecast to bring heavy rain and strong winds we opted for a
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Cleckheaton Town Hall clock
...NP&SP Sunday26 May 2019
SANKEY VALLEY PARK TO SANKEY VALLEY PARK
What a wet morning, travelling
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https://ridewithgps.com/trips/34646735
Chose to start at Speech House, Forest of Dean. A mistake -
...Rsf NP&SP Hooton Pagnell Sunday 7April 2019
We met at the Buttercross for a 10.0am start, but were
...{gallery}politi-rome:240:140:0:2{/gallery}
Riding the main roads departing from Rome, on my Sunday
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Rsf Monton Sun 10th Feb 2019-02-11
As we prepared for a ride in the east of Greater Manchester
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Towy Valley Rainbows
With the Mountain Weather Information Service indicating clearer weather coming
...Marple 6th January 2019
Click on the photo above for more of Roger's photos of the ride:
The
...Ashton to Lees Sunday 9th December 2018
Short days mean short rides, and so once we had crossed
I don't normally write a report for these rides but as this was Jim's first attempt I'll make an
...A Short and Gentle ride around South Yorkshire
I will not bore you with a turn by turn account.
...My thanks to Dave for leading and Roger for photography. Don't forget to book for our annual
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It was a lovely
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This ride was planned (sort of)
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The monthly RSF (Rough Stuff Fellowship]
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Eight riders started from Hayfield
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Long time since I have been as wet as yesterday. Delayed start by an hour because of rain and then 4
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The aim of the ride was to visit the new Urban
...Ogden/Haworth ‘Walk & Ride’ Festival Event
Click on the photo above for more of Mike's photos from
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A treasure hunt ride with picture clues
...About 25 riders set off from Hadfield to Tintwistle on what was billed as a short and easy ride. We
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Click on the photo above for more June Saddo photos:
Click on the photo above for more July Saddo
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Eight riders set off from Meltham on a ride that headed out through Honley woods via Mag Dale to
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It was damping slightly when we met across the road from the Grass Hopper Café, which is closed now
...Never cast a cla't until May is out, couldn't be truer today. We arrived at the starting point in
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In Rob's absence I offered to lead the ride but did make a comment about 'leading from the rear' !
...With a spare Sunday in the offing and slightly better weather than was earlier predicted I took
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The promised sunshine not only arrived but so did a dozen or so eager cyclists but yet again
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The Maythorne Cross, was thought to have originally been a Saxon boundary marker. There are two
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Considering the recent terrible weather it was pleasing that we had picked a reasonable day to
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After an enforced break from cycling it was great to be back in the saddle for a winter Saddo with
...The dull February morning turned out to be bright and sunny within an hour of our arriving at West
...- Punctures Galore!
On a cold dry day fourteen members, including a couple of new faces, met at the
...No snow on snow but grey, cold and icy on the tops! As I said to John when we met at the Lime Kiln
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A dozen or so Peakies plus potential new member Dave from Macclesfield (welcome Dave!) turned out
...A very hardy, some might say "fool-hardy", half dozen or so Peakies joined me at Philips Park,
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With a generous dusting of snow and seriously sub-zero temperatures, choosing a route for the
...Three cities - well if you count Media City alongside Manchester and Salford, two canals, the Ship
...This year we started at West Vale car park.
It was a beautiful crisp autumn morning as seven of us met
Twelve brave souls showed up at Digley Car Park on Wednesday to explore the challenging topography
Every year since I have been a member and probably for several years before that, there has been a
...11 October 2017
I don’t normally approach strange men in toilets and ask them “Are you George Nutt”?
...Paul's Two Abbeys Ride
6 September 2017
The first of the two abbeys we visited was Byland Abbey.
...RIDE THE LIGHTS
It was a chilly afternoon on leaving the camp site at Lytham. Eddie found two new
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Sharon Lowe has led two rides for us this summer and both have been crackers, repaying the effort
...Having bought a mountain bike in 1992, I joined RSF soon afterwards as a means of enjoying some
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Don't mention the “h” word! This was the first of the “easy ride” series I have led and on a sunny Sunday
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Even with rain forecast for most of the day fifteen intrepid Saddistes assembled at the Lime Kiln
...Mytholmroyd to Crimsworth Dean Sunday 6th August 2017.
Meeting at Mytholmroyd We welcomed three
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This ride was billed as a sweet ride with a hard bit in the middle – something like my favourite
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Ever since discovering the route some years ago, this somewhat epic ride has become a feature of
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1947 Post War England was full of interesting facts, it was the year Princess Elizabeth and The
It was one of those really wet days when you wonder why on earth be a ride leader, but noblesse
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This year the Rough Stuff “Corral" was even bigger than usual with a variety of tents, a camper
...Hartington Holiday!
Thanks to Nev and Jane for arranging a couple of days cycling under the expert
Six of us arrived below the Lido at Bury around 9.30 with the prospect of a hot day out! Michelle
...NP&SP Rsf Leisure Ride from Ashton under Lyne.
Sunday 21st May 2017
This was an inaugural ride of
...Fun in the Sun?
Not really!
Could have been
Pain in the Rain!
But thanks to the indomitable spirit
...NPSP Ride from Wortley, Sunday 4th June
Six regular Peaky Blinders turned up at Wortley for our
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Most people have heard of Haworth, home of the Brontes, tourist honeypot etc but not so many have
...Ride from Whaley Bridge Sunday 7th May
On a glorious spring morning, free of the freezing cold winds
...A Joint Ride with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Mucky Lane Groups from Bolton by Bowland,
14 April
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Perhaps I should not have billed this as a route up the Pennine Bridleway to Robin Hood's Picking
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The West Yorkshire (nobbut just) town of Otley straddles the River Wharfe and is famous for
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Mist and rain often deter cyclists but in Saddleworth inclement weather seems to bring them out in
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16 February 2017
The weather forecast said it should be dry and pleasantly warm so it was cold and
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Luckily this ride happened the day before Doris - the storm not Day - hit! Otherwise plan B would
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Do you remember that feeling you used to get when you’d enjoyed being on a school trip but the next
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A very healthy turnout of fourteen riders congregated in the cafe at Sale Water Park for a brew and
...The weather gods really smiled on us for the ride and gifted us a beautiful sunny day. Our numbers were
...Nine of us turned up for today’s ride.
After taking suitable sustenance at the car park café we set
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Given the weather forecast it was amazing that nine Saddinistas, plus Mick Ely who was doing his
...We met outside the Spen Valley Sports Centre on a dull and damp morning. Those travelling from
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It wasn't a very promising day and in the lead up to Christmas it was probably a miracle that four of
...Another great turn out of over 20 for this our third Saddo Christmas Ride and Lunch at the Lime
...On a dreary Saddleworth day it was a bit of a challenge getting some 20 or so members out of the
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Pie and Peas
Sunday November 6th 2016.
Leaving the car park we headed east on sustrans route 66 to
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A dismal start and poor forecast failed to put off 21(ish)Triple Egg and Chips, a muffin and a pint for £5.80!
It was Roger's fault really as he let slip that
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Nine riders turned up at Healey Dell on a beautiful autumn day for one of my favourite rides in
...Having failed to get a glimpse of Stonehenge on the Saturday, Cary and I decided to have a ride
...NPSP Ride from Mytholmroyd
2nd October 2016. Twelve riders turned up at Mytholmroyd on what was a
...Watch Iain Johnson's Video of the ride here:
Another splendid Autumnal Day and an impressive
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What a day for a Saddo! The promise of sunshine all day plus some extra advertising through the
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The weather looked a little grey and drizzly for the start, but soon bucked up and set fair for the
...The Monsal Trail and more with Eddie
17 August 2016
Ten of us set off from the Haddon Grove Farm
...Arriving at Moses Gate Country Park the weather was a step change for the better compared to last
...Or should it be the Woodnook Wetway, it rained for the whole ride, but at least it was warm. We
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I've been puzzled for a while why most weekday rides start at 10am and finish between 4pm and 5pm
...The Saddo route to Tintwhistle - “Tins” to those in the know - is one of my favourites and since we
...With six cyclists, plus Roger, having negotiated the rather difficult way in to Reddish Country Park we
...Seven riders enjoyed a very pleasant cycle along the banks of the River Ribble on a fine warm
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Mary Towneley Loop Day 1
Thankfully we were not riding the Loop on the Tuesday, the hottest day of
...Yes, this was the day of our easiest family friendly ride, just ten flat miles on the well
...'Scratching an Itch'
Wednesday 13 July 2016
As Rob Newton has been often heard to say 'it's got to be
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Thankfully the torrential rain of Monday gave way to a pleasant and, crucially, dry day, not too
Our annual ride from Glasson Dock to Morecambe is as always quite flat; no-one would be enjoying the
...Due to the title you may be forgiven for thinking this was a ramble; the ramblings are just me
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Thank heaven for common sense! Six members, including newcomer Pauline, managed to turn up at the
Reid's Nettle Ride
22 June 2016
With so many grumbles about travelling through places such as
...Mick Ely's THREE DALES RIDE 25 May 2016
It was a day for indoor events according to the weather
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York Rally 2016
This is the second year of the re-invented York Rally on the Knavesmire and was
...After a stay over at the York Rally where I enjoyed Geoff & Rob's rides, I got the last direct
...As usual on this ride we had our early cuppa in the Café Tor within Musbury Fabrics, we were
...The Rochdale Smasher!
A loop in the hills to the east of Rochdale was the objective of our ride, a
Perhaps it was the weather forecast but an unusually modest collection of Saddistes turned up for
...Before I set off to Barrowford this morning I looked at two disparate weather reports,and after some
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Hope to Tidewell via Shatton Edge
On a superb sunny Sunday I was expecting more of a turnout at
...The weather forecast for our May camp at Sandside was promising and proved to becorrect, we
...Our regular run from the Cow Shed at Buckshaw Village comes round every three or four months
...You may suspect that today’s ride was in Chile, but no, nor was anyone drinking the wine; but we
...Well, not far enough in fact; technically speaking it was actually a viaduct we had arranged to
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Starting from Moses Gate Country Park a circular route was planned, primarily off-road and making the
...I always wait until we're well into Spring before putting on this ride - you don't want to be
...Today’s meet started from Towneley Hall Country Park beside the infant River Calder, the first leg of
...What’s this I hear...... Another Meander....... Yes it’s confusing, isn’t it? Don’t mistake this ride for
...A combination of moorland, woodland, towpath, old mills, grand houses and modern urban housing
...Once again Paula was kind to us, opening her Victorian Tea Room at Turton Towera half hour early;
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Today’s run started from Curley’s Trout Fishery at Wallsuches on the western flank of Winter Hill
...Up and Down in the Mist till lunch then back on the flat in the rain!
Not a bad turnout for a
...Ali and Chris were the hosts for our usual early cuppa; toast and butter were on offer too; it was
...A Long Hill! Possibly a Hill Too Far!
When we assembled at Whaley Bridge Canal Car Park it was as
...Wrong Hill Gromit!
(The ride when I started with 20 and ended up Billy No-Mates!)
A slightly less
...I began my career with ICI in 1963 at their then headquarters in Welwyn Garden City where I joined
...RSF Easter Meet Wortley Hall
Saturday Ride:
Wortley Highlights
Saturday came with weather warnings so we
...Ride report by Andrew Eatch
Albert Winstanley paused on the narrow lane to Thorpe-in-the Hollow. It was hot
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Following the Grand Photo shoot by the Wortley Fountain the bulk of the riders left to go on the Sight
...Ten of us met in the Café Tor at Helmshore for today’s foray along NCN6 to Ramsbottom. It is a
...Being a Wednesday ride you could have mistaken this meet for one of our regular Wednesday runs
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Waking up to blue sky’s was a nice surprise after the forecast of storms.
After another photo
...Was it a washout? Well it had been, the Guild Wheel that is. Lancashire County Council completed the
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Despite a chill wind blowing and a little mist in the air, the promise of sunshine later in the day
...Today’s run from Moses Gate is one of the very few outings we have that does not start from a
...Before I start the report, may I remind you to make the most of this year’s extra day on Monday
...Whatever The Weather, We’ll Always Be Together …but how many?
And now, a weather report: Whilst
...A wintery morning did not deter the faithful and a healthy turn out of a dozen riders assembled at
...When I left Darwen it was fine rain. Going through 'The Printshop' the rain turned to hail. By the
...Most folks visit Church on a Sunday; visits to Church on a Saturday usually involve a wedding, a white
...Yorkshire Mucky Lane Riders
Wednesday 24th February 2016
Absolutely Airedale (A Ride From
...Our route 55 is not quite the equivalent of America’s Route 55, which although no longer touted,
...A very blustery day didn't stop us heading to the hills above Darwen today to try out some of the
...No, this isn’t the story of the film, and Lee Van Cleef wasn’t on the outing with us, but it has
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Looking at the weather forecast and scanning a grey threatening sky over breakfast whilst fielding texts
...Although somewhat cloudy it didn't prevent our ride being accompanied throughout by bright sunshine
...A beautiful cold, rare dry & sunny morning at Curley's fisheries ten of us met ready to enjoy Geoff's
...Starting out early a week last Sunday on my bike I rode to Hillside train station and caught the 08.32am
...Just to make it clear from the off, this is a ride report! All the years I have cycled with the iconic
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A break in the miserable wet weather was forecast for Tuesday and a very healthy turnout assembled at
I think the first ride we had from Turton Tower was in the summer of last year, and if memory
...How many ways can the ride leader lose a group of cyclists and how often can he get lost himself?
Why meridian you may ask; well it was one of our middle of the day rides and of course the middle
...Meeting on the Riverside car park just before 10-00am we were able to witness the hundreds of
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It was only a few weeks ago that we met for a Saturday ride at the Tesco store in Accrington, this
...Today’s run started from the Café Tor within Musbury Fabrics at Helmshore, quite close to the
...New Year Saddo
What an amazing turnout for our first Saddo of 2016. Eighteen rides assembled at
We started today’s ride from the old spinning mill (now a shopping mall), built in 1865, at Botany Bay.
...Sunday in the Park with Rain?
Raindrops keep falling on my head?
And then there were none.
Too
...The first Rascals ride of the New Year, and the first RSF meet of 2016, started from Moses Gate
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