Best of 2022

I moved out of London at the start of the year, so my three are from exploring in various directions from my house.

Exploring out west towards the Chilterns.

Exploring north.

Lastly, I now live near enough countryside that an hour's ride after work is still absolutely great. And doing it at this time of year means getting to grips with night rides for the first time.

Didn't do much this year, but visiting my brother in Spain was an unexpected joy, when his mate took me ebiking in them thar Spanish mountains
mountains

Orbea Wild. Thanks for the loaner, Shawn! Sorry I snapped your chain 😛

View from bro's villa

Seeing clipping. in London was another adventure of a different kind, but I got no photos of that! 😀

EWS 100 Tweed Valley - Perfect conditions, lots of friendly people, I got to race and then watched the best in the world the following day.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52577498118_f439425a88_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52577498118_f439425a88_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2o76qqf ]randr-photo-7836678-6000px[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/147238860@N07/ ]Mark McGee[/url], on Flickr

A mate took this one of me in Les Houches looking at Mont Blanc (not posing!). We had been pretty unimpressed with what we'd found in the morning, so in the afternoon followed some very loose directions to seek out another trail. Eventually, we discovered an amazing long techy singletrack dropping about 1,000m all the way to Saint Gervais. We then enjoyed a Mont Blanc beer before taking the cable car back up.

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52577417100_e30a92131d_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52577417100_e30a92131d_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2o761ko ]WhatsApp Image 2022-12-21 at 10.18.47[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/147238860@N07/ ]Mark McGee[/url], on Flickr

Bikes and mates loaded in the van. Not the best photo, but the best of times.. This was heading to Chatel, driving to Linderets to avoid the peak season Super Morzine queue.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52577245864_94799446c2_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52577245864_94799446c2_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2o758r3 ]WhatsApp Image 2022-12-21 at 10.15.37[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/147238860@N07/ ]Mark McGee[/url], on Flickr

The old P7 was in desperate need of some TLC, so it got a rebuild with new drivechain, cables, pads etc and some needless cosmetic bits to tidy it up Then set up as a commuter and the sun came out for a christening early doors shakedown pootle down the valley. I rode to a great butchers a few miles away and filled the camelback with bacon, sausage and black pudding for a full breaky, sat outside, when I got home 🙂

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52577509048_58510770d6_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52577509048_58510770d6_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2o76tEG ]The Lines[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/14162682@N00/ ]bin lid[/url], on Flickr

Summer in Solva in Pembrokeshire and a jaunt up the coast around the peninsula in glorious sunshine. I've never really felt comfortable on the road bike since I got it a couple of years ago, but this was the first ride when it properly clicked

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52576509272_4836dc05c9_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52576509272_4836dc05c9_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2o71mtb ]New Potoatoes 2[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/14162682@N00/ ]bin lid[/url], on Flickr

We had visiting royalty this year. Some bloke from Edinburgh who was doing the rounds 🙂

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52247241078_83cbc3fd3d_o.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52247241078_83cbc3fd3d_o.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2nAULvm ]The eagle has landed[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/14162682@N00/ ]bin lid[/url], on Flickr

Like the last pic 🙂

Our gentle attempt at the Southern Upland Way has been lovely. Done in bite-size day stages as out-n-backs. Only reached St Mary's Loch so will continue next year. The sense of wild and remoteness without being any where near the highlands has been a surprise.

We don't do the fancy cars, houses, clothes, jewellery thing - our work is to pay for little jaunts abroad so it was great to fly again with the bikes... 3 week roadtrip around some of our 'greatest hits' in AZ/UT/CO. Highlight of the highlights was Jill's first trip down The Whole Enchilada.

Finally, this pic is for all the "lets just stay local today" rides that took us to spots on our doorstep we have never explored before but ended up being right corkers...

No biking ones for me, all climbing. This year has seen me get back to where I want to be performance wise and where I haven't been for about 15 years.

Cuillin ridge wasn't really part of that being quite straightforward but I had to include a photo because it was so much fun.

The two snowy ones are actually the last 2 weeks and the best adventures of the year. A winter route on Skye and one on Suilven, both rare beasts.

Over 30 years of mtbing and I cant think of a ride I didn't enjoy in 2022. Every ride has been big grins and laughs. Rode some old stuff and some new. Visited loads of new places to ride.

New bike to me day. Impulse buy on Facebook and then travelled up to the Nevis Range to pick it up. Had a weekend riding it whilst there

[img] [/img]

Waited quite a while to get our trip to Lake Garda an the Italian Alps. Booked before lockdown and moved on a few times. Finished it off with a few days in Samoens on the way back. It was well worth the wait

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Last big trip of the year was back to Finale followed by wherever looked good on Trailforks in South East France. Will need to go back to do some more exploring

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Probably one of my best and worst years for riding. Some amazing riding but over a year off for Abigale with her broken leg.
Won't get much chance to ride wit her in 2023 as she is off for a year riding in NZ now her leg is finally sorted. Missed riding with her and cheering her on at races.

Late March gravel ride near Amulree, discovered some very tasty hidden singletrack. I live for the random discoveries!

Glorious Gravel Coniston. Great and varied route, good company, probably my favouritest ever photo of me on a bike 😂

Graviemore in September. Really nice wee event, good combo of camping/boozing/socialising and riding. Good opportunity to check out the Falls of Pattack (a wee diversion off one of the routes) which was just generally a lovely section of gravel and nice wee spot.

Decent year in general, not a vintage one for photos as a lot more short local thrashes on the road bike which didn't merit stopping 😎

@13thfloormonk - I need a GR for that singletrack near Amulree - I think you are looking south at back of Chonzie...?

Good deduction! View is SW but I think Chonzie is actually just obscured by shoulder of Meall nam Fuaran.

NN829349 👍

Great idea @matt_outandabout. Some fab pics/stories already

https://flic.kr/p/2njeARi

Basque MTB back country tour, April.. End of day 1. Epic trip much Covid Postponed. Brilliant riding, off the scale good, amazing logistics, fantastic guides. Did not think it could be beaten.

https://flic.kr/p/2nQkg1B

But it could! Molini in September was the best trip I've done. Fantastic group, lovely accommodation and guiding. Molini/Triora are stunningly beautiful, full of rich history and awesome food. We're going back. I know not everyone rates Molini but for me it's the perfect destination.

https://flic.kr/p/2nDHzHy

But where we live is pretty special too. This was taken from a solo gravel ride. I don't really like riding alone but was a skive ride in mid august in perfect temps. Reminded me as well of great rides with mates finishing in the pub.

@ vmgscot

That last pic is awesome!
Appealing to my sad Yeti geek side as well as my love of great views 😎

Bump

I don’t take many photos these days… had a few good bike trips but without photos. Otherwise I have been back in The Rhinogydd as part of my efforts to get up all of the Welsh Nutalls.

https://flic.kr/p/2o7v9mj

A great paddle round Coll and Tiree in June. I have paddled in most parts of the Hebrides but these two needed a visit and it was well worth it.

https://flic.kr/p/2o7v1SB

Have also been making sure I have paddled all the best tidal stretches of our Welsh rivers: mainly by packraft. Packrafts are brilliant for exploring.

https://flic.kr/p/2o7vWzN

It was hard choosing 3 pictures!

1st one - Riding Snowdon in snow in March on a club weekend away. No one else wanted to go up so I did it solo - a brilliant ride:
https://flic.kr/p/2ncmCKT

2nd one - Early morning ride on the Preselis on my wedding anniversary on summer holidays. Amazing weather and views, then back before she woke up for a lovely day:
https://flic.kr/p/2nEmeX6

3rd one - a Helvellyn classic ride with my adventures buddy in September a great ride:
https://flic.kr/p/2nJYceH

A great thread! It’s good to look back - been a good one this year…

January kicked off well with a nice summit pitch on Cadair Idris.
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March was my biggest month on the bike in terms of mileage and climbing, including this overnighter on the Rhinogs (yes, there is a bike route to be done there).
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At the tail end of summer I moved to Calderdale, where I made the most of the amazing period of cold weather we had earlier this month.
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https://flic.kr/p/2o27H5t

My first is clearly not riding but the day the boy got his new team kit. It was somewhat epic

https://flic.kr/p/2niMDiz

Kemmelberg/wevelgem. Such a day out. Big hill

https://flic.kr/p/2nTqTCt

My first DH race.

It has been damned near impossible to choose! Such a fantastic year for adventures that I have really struggled to pick the best. Could have easily chosen another 4 or 5 to go along with these. Anyway here are my top 3, chronological order:

1. Boltby Bash
My first go at racing for a very very long time and my first ever Enduro. Weather was perfect, course was great, brilliant fun vibes with our team, bumping into loads of riders I've ridden with in the past but not seen for a while. Bluebells out everywhere. Did pretty well in the results (top 1/3rd). Cheeky skinny dip on Saturday evening, followed by watching some young mentalists sending it to flat off a shonky ramp in the campsite. Superb.

Me doing a sweet jump on Stage 4

2. Hadrian's Wall Path
After my eldest's GCSEs finished, on the hottest week ever in the UK, myself and the lad walked the Harian's Wall path from Newcastle to Bowness on Solway over 5 days. Father in Law joined us for the middle two days. Given the weather conditions I was very very apprehensive before starting, but in the end it was fine, we coped, and had a fantastic trip from start to finish. I was so proud of my lad - first time he's ever done anything like this, and the bug has clearly bitten as he keeps dragging his mates out for marathon walks now!

Walking off the end of the crags on the hottest ever day!

3. Canada
Am I allowed a holiday? The rules don't say I can't so I'll assume I can.
Utterly awesome. We have been wanting to do it for years but obviously not been able to until this year due to COVID. It was everything we hoped it would be and more. Action packed very day, moving round from Vancouver clockwise via Whistler, Jasper, Banff etc. Changing location every 2/3 days. Also spent a day riding Whistler bike park as part of this which was ace (note: I did so much ace riding this year, Whistler bike park on it's own wouldn't have made the top few rides, even though it was epic!)

Descending Edith Cavell East peak - probably the best walk we did

Runners up
- Big peaks ride back in March. 80 ish Km from Sheffield to Barnsley, via Stanage, Derwent Edge, Cut Gate. First Warm spring day, skived off work. Brilliant start to the year / first big ride on my new bike.
- Round Hill Bivvy in late April. Solo, just as the great weather was getting into full swing. Beautiful.
- Annual lakes trip. Double Helvellyn particularly. Racing the fading light down Birk Crag.
- Riding round Oldham in November. New trails mix of enduro & moorland, and all fantastic. Bluebird day, summer conditions. A summer ride snatched from the jaws of the approaching winter. I was buzzing for days afterwards.

Vast majority of rides have been local woodland blasts again this year (did get further afield to The Lakes and Elan Valley with the bike but on both occasions big day out plans were scuppered by ether conditions or mechanicals).

So, will choose three images that for me sum up the moods and feelings that messing about in the woods (or on the hills) on your bike always bring.

https://flic.kr/p/2nAQdK7

https://flic.kr/p/2npwHVU

https://flic.kr/p/2nUvUCE

And if I'm allowed HMs...

https://flic.kr/p/2o13Gz2

https://flic.kr/p/2nZ3AqU

https://flic.kr/p/2nFwzj7

Highlight for me is on two wheels, just not quite the regular. First trackday at Pembrey is my pick, and bike related picking up my new Ripmo AF back in Feb. I was back racing this year but no action photos of that unfortunately.

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52583284402_1ab0152bea_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52583284402_1ab0152bea_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2o7B5tL ]Me at Pembrey Circuit[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/colinhines26/ ]Colin[/url], on Flickr

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