[Closed] Do you ever think you might be seeing someone from STW?

I was there 5 years ago, if you go this weekend you might see me. 😉

We need a secret sign.

Perhaps always falling off on the first trail obstacle larger than a kerb would be an appropriate way to identify ourselves?

Perhaps always falling off on the first trail obstacle larger than a kerb would be an appropriate way to identify ourselves?

works for me...

I find they are easy to spot, they have to lean back enough to look down their noses...

Yep, last year I pulled into services on the M4 westbound (or maybe it was the M5 south, can't remember) and there were 2/3 newish German estates, each with very high-end full-sus bikes on the backs, being driven by middle-aged slightly paunchy men dressed in enduro gear and fleeces, obviously on a trip somewhere for a day of gnarr. I looked at them/you and thought - you're obviously from STW but I'm not going to say anything.

Don't forget to get up after the fall and blame something else other than your riding ability for the crash.

I saw someone last summer up in the Pentlands who I'm sure was a STWer. They were on green Cotic Soul/Solaris with a large bike packing saddle bag.

Yes, when I came across someone cycling up a trail on a fat bike which is 99.9% used for downhill earlier this week. That said he got out of my way very quickly so I didn't have to slow down which was very considerate of him.

I saw a bloke planking in Epping forest once.
It may have been Kryton. 😉

Do you ever think you might be seeing someone from STW?

Only when I'm wearing camouflage gear and looking through a pair of high powered binoculars.

Nice wallpaper , by the way....

I said hello to rocketdog up Clent last year but he ignored me.

I said,I said hello to rocketdog up......

I live in Aviemore. Some days it seems like the whole bloody forum is here.

Saw someone from here at Cathedral Cave last Halloween. He was on foot and started a thread about it, posting up that he saw some bikepackers going through it. One of them was me

Very small world...

Not really - though I'm sure it happens plenty.

Do you ever think you might be spending too much time on here?

I was sitting in the Mountain Cafe in Aviemore and saw a bloke on a 9zero7 cycle past. I thought "I bet that's Druidh " .
Couldn't think of anything stupid to shout,which is unusual for me.

Certainly been sat outside the Old Bridge Inn, and thought to myself "100% guaranteed that the guys on the next table are STWers"

edit: and also been sat in a pub in Fairlie, Ayrshire (the one that's changed its name a couple of times), and a load of MTBers piled in for a post ride pint), and I was trying to suss out who they might be on here.

Morzine, probably, but Orange 5's are out of fashion now, and it's all YT Capras, so couldn't be sure.

Round here, have definitely thought similar but for the German MTB forum. Only one confirmed so far, but then german's will go riding at 7am on a Sunday, which is way too early.

Been skiing and sussed out that several of them were STWers (easy in once case since his user name here and on ski forum is the same).

Do you ever think you might be spending too much time on here?

Sometimes, but then I think that, with a mere 146 pages of contributions since the crash, compared to someone else's 679, I have a lot of catch-up to play.

Yeah, there are a few in here that I know live vaguely in the area I live so when I see people out and about I often wonder. In fact, there's one member here who also appears to drink in the same pubs as me so there is every chance I've met him.

What's this "out riding" thing? 😯

You bump into folks on the SDW occasionally who fit the STW stereotype, I've never asked them if they are of course, that would be foolish and embarrassing.
I just ride on.

I think you're all a bit weird 😆

I'm fine of course.

Sometimes, but then I think that, with a mere 146 pages of contributions since the crash, compared to someone else's 679, I have a lot of catch-up to play.

If only you had some kind of time machine..... 😉

Yep, last year I pulled into services on the M4 eastbound (or maybe it was the M5 north, can't remember) and there were 2/3 beaten up old skoda estates, each with a slightly rusty, battered looking, 26" on-one hardtail on the back, being driven by middle-aged slightly paunchy men dressed in a mixture of gear from decathlon and sports direct. I looked at them/you and thought - you're obviously from STW but I'm not going to say anything.

🙄

Sometimes, but then I think that, with a mere 146 pages of contributions since the crash, compared to someone else's 679, I have a lot of catch-up to play

To be fair you're posting from 5 years ago.

I have met a couple from here - oddly enough years apart bit both at the same point - just realised this- Top of San Marino

One was the guys who did the Ben Nevis video on the Bank Holiday one was GavinB iirc.

You bump into folks on the SDW occasionally who fit the STW stereotype,

I've met quite a few off here, and ride with plenty who post here and one thing I've noticed is that none of them fit the stereotype.

(I was on my local trails one day, chatting to a stranger, as you do, when STW came up. He posted on here, he said. I asked "Are you Pigface?" He looked wounded. 🙂 )

[i]He looked wounded[/i]

🙂

A number of people I ride with locally know/probably know who I post as on here. We don't talk about it though. [edit] possibly because no one knows how to pronounce my username

Lol at wasnotwas

Lol at wasnotwas

And know I've told the tale previously but I did ask someone in a cafe "are you peterfile off STW?"

(it was)

We need a secret sign.

Other forums I frequent do.

[img] [/img]

I struggle with names enough in real life let alone on here!

A fairly regular occurrence for me is being told "Hi, I'm ...... we met on .............ride that you organised at ........", to be met by a completely blank face from me.

Even more confusing when people refer to me a Spoon or Tinas and I'm not with STW'ers.

We need a secret sign.

"Do you?"
"Do you, what?"
"Do you STW?"

Sometimes, but then I think that, with a mere 146 pages of contributions since the crash, compared to someone else's 679, I have a lot of catch-up to play.

Haha, don't worry - you'll overtake me by this time next week if you keep going at the current rate.

I once saw someone wearing a STW t-shirt, I engaged them in a very confusing conversation where it became clear they had no idea there was a website, and I'm not totally sure they were even aware of a magazine, and had merely procured the t-shirt at an event.

I felt slightly silly.

upon checking my strava after my last weekend's ride it was apparent that I and another stw member parked at the same carpark at the bottom of cumberland clough, before setting off for a ride in the area. He said he set off at dawn and I got there just after so we were within about 30 mins of each other.
I once saw a bloke getting ready to ride in the carpark of Whinlatter who was wearing a stw Tshirt. I didn't say hi.
I've also met at least 4 people in the real life after 'meeting up' as it were on here. They weren't axe murderers and none of the them drove an Audi or had an Orange 5. They were/are all very nice though 😀

Can I propose we all do this? I'm going to zip-tie one to my bike. And maybe put one on the boot-lid of my car. And wear one around my neck.

[img] [/img]

Can I propose we all do this? I'm going to zip-tie one to my bike. And maybe put one on the boot-lid of my....

I'm easy to spot in real life. I only ever wear this....
[img] [/img]

Do you ever think you might be spending too much time on here?

Sometimes, but then I think that, with a mere 146 pages of contributions since the crash, compared to someone else's 679, I have a lot of catch-up to play.

Made me laugh anyway.

He, I heard a tall bloke at the bristol bike jumble a good while ago talking loudly to his mate about how he sorts the forum (STW) out and warns people. There was mention of Fred!

My strava tells me there are 5 or 6 other forumites (who have joined the strava group at least) on nearly every segment in my local area (Caversham/Reading), so must have seen someone at some point. No idea who they are from names on strava though...i'm fairly anti-social/shy so i'm in no danger of actually speaking to anyone! 🙂

Keep seeing a guy riding a fat bike around Glossop/Hayfield

Also in the same area a guy riding a Salsa

I'm sure one of them must be on here

Saw someone from here at Cathedral Cave last Halloween. He was on foot and started a thread about it, posting up that he saw some bikepackers going through it. One of them was me

Very small world...

Waves at ben!! Still impressed at the ease with which you got the bikes up the scrambly bit!!

I always imagine people are off here and who they are...then surprised to find that many have no idea what STW is!!

the first rule of posting on singletrack.... etc etc...

i`ve definatly met a few. we have never spoken about it. ok maybe once to one person but i was off-guard and he asked me.

We need a secret sign.

I thought it was
[img] [/img]

As an aside I've been recognised at least 10 times at events or out on the hills because of my bike, and my propensity to spend too long on here talking shit.

haha.. ^ 😆 I work for that brand !!

I expect to see you njee too - speedy trek isn't it?

Maybe you are so fast that blink and I miss you!

People who frequent the Beautiful Days festival forum all wear a fez when at other music events..
It makes it easy to know who to avoid speaking to..
I think it also probably confuses the heck out of Nigel the traffic warden who has always worn a fez at music events..

IME most riders have never heard of STW or at least, have heard nothing good about it

I've chatted to people who I'm sure were STW only to be looked at in stunned disdain when I ask them if they use internet forums.

I haven't picked any STWers out at random. I've recognised people who I've previously met whilst riding around their home turf (Poddy!).

I have also seen a bloke on a fatbike at Swinley a few times who I thought was TINAS but I didn't stop to ask.

My experience is that most people haven't even heard of forums in general, let alone a specific one related to the mutual topic of recreation. So not so much not knowing about STW, but not even knowing that something like that even exists.

Can't remember his STW user name but I think I saw the guy who built his own carbon fibre bike a while back at Afan.

We were going opposite ways and by the time it clicked in my head that was him he was long gone before I could say "hi".

I've ridden in Surrey hills a few times so I'm sure some of the riders I met on the trails must be STW too?

I saw someone on a full-sus fatbike last week at Swinley, and passed as they pulled over. Was I in the unwitting company of an STW celeb then? 😉

edit: and also been sat in a pub in Fairlie, Ayrshire (the one that's changed its name a couple of times), and a load of MTBers piled in for a post ride pint), and I was trying to suss out who they might be on here.

You should've said Hi, I don't bite Andy!

I recall bumping into Drac at Glentress once.

the givaway was the CHR sticker and of course, the fangs...;-)

I expect to see you njee too - speedy trek isn't it?

Not overly speedy with me on it presently! But, yes, a [i]light[/i] Trek certainly!

We did a Surrey Hills forum ride about 5 years ago, was very well attended, as well as an improvised one just over a year ago. Should do another one in the summer, good way to meet folk who are almost always less irritating than on here!

I'm pretty sure I see at least two or three every morning on Kirkstall road in Leeds.

The only other place I've been sure was in Morzine but I suppose that's a bit like shooting fish in a barrel 🙂

I've met a few who've recognised me and I've recognised a few.
Used to sometimes see Houns but not sure he even rides any more. 😉

[quote=wrecker ]He, I heard a tall bloke at the bristol bike jumble a good while ago talking loudly to his mate about how he sorts the forum (STW) out and warns people. There was mention of Fred!

SUBTLE 😉

i've recognised bikes in trail centre car parks before.

There is a fella on here, who i only see when i drive to work (he's on a bike) as i don't go that way by bike. I pointed him out to the missus once...

"he's on STW" "how do you know?" "er dunno" "weirdo". 😕

got chatting to another rider on a road spin last year and a few minutes in I said 'are you Gary M from stw' 🙂 He was - I recognised the bike, not many green Jake the Snake's around these parts 🙂

People who frequent the Beautiful Days festival forum all wear a fez when at other music events..
It makes it easy to know who to avoid speaking to..

I bump into a shower of arseholes off here almost every Monday night.

It is a living nightmare.

Yup, I do this all the time. I met P20 and Ahsat on a remote moor in Northumberland and stopped for a chat - they're now very good friends and regular riding buddies. Plus I spent half of the Kielder 101 being towed around by Thenorthwind and shared a beer at the finish line with him. Ir_bandito once greeted me at the end of the North Pennines MTB Marathon with "hey, you're that girl off strava/STW!" - which my non-STW friend found a bit odd!

My husband regularly thinks I'm going to be abducted by some strange man I've met on the internet, and my IRL friends think I'm weird for using the internet to make friends (although they just use it for finding people to have relationships with, which I think is way worse!)

clearly I know that you're not all randomly created by some computer, but for some reason I'm always a bit surprised when I meet folk from here in real life.

😳

Maybe we should all wear some sort of headgear.

A helmet

Plus side it means TJ is automatically not in the club 😉

I went camping and canoeing with Matt_OutandAbout last year, but had never met him before other reading his posts on here.

Hello Matt...

I have a Singletrack jersey..

I purposely bought it in xs so that it makes me look like a fat biffer 🙂

I imagine that it's only a matter of time before hammyuk and mrsfry meet up in real life...... "Fancy meeting you in this dungeon...."

Makes sense to have some STW branded jerseys etc no?

If pistonheads can do it, then surely we can here?

STW = fat grumpy sod on a poorly fitting cannondales trigger with failed ghetto tubeless and a MASSIVE camel back full of useless shite.

I followed a bloke down the A20 the other night on a Salsa Vaya in dark grey. Pretty certain it was someone off here.

If it was - you were going well!

I once thought I saw Kryton in his Alfa days, heading up the A3 at night about 7pm.. Black estate, XC bike on the roof.. Couldn't see if the driver was wearing a certain type of sunglasses, it being dark. But did mention it on here a day or so after to be told NO! Wasn't Me!

In no uncertain terms 😳

about 8 or so years ago, I was in the carpark at Laggan wolftracks, having just filled my face with scran, when a lovely young lady walked over to me and said 'hello, are you Ton?' it turned out to be Bunnyhop off of here.

a year later, I was getting off of the chairlift on Ben nevis, with my bike when a older Geordie bloke approached me, asking if I were Ton off stw. I was embarrassed to say I was.... 😳

That's a good idea. Maybe we should all wear some sort of headgear.

Research tells us that this would discourage new forum members from joining 😉

Reminds me of this old gem....

[url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/this-site-is-spooky ]Do you singletrack? [/url]

STW tatloo! Job done

Reminds me of this old gem....

Do you singletrack?

Read that thread and found it a bit disturbing
.
Apparently , some men on the internet pretend to be ladies and flirt outrageously with other men.

That sort of thing would never happen here. 😯

sargey - Member
I said hello to rocketdog up Clent last year but he ignored me.
I said,I said hello to rocketdog up.....

There was a time when I walked up to this guy with VW Touran and a Blue Sanderson - I said "Are you Matt Out and About" - unfortunately he said yes. 😆 I spend too much time on here.