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I love MTB and have previously done it as a sport with my family - great time spent together and a few holidays in the alps, also started riding a lot more with a partner until a recent split - however, I would really like to be able to find like minded folk on a social scene to ride with and push my skills/have more fun. Missing riding regularly.
I live in North West Manchester - any recommendations or advice on how to meet people to ride with? I have looked at some of the clubs but they seem quite intimidating!
Thanks in advance!
Most clubs are quite welcoming - close to you there's bogtrotters ( a proper club), or the [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/prestwich-monday-night-club-ride-monday-night-not-prestwich-ramsbottom ]Monday night club[/url] (a loose collections of pissheads who organise rides on STW. I'm sure there are several other clubs in the area - I know also that there are women only clubs such as the NOrth West Dirt Divas on facebook who do rides round NW manc
I'm guessing by your profile name that you're a lady. Might be worth contacting a few clubs if you want to ride in a ladies only group as the one I'm do ladies only rides.
Most MTB groups are a friendlier bunch that road groups in my experience so, bite the bullet, and go on a group ride. You'll soon know if that group is for you..
Good luck 🙂
Posting on here is a good start ! I'm sure you'll get some contacts as there are a quite a few active forum members from your area. There is of course the now legendary Peaks Pootle rides, have a search for threads. I've met up with people on here, and from other forums and Facebook groups.
TANNOY HORA to the forum
My experience- find some folk who live locally to you and ride with them - repeat till you like the folk you ride with
Not in Manc but Chorley so if you fancy a ride round Rivvy - the big mast- then e-mail in profile
We ride Tuesday nights and can lend lights if needed
There's a relatively new Facebook group called [url=
which might be useful... especially if it keeps expanding.
Bogtrotters seem to attract a lot of female riders of differing abilities rides every weekend and Wednesday evening rides!
There is a very active FB page where people post up on organising rides all through the week!
www.bogtrotters.org
try this emily: http://cyclingbuddy.com/
never used it myself. There seems to be lots of people signed up to it.
me and mates ride around ramsbottom area twice or three times a week ,if you want to let me know and you could easily join us, Mart
North West Manchester, you say?
Have you got lights? If so then you could do worse than the [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/monday-night-pub-ride-–-jan-13th ]Monday night pub ride[/url] like tonights.
A friendly bunch of reprobates, including members of the less tertosteroney and hairy sex. Plans will be hatched, over a beer afterwards, for weekend riding jaunts too.
http://www.bogtrotters.org
Wasn't there a discussion the other week where they kill ladies on rides or some such nonsense
Depending on where you'd like to ride (if lakes? - Boggies are good) - if Peaks or you fancy a Hebden ride let me know.
What type/length of riding do you like?
is that repeatedly ride with them til you can put up with their foibles and inane chatter or repeat with various people until you find someone you actually get on with? just so I know whether to feel complimented or insulted 🙂My experience- find some folk who live locally to you and ride with them - repeat till you like the folk you ride with
ftfyWe [i]occasionally[/i] ride Tuesday nights
Check these out too
twistedwheels.myfreeforum.org/?
We do 2 types of rides including slightly shorter more sociably paced rides. All a good laugh and beer and kebabs are regularly involved. Occasional weekends away and normally an annual trip to Alps/Pyrenees.
Mainly South Manc based with riders coming from all over.
Monday Night Pub Rides
Tonight 8:15 at The Church Inn, Prestwich.
You will need
1. A bike
2. Lights
3. Beer money
and for tonight…
4. A waterproof
Come along, it’s a laugh. We’re out pretty much every Monday. Group size varies between two and loads.
Last year our grand tour of the North West took in Darwen, Littleborough, Ramsbottom, Todmorden and Prestwich to name just a few places.
Ability is mixed, pace is average.
Wow, lots to go at here, which is great thanks!
I think turning up one weekend not knowing anyone is the part I find intimidating...especially when unsure of everyone's levels?!
I like most riding, especially more of the trail centre runs - currently liking Black run at Llandegla - just need to up fitness to add speed!
I don't have lights but can always pick some up - Chorley, Peaks etc are all handy for me - I am in the lakes fairly frequently but no good for week night riding...
emily - there is quite a few Girl groups on Facebook.
look up my partner on here (golfchick) and message her.
i'm sure she can point you in the right direction.
We ride Llandegla a lot, she's done the Alps plus blacks at degla.
me and mates ride around ramsbottom area twice or three times a week ,if you want to let me know and you could easily join us, Mart - Yeah this could be work out, maybe give me a shout?
Monday Night Pub Rides sound good - not got my bike until the end of the week...but do you ride every week?
Ability is mixed, pace is average.
That was very diplomatically put Harry 😆
Pace may be slightly below average. Due to varying degrees of enforced, falling-apart-at-the-seems spazziness, during which time we've done nothing but drink beer and eat pies, none of the Rammy contingent have ridden for 6 weeks 😳
cool Emily , you can either message me on here or martwardblues@msn.com, theres a group mixed ability men and women who ride from waterfoot on sundays as well
Monday Night Pub rides win in my opinion - and it is just about every week. I can bring the spare lights box if I know in advance (and providing we are playing out - night rides are a bit of a scramble with work commitments).
I'm Beate btw. Also ride out from Todmorden / Hebden Bridge at the weekends usually and happy to show you the trails.
Another recommendation for Bogtrotters here.
They cover a wide area, not just Lakes.
There are plenty of members around Manchester/Chorley/Preston with a regular Wednesday night group riding in that area. Most of the Wed night rides only get organised on the Facebook group at short notice and often never make it onto the website.
Saturday rides are mostly classed as "easy" and suitable for anyone/everyone. The pace is that of the slowest and very laid-back atmosphere.
Sunday rides are usually a bit tougher, either longer distances or more technically challenging (or both).
Ask to join the FB group.
www.meetup.com/manchestermountainbikers
Highly recommended.
Sunday morning rides from The Last Drop at Bromley Cross almost every weekend. Certainly not at a pace that anyone (except perhaps Binners) would find intimidating! You are more than welcome to come along!
Also i'm another big advocate of the Monday Night Pub Ride although my activities are curtailed at the moment until i get my new bike!
Spoilt for choice but cannot go wrong with Manchester mountain bikers or the boggies
plumber - MemberWasn't there a discussion the other week where they kill ladies on rides or some such nonsense
http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/shameful-act-north-west-mtb-club
wittonweavers - [s] [u]Member[/u] [/s] Pants On Fire
....... although my activities are curtailed at the moment until i get my new bike!
Oi! I did offer!
Are the woolybacks not based around manchester also? was a hoard of them at hit the north last feb.
Haha, that link about being left behind hits the nail on the head as to my worries! I wouldn't want to ruin anyone's trip out if it turned out I am way off the pace...but don't fancy being ditched either - always had my brothers to bail me out before!
Think will try a few of these rides/offers out...once I have plucked up the courage! 😕
I know, i know! "Never a lender or a borrower be..." 🙂
Wish i really practiced what i preach!
Where abouts are you Emily?
I ride around Rivington a lot of the time or Gisburn at weekends.
Emily, there's a load of girls do gisburn/macc forest/diggle jiggle rides up on Manchester mountain bikers atm - as a guest you do 5 rides to see if you like it, or hate it! The rides a pretty social, I.e no gets left behind & beer/cake/chips a plenty : )
See you at the Church inn Prestwich, 8.15pm tonight (Monday)
hopefully you will be surprised how you fit in, been doing it since July and they are a lovely bunch.
The Church Inn is right near where i go riding, Drinkwater Park.
Your also very welcome, aswell as anyone else that want's to come along.(were all nice here you know)
See you at the Church inn Prestwich, 8.15pm tonight (Monday)
hopefully you will be surprised how you fit in, been doing it since July and they are a [u][b]lovely bunch[/b][/u].
I'm not.
Keep your eyes peeled for the next Peak Pootle
Pretty sure when I posted something similar about finding some riding buddies in Edinburgh I got precisely zero responses....
Maybe I should have changed my username to Candy69 or something similar 😉
Be afraid Emily......
🙂
Maybe should have moved to Manchester.
Whatever... Emily will turn out to be Fred with yet another log in.
Maybe I should have [s] changed my username to Candy69 or something similar [/s] moved to the republic of Mancunia
FIFY
I am based in Sunny Salford - but quite happy to travel a bit to get out and about on my bike - anywhere bolton, chorley, gisburn I am happy to do - even lakes as my family live there. Tonight isn't possible - but is it every Mon?
Haha...I am not Fred, I assure you!
Haha...I am not Fred, I assure you!
How do you know who Fred is?
Solarpowered lives round your neck of the woods and has been known to come and play out with us in Marple, yo;re welcome to come along down this way if you want - I will admit though that crossing manchester is not always a fun experience 😉
I don't...I just know I ain't him!
...welcome to the forum, anyway.
Watch out for the sausages.
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The Bogtrotters Saturday rides are very very accomodating and it is quite a social thing. Everyone was new once!
The website and FB page provide plenty of info.
IIRC, the original idea of GoFar was for folk to organise rides. Nice to see it used for its proper purpose.
Salford is hora territory. Careful now.
Tonight isn't possible - but is it every Mon?
more or less, yeah.
Harry the Spider usually posts up the "invite" on here. or whoever is organising/leading the away days (the base rides are the prestwich ones, but others have been known to take place in ramsbottom, rivington, todmorden...)
it's a really relaxed, friendly, non-intimidating bunch. except for binners. he's a gregg's pasty fuelled demon...
hmmm, anyone else bra-dar blinking?I don't...I just know I ain't him!
I want sausage
Marple is alright for me - I have a brother who lives out there...two birds one stone and all that! How would I go about organising that then? Also maybe solarpowered could be up or a ride?
Emily, I like the picture of you with a bid of prey on your arm. Don't look dressed for falconry, but the smile shows you were clearly enjoying it!
Salford is a very rough area Pook.
3 bikes in a year nicked means it is pretty rough...hence the need to get out riding before my bike waltzes off again!
Don't get me wrong Saint Retford and Trafford aren't village greens- I'd happily walk around them at night though. Salford I'd erm want the car doors locked at night!! 😀
Just swap your bike/s for a canoe, more use to anyone who lives in Manchester
[quote=emilybagnall ]Marple is alright for me - I have a brother who lives out there...two birds one stone and all that! How would I go about organising that then? Also maybe solarpowered could be up or a ride?
drop me a mail - address in profile. Likewise for solarpowered
+1 for manchester mountain bikes. Very friendly bunch
If you're up in Ramsbottom riding you can message me as I'm newish to the area and am looking for peeps to ride with! You might have to wait on the uphills for me though!
Houns - Member
I want sausage
So, finally, the truth comes out...
No wonder you're having no luck with the ladies.. 😳
Why do you think I'm trying to get you away for a romantic weekend in Scotland thinly veiled as a mleh meat?
Another one for Manchester Mountain Bikers here- it's all organised through a meet-up website so if you're nervous about meeting new people (and let's face it, who isn't?) you can peruse the website, check out forthcoming rides and current members etc from the comfort of your lounge first.
There seems to be plenty of female-orientated stuff organised as well.
Everything that everyone has mentioned above looks like top fun though so I'm sure you can just take your pick really
You know sometimes Jamie, you and JCL actually make me laugh.
OP try and hook up with a girls ride- Boggies do these(?) or at least have girls content. nbt's a good bloke. You wont see his lovely wife for a while yet though? 🙁
It can be a sausage-fest. I wont name names but I once went out with a group of blokes/one female. The female nipped away to the outdoor bathroom and I watched 4/5 blokes stood staring across to where she was crouched. I never went on that ride again.
konaboy the same applies, we're local and get out on a regular basis so let me know if you fancy
Why? Has he put me under the patio 😉nbt's a good bloke. You wont see his lovely wife for a while yet though?
I'll be riding again soon hora. Emily you are very welcome to join us. There is usually at least one female riding along with the chaps.
It's usually me
there are several big girls blouses among our group 😉It's usually me
The female nipped away to the outdoor bathroom and I watched 4/5 blokes stood staring across to where she was crouched. I never went on that ride again.
Did you just leave the gopro on the handlebars facing her whilst you looked the other way then?
YOU SICK PERVERT
(Sorry still in tabloid mode from my RD thread, joking aside I can't believe they did that and I would have certainly said something to them at the time, morons)
http://www.thewoollybacks.co.uk/showthread.php?27300-Girls-only-intro-newbie-ride-Saturday-8th-Feb
Hope this helps.
konaboy2275 - sounds good to me if you are new to the area too - always good not to be the only newbie! Let me know if you want to arrange anything
Hey Emily!! Welcome!! You have to get along to at least one Marple riders ride.......they are all as mad as a box of frogs and us girls have a right old giggle!! It would be fantastic to meet you.
If the meets aren't suitable then just drop me a mail... I'm often (relatively) around Clifton/Phillips park & would thoroughly enjoy some female company- I'm definitely no where near the expertise of a 'Black run' however, so do be warned! You're Sunday ride is probably going to be more like my mammoth, monthly outing!!! 😉
Have fun and good luck! I do hope to meet you some time x
there are several big girls blouses among our group
Guilty as charged 😳
My emails in my profile if you want to contact me, need a motivation to get out in the endless rain we're having - My dog didn't even want to go out last night!
I really could do with some more male friends to go cycling with. Sometimes I meet local cyclists out in the area and we chat or spin up a hill together. When we come to split it sounds a bit gay to ask for their number to possibly meet up again so I don't but I should.
Where are ya Jekkyl?
Where are ya Jekkyl?
Sounds like IHN is in a tunnel?