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I'm not sure if he was a member on here, but many of you will undoubtedly come across John Pitchers, formerly landlord of the New Inn, Appletreewick, singlespeeder, solo 24 hour racer and all round lovely man. Unfortunately, he passed away on November 26th after a short (less than a year) battle with melanoma.
Pitch was an early disciple of singlespeeding, a tough 24 hour solo racer and a massive promoter of 'his' Yorkshire Dales as a great place to ride a bike. In the decades he was the landlord of the New Inn in Appletreewick, he managed to turn it into a beacon of bike riding (and Belgian beer) for the area, and many riders made a pilgrimage to ride up and over the moors, perhaps staying over and making a weekend of it, enjoying his legendary hospitality. Back in the late nineties, Mike Ferrentino and Bob Allen were very impressed with it for their feature in Bike Magazine. Then, a few years later, Ferrentino and I rode off-road to the pub from Todmorden back in 2002 or so for a feature in Singletrack. Needless to say, we had a warm welcome when we arrived, muddy and tired, but soon warm, dry and with a pint of Theakston's in hand.
Pitch pioneered the idea of a 'Bike Livery' where riders could 'stable' their bikes in a secure workshop, with access to hosepipe, tools, overnight laundry service and local knowledge. And it was the local knowledge at which Pitch excelled. He loved his Dales and rarely left his corner of the Yorkshire, seemingly content to ride the same trails, year on year. This gave him a granular knowledge of every farmer, gate, market day, dish of the day and well-kept pint in the Dales.
His approach to solo 24 hour racing was equally detailed. He invariably raced singlespeed and usually solo (though I do remember him on a winning singlespeed team for the very first Mountain Mayhem, and several after, until solo became a category itself.). He knew how many calories he needed a lap, he knew his tyre pressures and gear ratios. But he also knew, and respected, all of the other racers - and his warm, cheery nature made him a magnet for new racers looking for tips. He gave them freely - he didn't seem to be in it to win, he was there to challenge himself and battle one or two nemeses... so he was happy to be looked on as a sage old hand at these events.
I shared many great rides, deep chats and frivolous ones too, usually into a blistering headwind in the treeless Dales. He would tick out the pedal strokes on his singlespeed, encumbered with a full Mountain Leader guide pack because, well, you never know. Weather didn't seem to bother him, and a lap of 'The Pasture' in the dark and the wet was something he actively enjoyed.
Even in his last months, when he knew he was playing a losing game of chance, he was still upbeat about his chances (mostly that he had any at all) and about the life he'd lived, the friends he'd made and the places he'd been. There was no sense of bitterness or 'why me?' just that annoyingly stubborn grin and knowledge that he was going to make the most of everything.
Everyone who knew him will miss him dearly, but I think we're happy to know that his cheeriness and optimism will live on in all of us. The next time it's hammering on the windows, perhaps you should head out for a quick loop, just to catch a glimpse of the magic he found on the moors in all weathers.
Ride well, my friend.
Such a nice a guy, a real shame. Thoughts with his family and friends.
I'm sure I remember reading an article in a mag back in the day about how he had a a pair of walking boots fitted with SPDs for those hike a bike sessions before proper mtb footwear was a thing or am I imagining it?
Anyway he's certainly been 'a legend of the sport' in my mind and its a damn shame.
Very sorry to hear Chipps.
Very sad news, he'd already overcome so much only to succumbed to this
https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/1262752.landlord-calls-time-at-dales-pub/
Have been in the New Inn a few times over the last few years when camping at Masons campsite. Loved the old biking photos on the walls - one photo including a Cannondale mountain tandem I think? Now the biking connection makes sense.
RIP John.
Rob
Lovely words Chipps.
I never knew him, but I’ve definitely seen him about. I remember seeing someone riding rigid singlespeed around appletreewick and thinking that’s gotta be tough. Looking at the photos, it was definitely John
Sounds like a great guy, and lovely words. RIP.
I don't know chipps and i didn't know pitch.
I do know though, that we leave very little behind us, other than the impressions we made on others and our surroundings.
Chipps, it seems that you were blessed to have known pitch.
And to those that are knew pitch, you're twice blessed that chipps knew him and was willing to share this tribute.
I mentioned I was lucky to get to see him in late September and he was in fine form. We chatted for a good couple of hours and you wouldn't know that he was at all unwell to look at him. It's bonkers that that was a mere two months ago... A lovely bloke - and he's inspired me, again, to not waste time, but to get out and enjoy life. 
Very sad to hear the news, but a life well lived.
I spent a couple of weekends staying and riding up at John’s place a good dozen years or so ago.
Hell of a nice chap .
Such a lovely man, kind to the core and a sad loss. Lots of good memories from assorted Brass Monkey rides and various 24-hour races. I still smile at the memory of one post Mayhem encounter in a hotel dining room where we were both so trashed that it took us around ten minutes to recognise each other, in that 'he looks kind of familiar, do I know him' sort of way, followed by a comedy moment of recognition.
By coincidence we were up the Dales in September and dropped by to say hello. John was as cheery and full of life as ever, it was typical of him that he knew every one of his medical support team by name, and was full of praise for them. And as Chipps says, despite the rough hand life had dealt him, what with the accident and its aftermath and then cancer, there wasn't a trace of resentment or bitterness.
RIP Pitch
That's really sad news and I stayed at his pub back in 2002-03. He was a really nice guy and super humble and gave us a blow by blow description of the rides in the area. RIP John
Very sad - we had some great trips to the New Inn back in the day, and I remember some nice chats about MM solo. Lovely bloke - RIP!