Friday, 8 April 2011

Which way Lee or Cragg Quarry





Since I am commuting a lot less now it’s freed up some time that I have filled with MTBing!!! swimming and my nemesis running.
From the front door it’s a killer climb up to Cragg quarry and after a couple of laps round there I was off too Lee quarry to get some practice in at riding up steps and off drop offs, after the amount of road riding I had been doing its was much needed.



Ahh sunny evenings with no midgies.

Wednesday, 23 March 2011

100 best uk road climbs



Just came across this link to Google maps which marks the 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs in the UK, there is a book that you can get more details from; 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs: A Road Cyclist's Guide to Britain's Hills - Paperback (3 Jun 2010) by Simon Warren. I can even do one on my commute home (Rammy Rake).

Friday, 18 March 2011



This Photo is from a Marmalades guest who made the most of the evening sunshine this week and caught this beautiful sun set.



Richard who we thinks deserves a medal, cycled from ATG training to Marmalades on his trusty Dahon folding bike which in itself doesn’t seem like much. But when you consider the ride is 22 miles from Manchester City Centre with its busy urban roads to near Lee Quarry which has its far share of Pennine hills along the way, it was quite an achievement.
Well Done!

Richard runs his own classic bike resoration business; Pround To Ride Classic www.proudrideclassic@btinternet.com

Thursday, 17 March 2011

I were right about that saddle though...

Remember this unfortunately the last line is cut off... The dad is suppose to say; I were right about that saddle though.
YELLOW PAGES BILL WEBSTER RETRO RACING BIKE TV ADVERT
www.youtube.com
Click Here

Friday, 11 February 2011

Marmalades Bed and Breakfast

Marmalades Bed and Breakfast
357 Newchurch Rd
Stacksteads
OL13 0LD

01706 876625
07846 702 784

Perfect if your riding at Lee or Cragg Quarry and makes an ideal start/ finish or if mid loop stop on the epic Mary Townley Loop.

We have secure bike/ equipment storage.

All prices include breakfast.

After a day enjoying the best of the Pennines we understand that it’s sometimes nice to be able to give your bike a wash or grab a quick shower before you head home, all you need to do is let us know and you can call back in.

Double En-suite £45.00
Double Standard £35.00
Single £20.00













Thursday, 4 November 2010

Drastic action... a head cam it is then!

Wow it’s been a while I didn’t manage to write anything in October but the up side is the loft that me and Mr H ripped out and started to put back together again is nearly finished... well the end is in sight. Bring on the walk in wardrobe! Its going to have separate draws for all my bike gear, a separate draw for road tops, MTB tops, tights and baggies. It beats the old heap in a laundry bag system I am operating at the moment. Obviously if one of the drawers is lacking clothes to fill it I will have to go shopping!!!

Anyhow after 7 years of commuting (is it really that freakin long since I moved back oop north?) I snapped and have purchased something that I have threatened to do for ages. I got a head cam (well ordered it from ebay) the events leading up to this in themselves aren’t so bad, no proper injuries but last week broke the mouse’s straw or somat like that.

While commuting through Prestwich some over tanned minusculey endowed rat boy (not the exact description I gave the nonchalant police officer) was turning right into a side street decided he actually wanted to turn left the only problem was I was where he wanted to turn... que breaking and avoidance manoeuvre by me, I was actually impressed with my skidding skill wish I could execute them on my MTB in a non life threatening situation.

After getting myself off the floor I decided instead of screaming like an idiot at a closed window I would just take a picture of the Reg and report him for dangerous driving. However as I took the picture, the afore mentioned OTMERB didn’t like that fact I was going to have a photo of his car and did a u turn in the side street he was in and drove at me not around me but at me.... ooo not what I planned would happen, my main concern was getting me and my bike out of his way, again que action scene slow mo dive to the floor. I grabbed bike and somehow managed to get out the way.

Reported him to the police but unless the actual incident was caught on CCTV with the registration showing they can’t do anything. Did a bit of Colombo style detectivness and got some footage of the top of me on my bike and the top of the car doing its best to hit me but no registration.

To make it worse I didn’t see the reg as I was just trying to get my phone out and doubly worse the little weasel was laughing and shouting abuse at me as he tried to run me over... what a numpty. Well not again next time I will have footage or evidence and if nothing happens to me at least I will have footage of the many random things you see when you commute on a bike!

Thursday, 9 September 2010

Shiny New Bike Stuff

The past few mornings have been on the dull side when I’ve set off so I thought I’d get all prepared and order some proper commute lights in. It may be a little premature but at least know I’m nearly set for winter. The trusty commute bike is Mud Guarded up and I even got a wash in preparation for having new shinny ‘Bike Smack’ attached to it. I can’t wait till its dark enough for me to shine my uber bright lights in the mirror of the next smuck who cuts me up!

What should we have for the office lunch on Friday

Whats the most important things to you when staying at a B&B