Summer Weekender

Having, of late, been somewhat single-mindedly focused on getting body, gear, and work in shape for a few weeks of journeying it felt very much like stepping sideways out of the main thread of my existence to head east to Dorset for a weekend of trails with friends, old and new. A feeling very much exacerbated by it being profoundly challenging to motivate myself out of the west of Cornwall during peak holiday season simply because it’s such a massive ballache to try and get anywhere else, holiday traffic being what is and a rail network that is not fit for purpose when it comes to bikes. As usual however, it was worth it.

As fine a collection of friction shifters, cut-off jeans, interesting bicycles, and good vibes as you’d find anywhere…

I feel lucky to have a network of like-minded cycling folk around the place to catch up with, and enjoy some riding, coffee, beers and so on from time to time. I do have riding buddies at home but I rarely get to ride with them these days  – busy lives, families and so on, and no longer being interested in the pure road scene can also feel somewhat isolating at home so I do try and make it a priority to go and ride elsewhere with friends not seen in a while whenever the opportunity arises. The weekend was also a chance to catch up with the brilliantly diverse and inclusive cycling community based around the Woods Cyclery in Lyndhurst, in the New Forest.

For years the cycling world felt like it was divided into two camps – the lycra-clad road scene, and the super -shreddy full-sus mountain bike scene – both with their own degree of snobbery and cliquiness. Certainly I know people from my road and racing days around here that are all smiles and waves if I’m spotted out on a skinny-tyred bike in lycra jersey and shorts but who will also ignore me entirely if I’m in baggy shorts and t-shirt on something somewhat fatter with a bag on the back. It’s only a very small number, and my true roadie friends don’t care if I join them on a ride looking somewhat hoboey… the snobbery is definitely a thing however in certain quarters.

Being somewhat (ok, ‘decidedly’ then) of an introvert, and having spent a lifetime feeling a sense of “otherness” I find this community immensely appealing

The middle ground between those two camps has always been there, take the Rough Stuff Fellowship for ex,  if not always particularly visible, those who just have a love of bikes and riding regardless of flavour, and absent of ego and competitiveness. Over the last few years however there’s definitely been a rise, supported by a number of individuals, brands and retailers, in the profile of what I hesitate to describe as an “alternative” form of riding, because it’s not – it’s not alternative, it’s just riding but feels somewhat alternative in the context of how cycling felt for many years – to me at least. Being somewhat (ok, ‘decidedly’ then) of an introvert, and having spent a lifetime feeling a sense of “otherness” I find this community immensely appealing and value tremendously the connections I’ve made within the community either directly or by association. They’re a super bunch and the weekend was a brilliant way to reconnect with old friends and spend some time with new ones. As fine a collection of friction shifters, cut-off jeans, interesting bicycles, and good vibes as you’d find anywhere….

I did take along my Fuji X100 for a few snaps… I didn’t go to take pictures, riding was the priority, and the wide angle lens is kind of challenging when with a group that’s on the move.. stop for a pic and they’re dots in the viewfinder within minutes. It doesn’t matter however, I have the memories and a few snaps to look back on when I’m a grumpy old duffer..