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Post by Richard on Mar 16, 2015 21:34:06 GMT
Just looking at some old pics from the site, some published, some not and wondering where all these people are now. First off a classic from Chicksands back in the day, 2004 in fact which was clearly the year that blue was in vogue next up is Neil, ex-MBR journo and now running Bowman Cycles, his own bike frame company next up is Elliot who I went to the alps with in 2005 and 2006, seen here with his g/f watching Le tour in London, July 2007 my first ride to Brighton, it was only one way in those days. With Norton who I worked with and some bloke with the funny sounding name of Cas. What happened to him? Elliot again. I forgot that I went to Les Arcs with Trailaddiction with him in 2007 too (August) and that's Sam, my eldset, just 16 and bless 'em, both worn out October 2007 now and that South African bloke Warren. I think he's back in SA now. January 2008 now and Chicksands again and the dual ramp with Gary, another Saffer plus Felix (who I bumped into on my cycle commute home last Thursday) April 2008 and a surprise snowfall sees Beanarillo join us for a spin. I think he's still out there making more babies... Less than a month later and it's short sleeve weather for Gary-cabbie at Leith Hill again whatever happened to Steve? (travelling across India according to facebook) and Tim from the days when Holmbury YHA car park was a film set
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Post by mrzr2005 on Mar 16, 2015 21:39:39 GMT
Just looking at some old pics from the site, some published, some not and wondering where all these people are now. First off a classic from Chicksands back in the day, 2004 in fact which was clearly the year that blue was in vogue next up is Neil, ex-MBR journo and now running Bowman Cycles, his own bike frame company Maybe you need to do something to get people back or new people!
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Post by Dave G (Dango) on Mar 17, 2015 12:45:09 GMT
Most of those people were from another website back in the day: Many of them now live abroad, have road bikes or just reduced riding when families came along I can see in the main image Jason (Stoppadoodledo) Lives up north and doesn't ride since getting married - very weird seeing he was so into it Mike - too busy with his BMX brand now Neil - as mentioned by yourself - has been a roadie for years Daryle - still rides but is in Norway or Sweden or ? Ratboy (Shaun) Seldom see him, he's involved with CX and Rollapalooza these days Rog West - Settled down with family - rides occasionally but haven't seen him in years Will Penwarden - no idea - roadie perhaps 8ball Adam- No idea last time I say him was about 6-7 years ago on a lakes trip Tom (Greasemonkey) - moved to Hindhead, still rides but often at night.
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Post by Lick my Ball Bag on Mar 17, 2015 13:32:34 GMT
more people need to ride more often, on more different kinds of rides to encourage new people there's only really 8-10 regular riders
also, moving the whole shebang to facebook would make sense in my eyes
when i was racing motorbikes in different classes, all the forums moved to facebook really quickly, and the old forum sites died off. social media is where everyone is now, so thats the logical thing to do in my eyes.....
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Post by Dave G (Dango) on Mar 17, 2015 16:21:27 GMT
Yep
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Post by Richard on Mar 17, 2015 16:36:08 GMT
Most of those people were from another website back in the day: yeah, in fairness i wans't trying to claim 'the win' for them, just think it's a great picture from back in the day
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Post by Dave G (Dango) on Mar 17, 2015 16:48:02 GMT
No probs, just saying.
The internet is a great and not so great thing at times. Meeting Warren at the Leith Quarry in 2003? was a great day for me, overnight by going on his website I ended up with so many possible local riding buddies, all of them a bit silly and generally didn't take life too serious. (there were a few stuffy ones though)
I miss the days of just riding whatever you had, nobody cared if you had a hardtail or 10" travel monster, it was just about laughs on two wheels.
Remember fun?
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Post by Dave G (Dango) on Mar 17, 2015 17:03:10 GMT
What happened to the Bus?
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Post by Fishybob666 on Mar 17, 2015 18:36:11 GMT
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terry
FreeRider
Posts: 1,212
Faster on: his latest bike
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Post by terry on Mar 17, 2015 18:53:45 GMT
Dave is still riding, mostly local stuff. I have been on a couple of rides with him last 6 months. Take a look at his website (link above) he is very talented.
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Post by Richard on Mar 17, 2015 19:06:29 GMT
yeah, i know I had actually been thinking about something you said to me last time we rode about how many different people and faces i had seen over the years (yes, i know that was ages ago, it just came back to me while i was tidying up my external hard drive that has a lot of the pics saved on there anfd i was browsing through them)
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Post by timidtim on Mar 17, 2015 20:24:58 GMT
First ride I did with DoaM was led by Beano, had over 20 people on it as well as it was a combined effort with the Moles. Seems so long ago now (2008), still riding the same bike ;-)
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Post by gazza83 on Mar 18, 2015 10:08:58 GMT
I'm still here watching and waiting for the right kind of ride, a x country from DMB, a Dave bus 3 hills classic , anything suitable for a lesser abled rider! Hope to join you soon Gary
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Post by Fishybob666 on Mar 18, 2015 12:04:49 GMT
I think Gary nailed it here. There are less regular riders as a lot of our rides have become increasingly technical and/or lengthy (think G'sters or Lomac 35/40km XC). A few newbies have tried to join but were probably put off by the fitness and skills required.
Maybe we should make an effort to organise a more accessible ride once a month or so. Even if that means having a two parts ride; 1.30/2h max on easier trails at a moderate pace, newbies can then peel off if they want, cake stop then followed by another 1.30/2h faster/more technical ride?
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Post by Lick my Ball Bag on Mar 18, 2015 12:25:34 GMT
I miss the days of just riding whatever you had, nobody cared if you had a hardtail or 10" travel monster, it was just about laughs on two wheels. Remember fun? yep, every time we ride! it's always a mish mash of bikes...and always a cracking laugh
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batbling
Gnarly Dude
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Post by batbling on Mar 18, 2015 13:31:25 GMT
Agree with Gary,
The Bus and I focused on this late '13 early '14 and we got a few new riders coming along so it defo works.
When I am fit to ride I would be happy to lead some of these. No idea when that will be though.
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Post by Richard on Mar 18, 2015 14:45:59 GMT
All great ideas.
I wasn't actually worrying about the fact that we have less riders than we used to (or do we? Riders and numbers have peaked and troughed over the years).
I was more interested in the fact that some riders are there for years, go on trips with us to the Alps, Wales, Scotland etc. and then just suddenly fall off the radar and I wanted to remember some of the faces we used to know (or I used to know anyway. Many of you current lot don't have any idea who they are).
Re Facebook, I think that would be admitting defeat if I just close up and move there. However I now do a DOMTB edit and a Facebook edit of the pictures. I post the not so good pics on Facebook and keep the best ones for the site.
Personally I'm happy with where we are at the moment. I'm not worried about any big recruitment drive as I prefer the riders to come along on a ride or two and decide if they want to stay like you guys did. That's good enough for me. I'm not looking to take over the MTB world.
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batbling
Gnarly Dude
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Faster on: the physio table
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Post by batbling on Mar 18, 2015 15:00:08 GMT
I am just glad I didnt make the list - yet !
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Post by Richard on Mar 18, 2015 16:18:44 GMT
I am just glad I didnt make the list - yet ! you were gonna be in this evening's updates
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batbling
Gnarly Dude
[Mo0:3][ss:Default]
Posts: 2,057
Faster on: the physio table
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Post by batbling on Mar 18, 2015 16:21:53 GMT
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Post by wobem on Mar 18, 2015 18:22:24 GMT
I think Gary nailed it here. There are less regular riders as a lot of our rides have become increasingly technical and/or lengthy (think G'sters or Lomac 35/40km XC). A few newbies have tried to join but were probably put off by the fitness and skills required. Maybe we should make an effort to organise a more accessible ride once a month or so. Even if that means having a two parts ride; 1.30/2h max on easier trails at a moderate pace, newbies can then peel off if they want, cake stop then followed by another 1.30/2h faster/more technical ride? There is nothing stopping you Laurent from posting a ride up with these particulars and Jim is also posting. The idea of creating the G'sters had come about from not wanting to lose the skills / keep the mojo, from our previous Alps trips and to gently push oneself into a higher technical ability along with the fitness. Quite opportune as trails are getting gnarlier along with the development of better bikes to deal with it. What modern, do it all mtbs are capable of these days are incredible and we need to develop the skills to make the most out of them (otherwise why waste your money on a bike you're nor making full potential of) Re G'sters : It is always more difficult to progress over the wet winters but there is new resolve returning with the planned Trans Savoie trip in July and hopefully drier weather from now on. Gnar on.
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Post by robmanns2007 on Mar 18, 2015 23:41:23 GMT
It's great having a variety of rides to choose from. And that includes road rides too sometimes! I'm glad I'm not on that list either, but I just can't get out on a Sunday anymore. It's the only day I get to see the girls! As some of you know, I still ride 3 times a week so if the opportunity does arise I'll be out on a Sunday ride as quick as a shot, hopeful that I'll keep up. It's nice to look back at the diary some times, it's easy to forget all the different places and people we've visited and met along the way. Many great memories there! I've always felt that we are not a club, just a group of mates who like riding bikes. Hence why we don't need to recruit members - just meet new mates Hope to see you guys soon
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dave
Endurance Rider
Posts: 791
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Post by dave on Mar 21, 2015 18:49:32 GMT
Aside from the choccy foot lot, a lot of those riders were around when I was doambing regularly. Warren was a Swinley expert (when you had to know where you were going and not just follow the way markers. Saw Gazza a few months back at Peaslake (don't tell anyone but his bike had skinny slick tyres), and Colin is sometimes seen riding a cyclocross bike and exercising his dog and/or son or riding a tandem with a blind guy on the back. Some other faces there too that I'd forgotten about. Steve who I think Rich has footage of cartwheeling his bike down an old dark side trail and who used to turn up on rides with his bike in a hundred pieces in the passenger seat of his lotus Elise! Good times. I love Robs rides, but I must admit I was more likely to join one of Adams lomac rides. It's all good. :0)
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Niall
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Post by Niall on Mar 23, 2015 19:15:35 GMT
I THINK that Chicksands picture may have been the first time i went to Chicksands. Doesn't seem like that long ago!!
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Post by jim James on Mar 30, 2015 11:27:23 GMT
I first discovered DOMTB about 10 years when I moved from Scotland back home to SUTTON! I bought an MTB from my friends at Pearsons and got Googling. Up popped DOMTB and I learned about Track 40 (and various local things I used to fall off my BMX when a kid) and then when I ventured further south (and got clearance from the mrs and new bairn) I learned about the old Summer Lightening and associated tracks around there and Holmbury. I then had to stop riding my bike because of family demands but very recent years have been good and I get out twice a week now. But all the money and time spent on the MTB was sparked by the DOMTB website. I rode with Richard and Dandy Mole back in Jan literally just after kicking the virus that everyone had in December so was a long way from being fit, skills were there of course, but couldn't keep up on the pedaling. However, both Richard and Andy were very welcoming and friendly. There's not been a ride since that I've been able to attend due various things like weather and other bits n bobs. I post sometimes when I go out, in fact Wednesday Slackers this week as usual. Location TBC. Looking forward to meeting more of you. Jim (James really)
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Post by Richard on Mar 30, 2015 20:09:37 GMT
thanks Jim, that's great, makes me think it's all worthwhile
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Post by Richard on Mar 30, 2015 20:27:52 GMT
So here's some more faces: March 2008 and Sam and Grant at the Esher Shore when they were still in their teens. Where are they now? Well, I can report that one is still living updstairs in his bedroom and the other one around the corner with his parents. And get this, they went out to Leith Hill last Sunday for some MTB'ing. Once it's in the blood... May/June 2008 and the lesser-spotted Tim King. I see him on the Jubilee Line more often than I see him on the trails... November 2008 and another Ashtead dweller and MBR prizewinner Neil in the days before GoPro and Hi-Def videos. Family and injury took him away from the bike but we still see him at the curry house every now and then November 2008. A cold day on Holmbury Hill. Still a few familiar (if younger looking) faces there. I just liked the pic - braving the trails in all weathers. What's Terry riding? I think he's had 42 new bikes since then December 2008. He only rode with us a few times but made a big impact. A long-time forum dweller Uncle Riotous. Lost to family and role playing games March 2009: Nick Wilkins. Now a cab driver in Arundel
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