Black Canon Collective

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  • Talk on Trail Building. Tues Nov 18th, Bath

    Rider, Bike and Trail – Designing the Third Element

    This may be of interest to some…

    On Tuesday 18th November the local ICE branch is holding a talk on Mountain Bike Trail construction over in Bath. Key info is on the flyer, and this will be a great chance to learn about and discuss trail construction and management for anyone interested in MTBing and outdoor recreation in general.

    Paul and Phil, who will be speaking, are both very knowledgeable and friendly chaps; so don’t be put off by the fact that the words Civil Engineering feature on the poster(!), it should be a really engaging evening for anyone with an interest in how outdoor recreational routes are planned, designed and constructed.

    There is no charge or need to book.

    Rider, Bike and Trail – Designing the Third Element

  • Life in the old dog yet

    Just because its quiet on the internet, doesn’t mean its quiet on the trails. Contrary to the local rumour mill we are still happily riding bikes, drinking beer and generally acting like “people who should know better”, according to the drunk lady in the pub the other night.

    Here’s whats happened with the club, for those that don’t know.

    • We decided that we were unable to continue to run The Allotment. It’s still there, there is another party interested in taking it over, but the future is uncertain.
    • We have voted in a new committee and looked to reorganise/structure the club into a more “standard” cycling club.
    • We’ve suspended memberships until…
    • We’re having a spot of redecoration work and a “relaunch” in the coming weeks.

    So, for now its business as usual. Come riding with us on a Tuesday night, which is where, in the pub afterwards, other riding gets organised (9 of us have just been up in The Lakes for some ace riding, there is a regular irregular Thursday ride and many a weekend out and about too).

    Expect it to be quiet here until the relaunch. The trails are still dry and we’d rather be riding that typing!

    Remember, its all just about riding bikes now. Which is what it always should have been.

    Cheers!

  • Dirt Fantasy League

    Dirt Fantasy League – Black Canon Collective

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    Join our Downhill Fantasy league ( click link above)

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    details in the forum.

  • Bike Jumble Thank You

    image

    WELL, that seemed to go quite well. Lots of positive and encouraging noises from lots of people.

    A total of £220 raised for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

    I hope you all found some bargains and/or made a bit of pocket money. It was also very good to meet up with some old friends.  A bit tight for space in the Scout Hall/Hut so it spilled over into the car park. Bigger venue next time? I won’t be around to organise but it’s terribly simple: 1) find a venue and book it, 2) publicise the crap out of it.

    So thank you to everyone who came today. But a specially *huge* thank you to Marjory Hatvany, Sean  Watson, Simon Truelove and Adrian Rees who helped me enormously on the day. Also to a Tracy Nunn who occasionally took over admission fee duties and who disappeared before I could thank her in person. So THANK YOU. Chas.

  • Frome Bike Jumble – This Saturday!

    Screen Shot 2014-03-17 at 22.00.52Frome Bike Jumble. Frome Scout Hall, Welshmill Lane, Frome BA11 3AP.

    Saturday 22nd March, from 9am to 2pm (set-up from 8am).

    It’s this Saturday, people. If you want to book a pitch, let me know as soon as possible.

    A jumble-sale of pre-loved bike parts, spares, accessories, clothing, tools, et etc. Turn your unwanted shed-fulls of spare bike parts into cash, and/or grab yourself a bike-based bargain. It’s open to every cycling enthusiast who feels like coming along – this is not exclusive to BCC members and it will cater for all forms of cycling.

    Claud The Butler (a pop-up Citroen café) and Livin’ The Cream ( tricycle ice-cream seller) will be in the car park providing refreshments.

    Sellers: £5 a pitch, Buyers: £1 admission. (All profits from pitch hire and admission go to Wiltshire Air Ambulance. The club makes nothing out of this venture, so you keep whatever cash you make from your stall, unless you’d like to donate more to WAA).

    I’d love a couple of extra pairs of hands to help out on the day, please, mainly to tidy up afterwards and ensure the Scout Hall is left clean.

    Contact me on fromebikejumble@gmail.com

    @fromebikejumble

    https://www.facebook.com/events/1374826699458297/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular

     

     

  • Festive Tickertape Fun

    It’s been a while since the last Tickertape so when we decided to organise this one we weren’t sure quite what to expect, but it turned out to be a great day! The sun was shining, the trail was excellent and we had a good turn out of riders and spectators.

    The event was the usual format of three hours of unlimited timed practice on a taped track, no winners just riding as fast as you can to beat your own best times and personal targets.

    The track was 143, in to Moron, then finishing on the bottom fire road. It seemed that the main challenge was getting through the first couple berms at the top of the track (made harder by me blowing out the second one!) after the greasy turns it was big jumps and flowing berms to a big double before joining the single track of Moron for some flat out pedalling for a fast finish.

    Ben `Elite’ Deakin was putting in consistent fast times through the session but Sam Marzetti rode the fastest time of the session. Jack Wells and Charlie Evans were fast and stylish, especially through the mid section of the track. There was some very fast riding and several people were getting a lot quicker through the session.

    Thanks to everyone who helped with setting up and to Al for helping to get it organised and James Woollard for first aid support.

    The next Tickertape will be on Saturday 18th January and we will be having a dig day the Sunday before then to get a track ready, so please come along and help.

    – Steve C

    (There are some more photos on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/events/181783402018826/)

  • Christmas Tickertape

    The world famous* Tickertape downhill event is back for Christmas.

    Celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus by tearing up his favourite Wiltshire downhill trails on December 29th at the Allotment.

    There will be a new track, made up from some of the best bits of the old tracks and some new bits.

    The format will be the same as before. Timed runs and heroic riding from 12:00 – 15:00. As many timed runs as you want (no watch hogging). The track will be suitable for all abilities.

    As always help with setting up from 10:00 will be very much appreciated, as will cake and mince pies!

    Full face helmets must be worn, armour is recommended, club members only. Fancy dress is up to you!

     

    * Famous in our world at least.

  • If you only join us for ONE Tuesday NightRide….

    …make sure it’s tonight.

    You know the drill:

    https://www.blackcanoncollective.co.uk/activities/weekly-night-ride

    Ta.

  • Midsomer Madness 2013: An evening mountain bike ride south of Bath

         
      ‘Midsomer Madness 2013’
    An evening mountain bike ride south of Bath
    on Friday 21st June – the Longest Day of the Year
     
    After skipping last year due to Andy’s now infamous “off”, we are delighted to announce the return of ‘Midsomer Madness’: an informal evening mountain bike ride on the longest day of the year, Friday 21st June, this year being run from the Wheatsheaf Pub in Combe Hay village, south of Bath. To keep the numbers manageable the event is being run by invitation only and you will need to confirm your place in advance by emailing Andy analogueandy@yahoo.co.uk
    For the first time, the ride forms the informal start of the Bike Bath weekend. We are really grateful to Bike Bath for supporting the event and thanks to them there is no charge to take part – the ride is free.. but the beer and food at the end comes at a cost! We hope everyone will join us after the ride for a chat and the ‘prize giving’ – please bring a fiver (£5 per head) to put in the beer/drink/food kitty – the Wheatsheaf is a fantastic country pub, and they have kindly offered to host us and provide the food (hotdogs and chips).
    There are some fantastic technical trails and narrow country lanes in the area and this year one 20km long route takes in all the best bits with short cut options if you puncture or run short of time. Part of the route takes in the rocky descent through Taits Wood below Hinton Charterhouse. We are incredibly grateful to the landowner who has given us their permission to use this private track.
    If you know anyone who can’t ride but would like to help out, we’re looking for someone to help man signing on and welcome riders back to the start and finish. Food and drink will be provided.
    A few details:
    Where?……Meet location and start and finish: The Wheatsheaf Pub, in Combe Hay, BA2 7EG.
    Car parking is available but if you can car share or even better ride to start please do. www.wheatsheafcombehay.co.uk
    When?……Signing on opens at 6pm. We intend to send riders off in up to 4 guided groups of about 8 to 12 from 6.30pm. The last group will leave at 7.00pm.  Ride finish between 8 and 9pm followed by prizes and drinks (bring a warm, post ride top as we are outside, if weather is dry).
    What?…….All the best bits in one fun packed 20km route with short cut options for if you are running behind.
    How much?.. Nothing! But there’s a fantastic country pub at the end! Please bring £5 for the food and drink kitty. All riders ride at their own risk.
    The ride includes technical trails linked together by country lanes. Great views and a challenge. You’ll need off road experience and a properly maintained mountain bike.
    Please wear a helmet. They do save lives. Just ask Andy!
    Be self-sufficient: bring a drinks bottle, spare tube, pump and lights (anticipate finish 8.30-9pm)
    PRIZES! Yes, thanks again to Bike Bath we’ll be awarding a range of ‘spot’ prizes for the ‘most spirited ride’ to one rider under 25 and one woman and one man.
    Hope to see you there, happy riding!

  • Elizabethan Evening: Tomorrow and Sunday

    Each year the Elizabethan Evening is held at Manor Farm, Corsley and each year the Black Canon Collective sends people along to help set up on the Saturday and put away the tables and chairs on the Sunday. As a kind gesture the organisers of the Elizabethan Evening make a contribution towards the club, with the proceeds helping us cover our costs.

    This year the Elizabethan Evening is held next weekend, Saturday 8th of June, and we’ve been asked again to help.

    If you can help, it would be fantastic if you could meet us at Manor Farm, Corsley, BA12 7QE at 10am on Saturday or 10am on Sunday (or both!) ready to help (oldish clothes as they will get dirty).

    You’ll be there for a couple of hours, and I’d appreciate it if you could let me know which day you can help, either on the forum or by email: ian.crook@blackcanoncollective.co.uk

    What’s in it for me?

    In addition to the pleasure of helping others, the money donated from the Elizabethan Evening will be used to run 2 events, a Tickertape (downhill timing event) and a cross country event (possibly Dinner ’til Dusk, our mini enduro event).

    And, there will be personal rewards too. We will hold a raffle for everyone that helps, with Avon Valley Cyclery vouchers as the prizes (£50, £25 x 2, £10 x 5). If you help both days, you get two entries.