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OWMTBC has always been a fairly loosely defined concept – we knew what we wanted to do but we didn’t necessarily want to hard sell it down people’s throats. ‘Build it and they will come’ was certainly my approach although I’m not sure who was Costner. It’s pretty self-indulgant to write up an event you organised but I’ve never lacked ego-centricity so here goes. Barely had the dust settled from OWMTBC09, indeed we were still on the ferry home, and Max had been co-opted onto the Organising Committee. A combination of fatigue and beer had him agreeing enthusiastically. And so it began, ending last Sunday in Betws-y-Coed with an impromptu Fireroad Half Wheel Challenge. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Way ahead. In darkest, coldest...

OWMTBC takes place this weekend in North Wales. See a few of you there hopefully, just off to the garage to try and sort a bike to ride. A global celebration of classic mountain bikes in action at OWMTBC 2010. In its second year, the Old World MTB Championship is a weekend dedicated to showing and riding classic mountain bikes with fellow enthusiasts, re-living the spirit of those free spirited early MTB weekends. The OWMTBC was designed to give an outlet to the growing fascination with the birth and early years of mountain biking – with the Retrobike forum in the UK having over 9,000 registered members, it looks like it is more than a minority interest group! The OWMTBC weekend, over 3rd, 4th & 5th September, is all about original...

This just in from the MTB Hall of Fame (or mtbhof). Sadly it looks like Geoff Apps was over looked once again. Still some very deserving inductees nonetheless. Click here to discuss in the forum. The inductees selected for placement into the 2010 Mountain Bike Hall of Fame are; John Ker, the legendary photographer for Mountain Bike Action, Jim Wannamaker, a knowledgeable, likeable, hard working ambassador for mountain biking and rider/racer support, Alan Bonds, an integral part of the early Marin County fat-tire scene and "The Fro Riders", Wade Simmons, Richey Schley and Brett Tippie, pioneers of the movement known as free-riding. To read full biographies about these deserving gentlemen, go to our website...

The July 2010 Photo of The Month (P.o.T.M.) contest was won by Onza100's 'Blue Sky'. Click here to see Onza100's shot in all it's glory 1. Onza100's 'Blue Sky'

6-7-8 AUGUST 2010, Pickering Moor, North Yorkshire Moors National Park So here it is - North East &Yorkshire Area Groups flagship event. Our second year promises to big bigger and better in 2010. There are a few innovations and tweaks to make your weekend one to remember this year. Now with RetroBike Classic Event Status we are going to be pulling out all the stops to make this one of the highlights of your year. Click here for more details!

The July 2010 Road Bike of The Month contest was won by Slotcar55's Masi Prestige - another win for Slotcar55 who looks likely to dominate this contest for a while. The full results are as follows 1. Slotcar55's 1975 Masi Prestige 2. Spokesmann's 1958 Carlton Constellation 3. Powxxl's 1991 Kestrel 4000 Now taking nominations for the August 2010 rBoTM here. Click here for more details and full results The July 2010 Road Bike of The Month top three are as follows 1. Slotcar55's Masi Prestige 2. Spokesmann's 1958 Carlton Constellation Click here for more details on the Carlton. 3. Powxxl's 1991 Kestrel 4000

The July 2010 Bike of The Month 'Riders Special' contest was taken by LeGrandeFromage's 1989 Overbury's Pioneer. Bristol's finest will be featured in next month's mbr magazine and LeGrandeFromage will receive a year’s subscription to the magazine. The full results are as follows 1. LeGrandeFromage's 1989 Overbury's Pioneer 2. Danpiero's Dave Yates DONKIS NOB 3=. Dr S' 1987 Fat Chance Wicked 3=. Supremate's 1994 Yeti ARC Now taking nominations for the August 2010 BoTM here. Don't forget winner will receive a years mbr magazine subscription so get polishing those bikes! Click here for more details and full results The June 2010 Bike of The Month top three are as follows 1. LeGrandeFromage's 1989 Overbury's Pioneer Click here to...

For those who missed it BBC4's Ride of My Life program is well worth checking out. Author Rob Penn travels around the world collecting handbuilt parts for his dream bicycle and charts the social history of one of mankind's greatest inventions. On his travels he visits Brian Rourke, Brooks, Campagnolo and Chris King amongst others and even take in a run of the Repack with Charlie Kelly and Joe Breeze. The program is available on the BBC iPlayer, click here to watch. Unsure if this will work for those outside the UK, perhaps someone could advise. The book on which the program was based, 'It's All About the Bike: The Pursuit of Happiness On Two Wheels' is available here. Have bought a copy so will let you know what it's like. If the...

This just in from the nice people at the Brighton Big Dog. For more details of retrobike involvment please click here. It's less than a month away and despite the event selling out in double quick time, they haven't been taking it easy. From fine-tuning the already popular course to getting the youth racing (Little Dog) off the ground, here's a round up of what's been going on over in the Big Dog kennel. Little Dog After last years successful event the Big Dog team wanted to make sure the whole family could get involved in the big day out. Working with the very highly regarded VC Jubilee (http://www.vcjubilee.co.uk) they are putting on The Little Dog in the morning prior to The Big Dog and all Little Dog racers will get the same...

A great ride was had by all on Saturday's Herefordshire Road Ride AKA The Welsh Borders Grimpeur. The full aftermath can be found here. A few highlights - Top selection of old steel (and it was only old steel) with The Guvnor on an early 90s EM Corsa Extra, Del on an early 80s Colnago Master, Dave on a mid 80s Colnago Master, the Alex's on an 81 Bianchi and a 1990 Harry Quinn respectively and Ed on a relatively modern on a 1991 Zullo. - Bike of the day has to go to Alex's stunning Bianchi with just the right amount of pantographed kit and to top it off he was riding tubs. Chapeau, mon ami. - Sandwich of the day goes to The Guvnor's 'pound of cheese in a loaf sawn in half' lunchtime snack - Del riding a classic Italian bike in a...

Top ride yesterday in the Forest of Dean last weekend, click here for the full aftermath thread. Some of the best natural singletrack out there if you have a good guide...

Get your old road irons polished up, shave your legs and don your Bolles as we're running a Retro Road Ride (AKA The Welsh Borders Grimpeur) on Saturday 24th July. What does it involve, I hear you cry? A stunning, scenic and undulating Sportive style 90 km ride on very quiet country roads with a country pub lunch/stop. There's plenty of climbing but nothing super steep so with a compact and a bit of fitness all should be fine. Where is it happening? The ride will start and finish in Hampton Bishop, just outside of the cathedral city of Hereford. For more details and to register last minute interest click here and we'll add a list of attendees.

The latest Coolwall vote has been called. Mountain Biking is apparently COOL. Next up on the vote is Nuke Proof. We here at retrobike been contacted by a journo who is writing an article for BIKE on Nuke Proof. Any good quotes, observations or anecdotes may well find there way into said publication.

Saracen bikes are looking for people/bikes for the 'Heritage' page in their 2011 catalog. They are looking for owners of a Saracen bike from the glory days (approx. 88-98 ) They need pictures of owners riding or standing with their bike (old pics would be great but recent ones good too!) Or just the bike on its own. Anyone who's pictures is used will recieve a t-shirt! Please send your pictures to the Saracen graphic designer: kira.askaroff@madison.co.uk For more details please click here.

The June 2010 Photo of The Month (P.o.T.M.) contest was won by Dr S' 'Anything Retro Goes'. Now taking nominations for the July 2010 P.o.T.M. contest entitled 'Blue Sky' here. Click here to see Dr S' shot in all it's glory 1. Dr S' 'Anything Retro Goes'

This is it guys, the Lincolnshire and East Anglian Area Group big rideout THIS SUNDAY!! Jointly organised by both inner regions, and hosted by our very own legrandefromage. Be here - PE28 4EZ - for around 10am ~ 11am Breakfast Bacon sarnies on request. The route has lots of tarmac first then bags of off road, so bring the right bike to be comfy for about 30 miles. A pub stop is planned on the way. Topped off in summer style with a BBQ post ride. Click here to register.

The June 2010 Road Bike of The Month contest was won by 24pouces Passoni a deserving and extremely rare winner. The full results are as follows 1. 24pouces' Passoni 2. Slotcar55's 1985 Marastoni 3. Madmax's 1985 ALAN aluminium Now taking nominations for the July 2010 rBoTM here. Click here for more details and full results The June 2010 Road Bike of The Month top three are as follows 1. 24pouces' Passoni Click here to read more about 24pouces Passoni. 2. Slotcar55's 1985 Marastoni 3. Madmax's 1985 ALAN aluminium