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:: Date: Thursday 27th December 2012 :: Distance/time: 18 miles or so spread out over a day's riding with plenty of fuel stops and banter. Several short cut options available too. :: Meeting at: Birches Valley Car Park, Cannock Chase. Please arrive by 10 a.m. for a 10.30 a.m. start. :: Directions: Postcode: WS15 2UQ :: Terrain: Forest trails, mainly man made. :: Route: The morning will be the 'Monkey Trail', and after a stop for food we may head off for some more riding and perhaps a bit of off piste stuff. It's the day after Boxing Day and you'll no doubt still be bitterly disappointed about the lack of NOS XTR M900 in your Xmas stocking. You'll probably want to drown your sorrows in fizzy beer and consume your own body weight...

The November 2012 Photo of The Month #PoTM contest was won by tigern's 'Patterns & Textures'. Now taking nominations for the December 2012 PoTM contest entitled 'My Trail'. Click here to see tigern's shot in all it's glory 1. tigern's 'Patterns & Textures'

The October / November 2012 road Bike of The Month contest was taken by Bagpuss' Hetchins - another fine and diverse month. Second was taken by Citoyen du Monde's Marastoni and third was taken by BikeNut2010's Mattolini Bros :D The full result is as follows 1. Bagpuss' Hetchins 2. Citoyen du Monde's Marastoni 3. BikeNut2010's Mattolini Bros Now taking nominations for the December 2012 rBoTM contest. Click here for more details and full results The October / November 2012 road Bike of The Month top three are as follows 1. Bagpuss' Hetchins 2. Citoyen du Monde's Marastoni 3. BikeNut2010's Mattolini Bros Click here for BikeNut2010's Mattolini Bros build thread.

The November 2012 Bike of The Month contest was taken by SYN-CROSSIS' Fat Chance Titanium, the first win for the iconic East Coast brand for far too long. The full results is as follows 1. SYN-CROSSIS' Fat Chance Titanium Cycles 2. stumpjumper1990's 1982 Specialized Stumpjumper 3. Tc's Mountain Goat Whiskeytown Racer The December 2012 "Klein vs FAT vs Yeti" BoTM contest is now up, get your nominations in now. Click here for more details and full results The November 2012 Bike of The Month top three are as follows 1st SYN-CROSSIS' Fat Chance Titanium Cycles 2nd stumpjumper1990's 1982 Specialized Stumpjumper Click here for stumpjumper1990's 1982 Specialized Stumpjumper build thread. 3rd Tc's Mountain Goat Whiskeytown...

The latest T-Shirt design has arrived here at Retrobike HQ and is now available in the Retrobike Shop. The shirts are inspired by a classic album cover and come emblazoned with the motto 'Nevermind the New Skool Here's RETROBIKE'. The shirts are made from top of the range, 207 gsm Ultra T-Shirts and are available NOW for a very reasonable £19.95, click here to buy.

The 98+ BoTM for September and October 2012 is Kingroon's 1998 Independent Fabrications Deluxe. The full result is as follows. 1. Kingroon's 1998 Independent Fabrications Deluxe 2. Ductape's 1998 WTB Phoenix 3= ChrisBrown81's GT Lobo 3= IbocProSX's IF Deluxe 29er

The The October 2012 Photo of The Month #PoTM contest was won by uschibert's 'Power'. Now taking nominations for the November 2012 PoTM contest entitled 'Patterns and Textures'. Click here to see uschibert's shot in all it's glory 1. uschibert's 'Power'

The October 2012 'Red Special' Bike of The Month contest was taken by uno-speedo's 1987 Steve Potts. Another fine vicotry for uno-speedo and his second in a row! The full result is as follows 1. uno-speedo's 1987 Steve Potts 2. holdi's Breezer Jetstream 3. uschibert's Brodie Catalyst Now taking nominations for the November 2012 BoTM here. Click here for more details and full results The October 2012 'Red Special' Bike of The Month top three are as follows 1. uno-speedo's 1987 Steve Potts Click here for uno-speedo's 1987 Steve Potts build thread. 2. holdi's Breezer Jetstream 3. uschibert's Brodie Catalyst

Right, let’s get something straight from the off. I like cycling, enjoy company and love red wine. Put all three together in Tuscany sounded perfect with nothing that could possibly deflect from sheer, unrelenting enjoyment. No matter what follows, I just want to be clear about that before I get started, that’s all. L’Eroica (“the heroic one”) is an annual event in Tuscany that celebrates the great, bygone era of cycling before doping, science and sideburns were so prevalent. Based in Gaiole in Chianti, l’Eroica started in 1997 as a way to celebrate cycling history but also to halt the paving over of the strade bianche, the white dirt roads that cross cross the region. 15 years on, l’Eroica is wildly popular with entry list closing...

Sunday saw the first running of a National Series ride on Shropshire's Long Mynd - apparently the most westerly part of the East Midlands. Thirty riders and their retro bikes took part in an excellent 20 miles of riding under blue skies. Thanks once again to Bikefood for their excellent support. The full Retrobike Long Mynd aftermath thread can be found here

The September 2012 Photo of The Month (PoTM) contest was won by unkleGsif’s ‘Urban’. Now taking nominations for the October 2012 Photo of The Month contest entitled 'Power'. Click here to see unkleGsif’s shot in all it’s glory 1. PoTM September 2012 is unkleGsif’s ‘Urban’

The August / September 2012 road Bike of The Month contest was taken by Agentorange's Colnago Tecnos - another fine and diverse month. Second was taken by Citoyen du Monde's Marastoni and third was taken by Tel's Raleigh Twenty Special :D The full result is as follows 1. Agentorange's Colnago Tecnos 2. Citoyen du Monde's Marastoni 3. Tel's Raleigh Twenty Special Now taking nominations for the October 2012 rBoTM "Tour de France Special" contest. Click here for more details and full results The August / September 2012 road Bike of The Month top three are as follows 1. Agentorange's Colnago Tecnos 2. Citoyen du Monde's Marastoni 3. Tel's Raleigh Twenty Special Click here for Tel's Raleigh Twenty Special build thread.

The September 2012 Bike of The Month contest was taken by Uno-speedo's Formula 1, a debut win for the UK carbon brand. The full results is as follows 1. Uno-speedo's Formula 1 Cycles 2. Woody's Funk Pro Comp 3. adri.75's Mantis Flying V HT The October 2012 "Red Special" BoTM contest is now up, get your nominations in now. Click here for more details and full results The September 2012 Bike of The Month top three are as follows 1st Uno-speedo's Formula 1 Cycles 2nd Woody's Funk Pro Comp Click here for Woody's Funk build thread. 3rd adri.75's Mantis Flying V HT Click here for adri.75's Mantis build thread.

I blame Pervy Bob. Or his dad. Or possibly even his beautiful, unobtainable, older sister (she was two years older which meant that at the time she was pretty much Mrs. Robinson. Oh, and she spoke fluent French which only added to the unobtainable mystique). Actually, most of all I blame Pervy Bob, and not only for the effect the following had on me. Back in 1986 I was at college and Pervy Bob invited me for a weekend in Nelson; despite his name this was in no way sinister. Having enjoyed a pleasantly boozy Saturday night I was a bit put out to be raised from my slumber in the attic at some unearthly hour the next morning to go and watch Pervy Bob's dad perform unspeakable acts in public. I must admit that I was a little unnerved to be...

The August 2012 Photo of The Month (PoTM) contest was won by Mr Panda’s ‘This is Why’. Click here to see Mr Panda’s shot in all it’s glory 1. PoTM August 2012 is Mr Panda’s ‘This is Why’

Iconic East Coast framebuilders Fat City are celebrating 30 years by holding a gathering in Vermont this weekend. "We are celebrating all the fun, joy and excitement folks have had riding their Fats all over the world. We’re gathering the last weekend in September in Morrisville, VT, to ride, eat, drink, share our stories and exploits...and more! All are welcome, especially if you have a good story, love Fats or have an old Fat to bring and ride. Share your Fat story with founder Chris Chance. He will love to hear it!" Check the webpage or the post on FatCOGs for more details.

The July 2012 Photo of The Month (PoTM) contest was won by sinnerman’s ‘Tricolore’. Sorry for the slightly late announcement ;) Click here to see sinnerman’s shot in all it’s glory 1. PoTM July 2012 is sinnerman’s ‘Tricolore’