Bikeright, Wooler Youth Hostel
This was my weekend. Bikeright is a gathering of the cycling clans at Wooler Youth Hostel, taking place on the last weekend of October. Bikeright is in its seventh year and is popular with cyclists inhabiting the more extreme ends of the social spectrum - for want of a better phrase. Many travel from London, but the majority were from within riding distance of Wooler. On arrival, it was obvious that this was not going to be a typical weekend. Recumbents, folders, Moulton's and other such bikes were far more popular than their diamond-framed cousins. Bikes were everywhere: mine found a home in the drying room. A young lass scooted up and down the corridor, body swerving the obstacles we had carefully placed in her way. In the common room, an exercise bike was being pedalled frantically to power a scalextrix track. At 10pm, the first ride commenced. Five miles in the dark along an undulating dead end track to nowhere, with nothing more than bike lamps for company. On arrival at the pre-designated bit of turf, mulled wine was handed out and we attempted to identify the star constellations. We then rode back to the hostel, scattering sheep widely. Saturday dawned bright and cheery. Beans on toast was supplied to prepare us for a 40-mile ride via Coldstream. I'd forgotten how superb this part of the world is for cycling - a maze of roads and no traffic. Plenty of tea shops too. And hills. We visited the battlefield at Flodden and also the neighboring menagerie of life-size concrete animals - quite bizarre.
Saturday night was a BBQ, cycle jumble and video session. Did anyone understand what the Geordie cyclist was on about? Sunday was the annual pilgrimage to Kirk Yetholm. Only 15 miles away, so the gang added some fun miles and hills. Afternoon tea was after only 5 miles - I skipped this to cycle 20 miles on deserted roads back to Berwick for the train to Edinburgh and then Stirling. An excellent weekend - there will be a Bikeright 7.5 in February in Berwick on Tweed and a I guess Bikeright8 is already pencilled in for October 2002. Photos can be seen at http://www.crispinbennett.freedomnames.co.uk/Bikeright.htm and information can be gleaned from Tom - tom.johnston@lineone.net See you next year?
Crispin
Additional Information
- Crispin Bennett has asked me to include this information
on the next BikeRight event -
The next BikeRight aka: Bike Right 8 and a half Friday 11th
April to Sunday 13th April at Longridge Towers School. Friendly
cycling holiday with self-led rides over 3 days 25-40 people,
£45.00 per person for the weekend includes Generous
amounts of nosh, 2 breakfasts & 2 evening meals, Warm
and secure cycle storage, A bed for 2 nights, Entertainment
galore, Perfect for seeing old friends and meeting new ones,
4 miles from Berwick-upon-Tweed station, less than 4 hours
from Kings Cross, and on the Virgin Cross-Country Route.
Make cheques payable to "Longridge Towers School",
and send to: Longridge Towers School, Berwick-upon-Tweed,
TD15 2XQ
Queries to: Philip Stanbury 01289 307584 (office hours)
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