Help with my London/Manchester vacation

Smile

Hi.
I’m coming over from Canada in late June/early July and need help setting up a few rides.
I’ll be in London from June 28 to July 5 and Manchester from July 7 to July 8 and need rentals in both places and hopefully hook up with a group ride or two.
Two years ago I took the train to Westcott, Surrey, and went on the Nirvana Sunday shop ride and had a blast. I’m looking for the same sorta thing.
My fitness is shit and I have no skills whatsoever, but I can out- drink any Englishman . . .
Oh, wait, I got that backwards. I got a bit of fitness and I can survive the North Shore trails, but can’t drink worth shit, so I’ll buy the first £50 worth of beer if you show me around.

delcol

hi..
i know leisure lakes in bury do group rides from their shop.. i'm not to sure on rentalbikes,.. also there are a few clubs around manchester that may be able to help..
cyclejunkies
the woolybacks. are 2 that i can think of..

coming from bc especially riding the northshore you may find riding around here pretty lame in comparison....
i'm off to whistler next sat week..... can't wait..

Smile

Thanks for the links.
Do you know of any more rides within train distance of London?
And, as far as my North Shore riding skills go, I'm sitting here with broken ribs from a crash on a mellower black diamond, Ned's Atomic Dustbin.
I've never done a double black diamond or triple red, and never will.
One of my favourite rides ever was the group ride around Leith Hill by the Nirvana crew. Two tea stops AND ended with a beer-drinking marathon.
Have fun in Whistler.

Atz

Smile - Check the "London Calling" thread. A bunch of us ride around the places you've already been if you've been out with the Nirvana guys.

cooldad

Not sure if there's anywhere there that rents bikes out? Maybe that little shop in Peaslake?
Could also do Swinley for a day, the shop there rents out I think.
Or maybe someone here could dig out a spare one in return for beer.

Atz

Nirvana in Westcott, Pedal and Spoke in Peaslake and Head for the Hills in dorking all do demo bikes. Not strictly speaking "rental"

popstar

Well, I might conjure up adequate HT in medium size for free, and give a lift from-to West London. You might want to arrive to London first, ...

Smile

cooldad wrote:

Or maybe someone here could dig out a spare one in return for beer.

If anyone could set me up with a bike and drag me along on a ride, I''d be willing to buy all the beer they and their friends could drink.
OK, just in case there's any Scotsmen interested in taking up the offer, maybe a £50 limit . . .

popstar

I wouldn't flash that cash* 8) , guess MTB crowd would help just for good spirits. Do you remeber how good you've felt giving away most wanted presents?