Rides

The Skull Bicycle Club cordially invite you to join us on a short but very merry jaunt through hackneys towpaths and parks.

The ride will be leaving from the shop at 5pm on Saturday the 18th of August and will include a arduous 5 mile cycle to her majesty’s Olympic Park.

SBC Cycles will be providing some mobile refreshments and sustenance on cargo bikes to keep weary riders fueled and entertainment in the form of games, music and prizes.

Please be advised that we strongly recommend all riders ride within their own limits and thoroughly read the disclaimer below before attending.

By attending the SBC birthday booze cruise I hereby assume all risk of personal injury, including death and damage to
personal property (especially carbon bicycles) sustained during the SBC birthday booze cruise and release SBC cycles, including any
employees or friends acting on behalf of the SBC cycles, from any and all liability for any injury, fire damage or death, suffered by the
participant during the duration of the booze cruise, whether due to the negligence of SBC cycles, its employees or friends.
I further agree to indemnify SBC cycles, any of its employees, friends from and against any and all actions, suits, claims,
demands, causes of action, proceedings, losses, costs and expenses in any way arising out of, or relating to or connected with, either
directly or indirectly, the participation of the booze cruise. 

What it says on the tin… We have a route planned… Click HERE to download the GPX route File for your Garmin…

We also have a Google Map link HERE

WEATHER IS LOOKING GOOOOOOOD!!!!!!

We will meet at SBC Cycles at 7pm from SBC Cycles.

ANYONE LIVING WEST: We’ll be riding that way, so we’re gonna do a pick up for anyone not wanting to meet at SBC… The Blue Anchor Pub in Hammersmith. We’ll be there for a quick pint around 9pm then head off around 9.30pm! 

This is an OFF ROAD ride in October so it will no doubt get muddy. You’ll need a suitable knobbly tired bike with mud clearance..

There are a fair few tight tracks, so we suggest no low rider pannier bags. Most of the route is tow path and gravel tracks but the last part of the route may be a bit tougher going.

Bring lights, warm/waterproof clothes and a garmin or OS map if you have one. Also bring beers, whiskey and lots of food. and without doubt some water to stay hydrated!

We’ll bring the black metal/spooky soundtrack and mini rig speakers.

We can all catch the train back to London Victoria after breakfast and some beers… Return train is £14.50 max

Back in June my friend Mads and I decided to ride to Brighton, the route would be semi-off road (read: bridleways) and would involve one night camping, a perfect opportunity for me to test my newly acquired bike packing gear. Come Saturday morning we set off a bit late (Mads had been out the night before, I am lazy), and headed to the Hampton Ferry (Founded in 1514, it’s one of the oldest companies in the UK). The ferry man said we were lucky to arrive when we did as it had been raining torrentially shortly before, we’d been blissfully unaware in a bubble of sunshine, clearly a good omen. Following the Thames South West for most of the route, we eventually turned due South to camp just below Guildford. We pitched camp, setting up under my tarp, and deciding to go the pub for beer, we were also treated to a free lecture from the landlord on the evils of the EU.

Day two brought a bright morning, and a slug who had decided to have an adventure of his own, into my sleeping bag. Enlivened by beans and hot beverages we packed up and hit the road. Most of the the route followed a disused rail line, until we turned off for lunch in the shadow of the South Downs Way. It came as a welcome break as the path I’d picked to turn off involved a fair portion of riding through waist high nettles and brambles mixed in with long grass which threatened to jam our derailleurs. Once revived we scaled the chalk wall and rode a short section of the South Downs Way before descending into Brighton for some much needed fish and chips.

Ride on Strava – Day 1 and Day 2

Instagram – JackDixDavies and Hulsroy

Hes some photos of a trip I did last weekend up to Northampton to see the Ministry of Bicycles BOMBERDROME and visit Billy no tats and the MNIPN shed.

Full write up on SKULLBIKECLUB

Can you believe this weather?

This will probably be the last weekend of dry trails out in Epping so were going to make the most of it. Last week was great with a few new faces and all types of bikes. Everyone had such a good time were gonna do it again.

Same deal as last time.
We’ll ride out along Lea Bridge Rd and take the trail in from Forest Rise. Should be about 20-30 mile round trip back around 4-5pm including a pub stop or two
Pace will be a relaxed no man/woman left behind.

Meet at the shop 41 Cropley St, N1 7HT

10.30am.

We will have a jet wash to clean the bikes at the shop after.

Bring:
An off road capable bike i.e knobbly tyres and brakes that work (cross is ok)
Lunch or money for Lunch
Money for the pub if you want a pint
Spare tube

Forest is friend!

A couple of weekends ago about 8 of us left the big smoke to go camp and go riding at Penshurst Off Road Cycling Trail Centre or PORC for short. We joined another 8 people there, so we had a good group for laughs and shredz.

We wrapped up work at 6pm and hopped on the train from London to Tonbridge. By the time we got there it was pitch black. We had no idea where we were going and most of us had less than adequate lights for the unknown surroundings. We were relying on Marks Garmin to lead the way. Needless to say it took us the most “friendly” route… Which just so happened to be a 5 Mile cross country ramble “cycle route” through boggy trails and fields littered with cows and dung in the pitch black, hoisting our bikes over numerous styles and farm gates… It was great fun none the less… Made even more hilarious by Peter (Dear Susan Bicycles) playing film soundtracks at full volume through a minirig speaker he’d rigged up on his Surly Krampus…

Imagine the scene: Eight out of place city dwellers on Mountain Bikes riding through farms with Star Wars Death March blasting out…

We eventually arrived after a ton of ridiculous, broken english phone calls regarding directions to the campsite from the Polish and Spanish friends we were trying to meet there… They already had a roaring fire going and were ready to cook up a storm. Peter had braised up a spit for a whole leg of lamb that morning and we had loads of veg to roast… Ales were drank, food was eaten… We dined like kings…

The trail centre is an ever evolving landscape of twists and turns on the side of a large hill owned by a guy called ‘Mike’. He has a general love for cycling of all kinds and creating a haven where he can host events and races on a regular basis as well as keep the trails open for anyone to use all year round… The camp site isn’t an official pay per night place. He just asks that if you camp or use the trails you donate a fiver to help cover the parks upkeep…

The dirt jumps there are insane and range from small table tops to huge kickers and step ups that’ll throw you over 10 feet in the air with ease… I think we’ll need a bit more practice before getting rad on those… The highlight of the day was seeing Matt bust over a step up on the least suitable bike in the whole park, his Surly Cross Check!

We smashed around a few trails and realised we’d lost Petor at some point. We later found out that he’d hit a jump wrong and bashed his head open and broken 2 ribs. Bummer. It knocked some sense in to the rest of us that were’t wearing helmets and we decided to call it a day… Heal up soon mate…

Here’s to many more shredz with solid dudes!

Thanks to Dear Susan Bicycles for the pics and Stuart, owner of Bike Fix for organising the trip and cooking up an absolute feast… We owe you one…

Were heading out to Epping from the shop again. Same deal as last time.
We’ll ride out along Lea Bridge Rd and take the trail in from Forest Rise. Should be about 30-40 mile round trip back around 5-6pm including a pub stop or two
Pace will be a relaxed no man/woman left behind.

Meet at the shop 41 Cropley St, N1 7HT

10.30am.

Bring:
An off road capable bike i.e knobbly tyres and brakes that work (cross is ok)
Lunch or money for Lunch
Money for the pub if you want a pint
Spare tube

Shred til dead!

Lets make the most of this Indian summer! Were heading out to Epping from the shop again. Same deal as last time.
We’ll ride out along Lea Bridge Rd and take the trail in from Forest Rise. Should be about 30-40 mile round trip back around 5-6pm including a pub stop or two
Pace will be a relaxed no man/woman left behind.

Meet at the shop 41 Cropley St, N1 7HT 10am.

Bring:
An off road capable bike i.e knobbly tyres and brakes that work (cross is ok)
Lunch or money for Lunch
Money for the pub if you want a pint
Spare tube

If you wanna meet us out there just send us an email, so we can coordinate.

Don’t fear the forest!

Were heading out to Epping from the shop again. Same deal as last time.
We’ll ride out along Lea Bridge Rd and take the trail in from Forest Rise. Should be about 30-40 mile round trip back around 6-7pm including a pub stop or two
Pace will be a relaxed no man/woman left behind.

Meet at the shop 41 Cropley St, N1 7HT 10am.

Bring:
An off road capable bike i.e knobbly tyres and brakes that work
Lunch or money for Lunch
Money for the pub if you want a pint
Spare tube

If you wanna meet us out there just send us an email, so we can coordinate.

Hope to see some new faces!

A week after Skulls finished the Straggler for me I took it for it’s first little test ride to the South Downs.

Day one was riding the London>Brighton off road route to the pub inflatable irish pub in Petworth for dinner and beers, then a quick blast out of town to some local woods to camp. Day 2 took us on a mix of roads and singletrack along to the New Forest for another sleep under the stars (rain). Great riding, lots of drinking and some “camp vibes”. The bike swallowed it all up no problem and with some tweaks over winter it’ll be ready for a longer trip on the Tour Divide route next summer.

Rides on Strava: Day 1 –  Day 2