Author: kofthep

Sheet happens…

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Following this thread on Ride Sheffield’s Facebook page, I’ve decided to give away 15 space blankets.

It’s a piece of kit that really can save lives, but people never seem to think about getting one. Thankfully I’ve never had to use one, and I hope you will never have to either, but it’s a nice insurance policy to have. So here you go.

I’ll send one to the first 15 people who follow + tweet @KoftheP with the hashtag #NoSheet

While you’re there, why not share an update on trail conditions? The more the merrier!

Stay safe folks, and if you can’t stay safe – be prepared!

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KoftheP

Summertime, and the tweeting is easy

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It’s getting to that time of year where you don’t really need me that much. In the main, it’s sunny, the trails are dry or even dusty, and so the necessity to know where’s a bog, what’s flooded or where the snowbound trails are is understandably lessened.

And it’s given me a little bit of time to think.

KoftheP has been going for about three years now and in that time it’s passed 10 followers (which I was chuffed about!), 50, 100, 500, 1000 and now over 1500. I’ve been up against Chris Boardman for Cycling Advocate of the Year (he won but didn’t turn up so I drank his share of the red wine) and I’ve been able to give away some ace prizes thanks to some fantastically supportive local companies. All in all, it’s going rather peachily!

But it can always be better.

I’ve never asked for feedback before  – I’ve certainly been on the receiving end of it from time to time on the forums or the feed – but I’m always curious as to what you lot like/don’t like, care/don’t care about, appreciate/love/hate.

There are 1534 of you with about 40 regular tweeters – so I’m interested to know how you use KoftheP. What difference does it make to your rides or your planning? What you think would make it even better for you?

So let me know in the comments below. I’ve just read this back and it sounds a bit like I’m hanging up my tweeting boots – not a chance – but I do want to know what I can do to make it better.

Be nice…..13307473_10154510564113455_1996267323965165969_n

 

 

 

 

June’s free giveaway

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We’ve got another cracker for you this month.Screen Shot 2016-06-03 at 09.37.29

Bike Rehab is a Sheffield city centre based bicycle service and repair centre focused on quality, convenience and exceptional customer service. They’ve also been known to fix my shambles of a bike on numerous occasions. And it’s always service with a smile.

This month, Alex and Jake at Bike Rehab have offered a free general service* to the winner of our free giveaway. It’s their way of saying thanks to you for being Keeper of the Peak – doing your bit to look after the Peak District.

As always, all you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is ride, then tweet an update of conditions to @KoftheP. You’ll then be entered into our draw for the prize, which we’ll announce at the end of the month.

So get tweeting! KoftheP is nothing without you.

 

*not including parts

May’s freebie winner(s)

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and-the-winner-isMay’s free giveaway was a bit special. So far this year we’ve given away a skills course so you know how to ride; a fork service so you know your bike will be in good condition when you do ride and so now we just need to give you some places to ride.

And that’s where Vertebrate Publishing have stepped in.

They’ve given us some of the finest mountain biking guide books money can buy, and – doing their bit for the Peak – they’ve also given us a free robust winter loop. The ‘all weather loop’ has become a popular go-to route when it’s wet, boggy and typically British.

So it’s great to be able to offer you the chance to win a set of Dark and White Peak guide books from VP. And not just one of you! This month, VG have given us four pairs of their guide books to give away. Not bad at all. So let’s get on with it.

The four winners of this month’s giveaway are….

@lilo_lilley           @EdaleSkyline           @smallz_swfc          @chris_the_tall

Congratulations folks, Vertebrate are waiting for you to get in touch – so thanks very much for doing your bit for the Peak District 🙂

June’s giveaway coming right up….

 

 

Best route to a freebie…?

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This month I have not one free giveaway, but four!IMAG3975

Vertebrate Publishing have given us some of the finest mountain biking guide books money can buy, and – doing their bit for the Peak – they’ve also given us a free robust winter loop. The ‘all weather loop’ has become a popular go-to route when it’s wet, boggy and typically British.

So it’s great to be able to offer four of you the chance to win a set of Dark and White Peak guide books from VP.

As you can see,”White Peak Mountain Biking – The Pure Trails” and “Peak District Mountain  – Dark Peak Trails” are more often than not my starting point for route ideas. From a quick blast to a longer day out – or just climbs and descents – they have it all, with great descriptions and good maps. Written by locals too. They know the trails!

What better way to inspire you for a summer of riding?

All in all, it’s a top prize to win. And all you need to do to be in with a chance is to ride your bike and tweet the conditions to @KoftheP.

I’ll let you know who’s won at the end of May.

 

:o)

It’s freebie time….

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bgtop

Time to find out who’s won our April freebie.

This month, James at the Bike Garage will give our lucky winner a free fork seal replacement as thanks for you being part of Keeper of the Peak and for you playing your part in looking after the trails around the shop!

Why not take a few minutes to have a look at some of the brilliant trail work the Bike Garage team do – wielding a spade as well as wielding a spanner. And pop into the shop if you’re in the area.

So who’s won this month? Drum roll please……..

Paul Smith @grumpytechnoph1

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Thanks for being part of @KoftheP Paul. We’ll put you in touch with James and you can arrange getting your forks set for summer. If it ever arrives….

Now to choose next month’s prize 🙂

 

April’s free giveaway

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Bikegarage

Spring has almost sprung! The lambs are lambing, the daffies are daffing and all across the peak riders are looking to give their bikes a bit of a spring clean ready for months of dry, dusty, halcyon riding.

So to help you get ready, for this month’s free giveaway Bike Garage (@Bike_Garage) have a little treat.

The Bike Garage is a small independent bike shop on the Hope Road nr Bamford which was set up with one aim in mind; to keep people out on their bikes. They cater for all types of bikes and riders and offer straight forward advice about all aspects of biking topics. And of course, they stock a wide range of parts and accessories for all bike types.

As our free giveaway this month, the Bike Garage has offered to get mucky winter worn forks set for summer with a fork seal change (including seals). Perfect timing.

And all you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is to tweet a trails update to @KoftheP! Couldn’t be simpler.

So get riding, and get tweeting! We’ll announce the winner in May.

 

And while we’re at it…

mudgaurdOur friends at Peak District MTB have launched a new mudguard, exclusively on sale at Bike Garage! With all the profits going directly into looking after the trails we all ride, why not nip in to the shop the next time you’re passing and pick one up. A great way to put something back.

 

March – giveaway winner!

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and-the-winner-is

In March we teamed up with Alliance MTB to give the lucky winner a coaching session courtesy of the team.

Alliance MTB are officially licensed Forestry Commission operators at Sherwood Pines and are now working to deliver MTB Coaching at Clumber Park in conjunction with the National Trust. They specialise in tailored, progressive  mountain bike skills coaching and guiding. And they’re bloody good at it! I should know, I’ve had a session with @AllianceSteve and it really did make a positive difference to my riding.

We had loads of people tweeting in updates, but of course, we can only choose one person! So, without further ado, the winner is…….

Tom @hilyer2

tomhilyer

Congratulations Tom – you’ve won a session with @AllianceMTB. Thanks for being part of Keeper of the Peak. Keep up your tweeting to be in with a chance of winning April’s free giveaway, which we’ll announce very soon.

Get in touch and we’ll put you in contact to arrange your session!

 

 

March’s monthly giveaway

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AllianceMARCH

Today’s the day we kick off the KoftheP monthly giveaway – and what a cracker it is in March.

We’ve teamed up with Alliance MTB to give the lucky winner a coaching session courtesy of the team.

Alliance MTB are officially licensed Forestry Commission operators at Sherwood Pines and are now working to deliver MTB Coaching at Clumber Park in conjunction with the National Trust.

They specialise in tailored, progressive  mountain bike skills coaching and guiding. And they’re bloody good at it! I should know, I’ve had a session with @AllianceSteve and it really did make a positive difference to my riding.

All you need to do is ride, and tweet the conditions to @KoftheP to be in with a chance of winning March’s giveaway – then we’ll put you in touch with the Alliance MTB team and on the road to being a better rider!

So get riding and get tweeting. Winner announced March 31th

Well, you’ve earned it after all…

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lottery1_big

Keeper of the Peak simply couldn’t exist without you lot. Even though I would love it if I could spend my days visiting the Peak District’s paths, from the Roaches to the Roych, Cumberland Clough to Cut Gate to send you trail updates, I can’t. My mortgage lender (and wife) simply wouldn’t have it.

So you’re vital in helping fellow riders know where’s riding well and where perhaps needs a rest; you’re vital to protecting the Peak from unnecessary MTB damage; you’re vital to painting the good picture of mountain bikers we deserve.

And it’s not just me that’s noticed it.

To say a great big thanks to you for being Keeper of the Peak, a wonderful group of companies, shops and individuals have stumped up some goodies for you. And I’m just going to give them away.

All you need to do is send in an update on the condition of the Peak District trails you’ve ridden that day.

Each month we’ll have the latest goodie from one of the wonderful people below and at the end of the month, I’ll randomly pick a person who’s tweeted an update to @KoftheP. Simple.

All I then need to do is put the winner in touch with that month’s goodie giver. So who’s chipping in?

Not a bad bunch to start with eh? Visit their pages, see what they do!

So keep an eye out. Once I’ve worked out how to write it in 140 characters, I’ll kick the first freebie off in March.

And all you need to do? Go and ride your bike, then tell me what it was like.

Cracking eh?