I wouldn’t like to fall off a bike on the road but usually when you fall off a mountain bike things are not so bad. I’ve always enjoyed testing the limits of speed on a bike on the dirt. I love it when the tyres reach the limit of grip and start to shimmy around.Continue reading “Falling off twice in one ride is not a problem.”
A glorious autumn ride.
Autumn can be a hard time for mountain bikers. The dry trails give way to mud and temperatures fall. In compensation we may get a fabulous display of rusty shades but this is a short time to fill the soul before the starkness of winter. Today was about as good a day as we canContinue reading “A glorious autumn ride.”
Remembrance.
I was accepted by the Royal Navy to train as an officer in 1985. I would have gone on to fly helicopters but unfortunately my medical history intervened. I’d had a brief illness in my teens and it was decided that I was too much of a risk to invest a massive amount of moneyContinue reading “Remembrance.”
Wild weather.
After a very rainy week we also got strong winds today. I decided that my only option was to ignore the weather and ride to a high and remote moor! I’d ride to the ruined and deserted farms set above Brinscall, back through the woods and over Healey Nab. I set off with the windContinue reading “Wild weather.”
Mud Fest.
The rain has been shocking this week. It’s prevented me from riding for 5 days and since my last ride was a road ride it’s been 9 days since I’ve ridden on the dirt. I considered another road ride today since I knew the trails would be exceedingly muddy but I’d watched a Youtube video.Continue reading “Mud Fest.”
A road ride, which was surprisingly good!
I usually prefer to ride trails, even if I’m just getting from A to B. Today, though, conditions would have been too wet for a decent off road ride so I chose to ride the roads. This decision was assisted by my wife Ali, who is convinced that my muddy riding gear is bound toContinue reading “A road ride, which was surprisingly good!”
Great Hill again.
With continuing dry weather I thought it was a good chance to ride my current favourite trail. From home to the top of Great Hill, which rises to 1,250 feet, and back via a long and fabulous downhill through Brinscall Woods is around 15.5 miles with almost 1,500 feet of ascent. Looking at the app.Continue reading “Great Hill again.”
A lovely autumn ride.
Today has been a beautiful autumn day. The colours are amazing, the weather was calm and mainly sunny. I was keen to ride the new love of my life, my son’s Trek Fuel EX8 29″ wheel full suspension bike, and take it on my favourite downhill from the top of Great Hill. Of course IContinue reading “A lovely autumn ride.”
Riding flat corners.
For several rides it seems like I’ve only ridden single track and bermed (banked) manmade trails. Of course I enjoy this kind of riding but my favourite trails tend to be natural trails with flat corners. Here I can reach what, to me, is the nirvana of mountain biking. That moment when you reach theContinue reading “Riding flat corners.”
A more relaxing ride.
Today the weather has been gorgeous, with blue skies and sunshine. I didn’t want a hard ride with ambitious targets so chose a trail ride to Healey Nab where I’d ride a full lap from the trailhead then ride another downhill section back home. I used the canal to stay off the roads and haveContinue reading “A more relaxing ride.”
Mountainbiker 