It’s beginning to look not like Christmas

If, like me, you have grown up in the northern hemisphere, December is  most definitely a time of winter. It’s a time of crisp, cold weather, warm fires, woolly gloves and scarves and very occasionally, if you’re really lucky, a snowman. In no way is it synonymous with bbq’s, beach wear and sun cream. That’s just…..odd!

The Only Way Is Up! Mountain biking in the Shropshire Hills.

You can usually tell what kind of ride it’s going to be in the first couple of miles. 
Less than 5 mins after setting out I’m gasping away in my lowest gear, facing a 20% ramp of road that looks more like a wall. Hmmm, it’s definitely going to be an ‘interesting’ day out.

Midges and Maniacs – The Return (Part 3)

It’s Sunday evening…

1. I have a new bike.
2. I have a week off of work.
3. I have to appear in court as a witness.

In the words of one of the world’s great philosophers… “Two out of three ‘aint bad”!

(Thank you Mr Meatloaf).

Midges and Maniacs (Part 1)

Heading off to Wales for a week of mountain biking, it began to get a bit disconcerting after the 11^th text message which said

“Have fun, don’t hurt yourself too much”.

I don’t know if these concerned messages were indicative of my (lack of) skill or just the perception my nearest and dearest have of the sport.

However as it turned out, the very real danger was to come from somewhere wholly unexpected.

Unplanned dismounts (or How to fall off a mountain bike)

Mountain biking, as it turns out, is quite a technical thing! After having spent most of the winter bruised and battered, falling off in prickly bushes or muddy ditches, I decided it was high time to have some tuition.

To learn the art of tearing effortlessly downhill, the tricks and skills of the trail, and of course, how to fall off properly.