Well that’s been long enough, so it comes with a heavy heart and much regret that I announce here that I am returning the trails by bike.
It’s been a few years now since I’ve properly terrorised the trails in fact I’ve ridden less than a dozen times in that duration.
One being a little 25 miler on the Quantocks on Xmas day 2013 and a few un-motivating winter rides. The X fusion Enduro 1 organising sent me down a few Haldon forest runs, which tested my nerves, steep rooty trails were a thing of the past and of distant memory for my trail riding reactions.(It improved after a few runs, so I wasn’t holding people up to much, I hope)
In fact, the last time I went out, was to set the transition times for last years Quantocks X Fusion event and an average guide time for the timed stages. Crikey that Cockercombe stage made the butt muscles twitch, especially with a ceased and high seat post..
The bikes getting rebuilt and even though it is one of those retro old hat bikes with the undersized wheels and what appears to be to few gears out back and to many up front. I’m giving the heads up to the emergency services too as I’ve only got a wee 9mm skewer holding the wheel to the measly 130mm forks. It that survives, the non tapered 1 1/8 steerer tube might be an issue.
Before anyone bites, i’m not taking the pee out of what’s new and it’s followers, i’m just taking the pee in general as that’s what I do.(some may remember)
So if in the coming months, visitors to the Quantock hills see me out on a blue ON ONE 456 and i’m holding you up on the trails, please ring ya bell and i’ll happily pull over for you.