Hello, I’m new here.
Last Wednesday I was in the local woods for a bit of a ride. There’s an excellent downhill run that’s been built by local enthusiasts and the Wildlife Trust.
Anyway at the bottom there’s a 6ft drop off which leads to a smaller ramp. You can either rejoin the footpath or take the drop. I usually rejoin the path with a noncahalant “could do it if I wanted to” knid of glance but today was tentatively sat looking at the drop off (for about 20 minutes tbh) when a couple of guys with cameras and tripods turn up with a guy covered head to toe in sponsored gear. He says hello and I suddenly realise it’s former World Downhill Champion Steve Peat – the huge “PEATY” on the back of his shirt would’ve given it away sooner or later. Turns out they’re filming a helmet cam promo and despite what he thinks is a cracked rib, he’s going to do his thing at the drop off for the cameras.
So I sit and watch whilst him and the film crew go and look at an even more insane drop off a bit further down. As he comes back, I say, “and here’s me wondering whether to attempt this on my 12 year old GT”. This piques his interest with him being a former GT rider and he says my bike’s a classic. This is even better than when a schoolkid in Castleton once told me it was “phat”.
Anyway they start filming, he’s attacking the drop at a ridiculous speed. When he’s all done, he walks back up and asks me if I want him to show me how to do it in slow motion. So me and the cameramen all gather round as he makes it look easy, then comes back round and then asks if I’m going to wait until they’ve gone to try it and if it’s too much peer pressure. I now know I’ve really got to do it and mumble something to one of the cameramen about “bloody pushy World Champions”, one of the film makers is now filming me. Anyway I take a short run up and take the drop and don’t kill myself. A quick ride back to the top and it’s handshakes all round. He’s an absolute gent, really nice bloke.
Anyway, as many of you probably know he’s riding for Santa Cruz now so when I got home I Googled them and that’s how I ended up finding this site.
Sorry for the long post.
cheers
Martin
