For the next three afternoons we explored the whole area and rode pretty much everything. All of us saw
our some improvement in our riding. Sabine even got to enjoy the sensation having both wheels off the
ground for the first time. I progressed my jumping to the extent that I can throw in the odd trick. That’s not
to say there isn’t a long way to go. I could do with learning how to jump on flats, with being clipped in my
technique can be a bit sloppy. The hip jumps eluded me and I only got the courage to attempt a wall ride
on one of my very last runs. I did get both my wheels on the wall though, even if it was just a couple of
inches off the ground.
By the end of the weekend, including a morning riding Caddon Bank and one on Spooky Wood, I was
completely worn out. My legs were fine but my upper body had taken a battering and my neck was aching
after a lot of big drops. By 3pm on the Sunday it was time to quit so I went back up one more time to find
Paul and Rob.
our some improvement in our riding. Sabine even got to enjoy the sensation having both wheels off the
ground for the first time. I progressed my jumping to the extent that I can throw in the odd trick. That’s not
to say there isn’t a long way to go. I could do with learning how to jump on flats, with being clipped in my
technique can be a bit sloppy. The hip jumps eluded me and I only got the courage to attempt a wall ride
on one of my very last runs. I did get both my wheels on the wall though, even if it was just a couple of
inches off the ground.
By the end of the weekend, including a morning riding Caddon Bank and one on Spooky Wood, I was
completely worn out. My legs were fine but my upper body had taken a battering and my neck was aching
after a lot of big drops. By 3pm on the Sunday it was time to quit so I went back up one more time to find
Paul and Rob.
I decided to improve my downhill and freeride skills after the crashes and broken wrist from the Alps trip
the previous year. Glentress had constructed a Freeride Park since my last visit, so plans were made to
head up for a session of personal development.
After enduring a couple of months of rain and floods it was great to be granted a sunny weekend by the
weatherman. Sabine and me were a bit concerned as we drove up through the odd shower but arrived at
the Hub to sun and blue skies. It was there we met Paul and Rob, my friends from work.
the previous year. Glentress had constructed a Freeride Park since my last visit, so plans were made to
head up for a session of personal development.
After enduring a couple of months of rain and floods it was great to be granted a sunny weekend by the
weatherman. Sabine and me were a bit concerned as we drove up through the odd shower but arrived at
the Hub to sun and blue skies. It was there we met Paul and Rob, my friends from work.
| Practicing my jumping on the Essentials trail |
| The planks halfway down Essentials |
| Paul styling it up..... |
| ...and getting big air on Essentials |
| Sabine properly off the ground |
We were soon at the Freeride
Park, padded up and raring to go.
Seeing the size of the features
though, in particular the Funbox,
wall rides and the Huck, I decided
a bit of a warm up was required.
Rob was straight in the air, while
Paul, Sabine and me practiced on
a set of little tabletops at the
bottom of the Essentials trail.
Eventually, feeling ready for
something bigger, we started the
Park, padded up and raring to go.
Seeing the size of the features
though, in particular the Funbox,
wall rides and the Huck, I decided
a bit of a warm up was required.
Rob was straight in the air, while
Paul, Sabine and me practiced on
a set of little tabletops at the
bottom of the Essentials trail.
Eventually, feeling ready for
something bigger, we started the
| Rob, using the big tabletops at the top of Essentials of practise his tricks |
push to the top of the hill. Sabine, a freeride virgin, still wasn’t comfortable. Being blessed with great
social skills she soon found herself some new friends for a loop of the Red Route, to get properly dialled in.
social skills she soon found herself some new friends for a loop of the Red Route, to get properly dialled in.
| Rob showing how an x-up should be done before moving on to other tricks |
| Paul on Unnamed |
It was the first time I’ve concentrated on my skills without it being part of a
loop. I loved not having the pressure of covering distance. There also
wasn’t the problem of having an injury miles from rescue. I won’t be
giving up the big rides in the hills but I’ll be doing a lot more of this in the
future. I haven’t had so much fun in ages.
loop. I loved not having the pressure of covering distance. There also
wasn’t the problem of having an injury miles from rescue. I won’t be
giving up the big rides in the hills but I’ll be doing a lot more of this in the
future. I haven’t had so much fun in ages.
Sabine and
Rob riding up
to Spooky
Wood (left)
Rob riding up
to Spooky
Wood (left)
| Paul (right) and me (below) jumping one of the big tabletops at the start of Spooky Wood |
| Sabine taking to the air on Spooky Wood |
| Rob (above) at the start of Spooky Wood |
| Paul finding air anywhere he could |
| Rob styling the last jump on Spooky Wood |
I rode down Cycopath hoping to spot them
and noticed Rob by the end of the
skinnies. The drop off the last skinny had
gone smoothly all weekend but I was tired
and not giving it my full attention. My rear
wheel hit the ramp and slammed my forks
into the ground, with a bang loud enough
to turn everyone's head in my direction.
Spread-eagled across the bars, rear
wheel all I could think of was the big drop
and noticed Rob by the end of the
skinnies. The drop off the last skinny had
gone smoothly all weekend but I was tired
and not giving it my full attention. My rear
wheel hit the ramp and slammed my forks
into the ground, with a bang loud enough
to turn everyone's head in my direction.
Spread-eagled across the bars, rear
wheel all I could think of was the big drop
that followed. Fortunately for me I veered off to the side. Unfortunately for Rob I ploughed into him and
brought his chill out session to an abrupt end. He recognised me before I got a gob full, or worse, much to
the disappointment of the assembled crowd. “Well that kind of pre-empts what I was going to say. Me and
Sabine are going to the Hub as I’m tired and I want to stop riding before I have an accident”.
brought his chill out session to an abrupt end. He recognised me before I got a gob full, or worse, much to
the disappointment of the assembled crowd. “Well that kind of pre-empts what I was going to say. Me and
Sabine are going to the Hub as I’m tired and I want to stop riding before I have an accident”.
| Me dropping off the last skinny. One of the many successful attempts. |
| Me going off the big 'Huck', quite easy in the air but always got my adrenalin flowing on the run in |
| After building up to it I finally managed to jump on and off the Funbox |
|
