Steyning mountain biking

When you feel that magic… Scott Spark RC 900 WC review

This was my second ride on my new Scott Spark RC 900 World Cup. The first was on a very wet and muddy trip following the South Downs Rough Ride route. I couldn’t really draw any conclusions from that other then it was a bit more comfortable than my Scott Scale 900 SL hard tail…

Its all in the numbers – if you can believe them

This was supposed to be about numbers but they aren’t always what they seem. As I was riding yesterday it occurred to me that winter is always slower. The air is heavier, the trails are heavier, the bike is heavier and the body is heavier. However, it is not the protective layer of blubber that…

Santa Cruz Solo and Steyning fun

I should ride more! The mantra of many. We all want to ride but there are so many reasons for not doing so. Can I blame work? Is that fair? Whatever, my super form of the winter is fading. I need some serious road miles. This weekend, after doing several bike fits and the Paris-Roubaix…

I’m back!

There were many high point’s today not least a South African flag at half mast in Steyning, worthy of a fist in the air and a thumbs up. Add to that the warm weather, dry trails, a deep covering of crisp leaves and the fact that I was actually riding. I was happy. In the…

Mountain biking can be very social – but needs to be done more often

I used to ride fifty fifty road and mountain bike but, in part due to the weather, I have been almost exclusively riding on the road for the last year. One reason for this is that when you go for a road ride that is what you do. You , I, ride! So often mountain…

Quest Adventure Shop Ride 02/03/13

The trail conditions could hardly be better. Bone dry and just a little bumpy where the mud has dried out with foot or hoof prints still there. The shop ride is so popular that we split it into two groups and I was lucky enough to ride with the regular crew. The rides are governed…

I thought I’d be frightened of the mud – its all in the mind!

I’ve only had one off road ride since our Whyte demo weekend on 8th September. With all the wet weather I have been putting off riding wet trails in favour of the narrow lanes of Sussex. Use it or lose it is a fact and I was worried that I’d lost it – my confidence…

Enjoying the rain, the warm and my FF29

I race (badly) every Friday and now ride, not “a” but “my” mountain bike, every Sunday. The Friday road racing was supposed to replace the Tuesday Goodwood Gallops were I’d usually be hanging on for dear life and praying that I’d last. Not so the fourth cat races. I’m not strong enough to get away…

Way out of my league

Fourteen weeks ago I decided to make an effort to get fit. I’m not there yet but I am doing OK, or at least I thought that I was until this morning. Last Sunday I felt that the ride was hard and quick and that it was in part down to me. Tuesday I set…

When will power is all you need

What a struggle for the will? It was dark and raining when I woke. I checked my phone for texts but there was nothing. I was hoping for confirmation of a meeting with the Steyning Trail builders. It was not a good sign when I opted to put the GoPro away in my bag and…