The lure of lycra

As a youth, I cut my teeth racing XC. Living in the South, the SAMS (Southern Area MTB Series) and Gorrick club races were my bread and butter. That was until I realised I much preferred riding down hills to pedalling up them and DH became my main focus. Fastforward through many years of racing, countless viewings of Earthed DVDs, uplifting in the back of Transit vans and long summer trips to the Alps. I had a whole heap of fun, up until the point enduro was invented, when all of a sudden I found myself riding the same trails on bikes with better geometry that somehow went uphill too.

These days I find myself getting an XC itch again. The modern bikes look rad, the World Cup racing is finally worth watching and for giving my fitness a boost, it’s much more appealing than getting squished on a road ride. Plus, I’ve got to keep up with my mates on these mega loops they like doing and I’m not ready for an e-bike yet! I feel like my riding life has gone full cycle. Perhaps it’s clever marketing, but please send help before I end up parting with some hard-earned cash from the house fund...

Jack Malone, via email

PS, I’m still flat pedals for life.

We’re not sure we can be of much help, Jack, given that we’re all pretty stoked on XC bikes here at MBUK too. It’s undeniably addictive ripping up hills on a featherweight whip that you can still hammer back down on. Also, the scientific formula for the number of bikes you should own is n+1. You can’t argue with science.