Your letters and photos, including discovering the joys of MTBing as a middle-aged divorcée, a stable of great bikes from retro to modern and more of your best riding snaps

never too late

I started my mountain biking adventure as a middle-aged divorcee – probably not your typical target audience! I didn’t have much cycling experience, in fact I didn’t even own a helmet. After a traumatic breakdown in my private life, my determined friend decided it was time I got a new hobby, so she dragged me out to the Lake District on my first mountain biking weekend, which included some blackgraded trails and the company of some (very patient) pro riders.

That didn’t break my spirit and – as my body suffered cuts and bruises, and my bank account took various biking-related hits – my mind and heart slowly healed. I met loads of new friends and biking became the focal point of my social life, too. Slowly but surely, I became fitter and more daring. And, while there isn’t much hope for me to clear any jumps, I didn’t do too badly in the Hopetech Women Enduro (well, I didn’t come last!).

I just wanted to say thank you for all the tips and pics of fancy bikes every month. Whenever I have doubts, your magazine reminds me that this biking lass is the ‘new me’ and that there’s still so much fun to be had. Please keep up your focus on female riders of all ages – we’re out there, reading and riding! Ania Jurewicz, via email

Thanks for your inspiring letter, Ania! Sounds like your friend did a great job of introducing you to the delights (and expenses) of mountain biking, even if she did throw you in at the deep end somewhat! It’s excellent that you’ve found the riding community so welcoming, too. We hope your story inspires others to get out and give mountain biking a go.

Forking good

Your feature (MBUK 392) included some interesting forks of yesteryear, so I thought I’d share with you a line-up of my own fork progression [pictured below].

I still have my Cannondale Super V SL with HeadShok Fatty, and my Kona King Kahuna with matching Marzocchi Bomber. My son is riding the Trek Procaliber 8 with RockShox Recon, while I’ve upgraded to the Yeti SB6C sporting a Fox 36 Factory fork.

I regularly ride all of them, and it’s great to feel and enjoy the differences between a hardtail and full-suspension; 26in, 650b and 29in wheels; and even between Hope disc brakes and V-brakes mated to ceramicrimmed Mavic Crossmax wheels.

I bought the ’Dale and the Kona on the same day, 20 years ago, from Mud Dock in Bristol, and I’m pleased to say that the bikes still deliver. However, that Yeti shows just how far geometry and forks have come.

Andrew Birtwistle, via email

That’s quite a collection you have there, Andrew, and we’re glad to hear you’ve been able to keep them all running. We must admit it’s been a while since we rode 26in wheels, let alone a HeadShok or V-brakes! Hopefully you’ll be able to enjoy them for many years to come. We’re excited to see what forks come out in future that could make that Fox 36 seem old-fashioned.