GETTING BACK OUT

I rode mountain bikes in the ’90s and still have fond memories of my 1993 Kona Hahanna. Sadly, its life was ended when my brother was hit by a car on it in ’96. Fastforward to 2017 and I bought an entry-level Cube and hit my old trails around Kingley Vale, on the South Downs. My love of MTBing was rekindled. But then working-from-home depression set in and I stopped riding.

I had flirted with buying a Ragley Marley, and a few weeks ago, after checking stock levels for months, I finally found my opportunity. Today I hit the trails at Kingley Vale with my brother Paul and our mate Matt. We’re all middle-aged, rubbish mountain bikers, but we had the best three hours of sketchy downhills, swearing and crashing, finished off with a well-earned pint. I’ve been smiling all day, including now, looking back at the photos.

Riding mountain bikes is such an effective stress-reliever and can have an important impact on mental health. Going out on my bike, having a bit of banter and enjoying a refreshing beer at the end is the most enjoyable experience I’ve had for 18 months.

Pete Cullen, Hayling Island

It’s great to hear you’re back in the game, Pete! There’s no better time to get out on two wheels with a couple of mates and just forget about everything else that’s going on. Plus, that pint tastes so much better when you’ve really earned it!