Admittedly we didn’t go too far. However, Aston Hill seemed more than enough of a trek given the conditions, and so we set out, revelling in a warm car and cruising up the M1 looking at the freezing conditions around us, and aiming to avoid a similar fate to the Astra “parked” in a hedge at a T-junction.
Aston Hill Bike Park was no less frozen and icy than anywhere else and our big plans of checking out the downhill runs were quickly put into perspective as we slithered out of the carpark. The black run did get a look but it was soon clear that we’d be better off attempting it with proper full suspension rigs, and perhaps with a little more skill and balls. Oh, and also when every turn wasn’t getting more and more slick by the minute. Some slightly dejected pushing and scouting around followed as even the push back up from the bottom of the park was made treacherous and challenging by an endless film of ice.
All was not lost in the big winter adventure and it was unanimously decided to give a run down the DH3 track a go, as it was billed as being more appropriate for our bikes, and perhaps for the conditions as well. It was, and we were able to get in a good mornings-worth of runs down, pitting out skills against off-camber ice sheets and rooty drops to find some fun in the frozen woods. After a few minutes of riding we were warm enough to not even notice the below-zero conditions and the day proved that you can still have fun on a mountain bike even in the most unlikely-looking weather. We were riding in a frozen and foggy woodland and still finding the grip and ability to have some wide-smiled fun. The day ended with a minor crash, and perhaps where we might have carried on in better weather, we called it a day to save any serious injury.
So, as winter sets in heavily FMFT says go out and play (as long as you respect the conditions), there’s empty trails to explore and even your old favourites will have an added edge as they freeze.
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