Riding From Memory

Last weekend saw FMFT back out on the mountain bike trails. With a new fork to test out and the weather making it more and more attractive to be out there, I headed for the Chilterns.

The ride is everything that you can hope for from a real ride in the South of England. Bridleways and byways linked together with bits of small roads to make a three hour route with fun downhills, challenging climbs and plenty to keep you interested and smiling. The ride was made even more fulfilling as I did it entirely from memory, remembering each turn as I got there riding with no breaks for navigation. It was a real ride in the real countryside and all the better for it. I shared the route with Red Kites, horses and walkers and couldn’t ask for more in a route just of the M40 and only an hour or so out of London.

The ride was great then, and the new forks, which we fitted a week before performed superbly. I’ll admit that replacing 7-year old cracked forks with anything would have improved the ride, but the Rock Shox Sektor Rs were smooth and flawless. I regained a confidence in being able to put the front wheel wherever I wanted and let the solid action smooth the big hits. There’s work to be done on the rebound to get it right, and the adjustable travel is worth a bit of a play to find the best balance of every condition, but my first impressions are more than favourable. At £250 form Chain Reaction I think the forks can be officially FMFT Recommended.

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