Gez: Trail God

A different yet cracking ride this weekend. Having only one opportunity each week when I can get out for a full days riding I like to hit the singletrack but also mix it with a few miles in an attempt to maintain some level of fitness. Not this time, we spent much of the ride ‘playing’ and having fun, we all had a great time and the change was welcome.

I picked up the message at 9-15 Saturday morning; demo bikes, Leith Hill, Westcott church at 10-30a.m. Michael and Rich were in possession of a Commencal Super 4 and Trek EX8 demo bikes from Head for the Hills in Dorking while Gez was giving his new Kona Dawg its first outing in the Surrey Hills. We all made the climb up to Greensand Way although I began suffering from asthma that didn’t shift throughout the day no matter the amount of inhaler use. The first test of the new bikes was 3 consecutive runs along the ‘Waggle Dance’ and ‘Summer Lightning’ sections of singletrack where all jumps were nailed and corners railed.

'Gonad Drop' is named

Coffee and cake at the tower was followed by two blasts along a trail that  a fellow user told us was called ‘Windy Willow’, news to us but no matter it is great trail. After the first run we detoured and found ourselves on a section new to us which included a jump built into a slight downhill section. Gez nailed it 3 or 4 times and then Michael tried it – we have now named this ‘Gonad drop’- fair play to him he climbed back on the bike for a couple more goes before we left. Off to the quarry for a little fun and then a final whiz to Westcott via Summer Lightning and the Rookery descent.

Michael and Rich swapped demo bikes throughout the day before the conclusion:

1) Commencal Super 4 for a 4″ travel bike it was heavy (the heaviest bike of any of us), the suspension was very firm front and rear and both the guys said they kept bashing their feet on the ground due to the low bottom bracket;

2) they both loved the Trek on everything except long climbs when they thought the head angle was a little too laid back making it a bit wandery. The Trek won the day and they are now looking to test more 5″ travel bikes on the trails. The Commencal was a surprise as one of our regulars has the Meta 5.5 and it is very good.

Gez was reborn on his new bike and hit every jump and corner like a pro, he certainly showed us older guys a clean pair of heels on just about everything. A great day on dry trails guys, thanks for your patience with me on the climbs and Michael hope you don’t suffer any lasting damage.