Words By Vivian Jones, Photos by Vess and Mike Allen - Back to main Digression
Sunday 3rd December Dad, me and Matt met Anth, Mike,Vess plus Anth's mates Mark John and Daniel at Cwmcarn car park. I was feeling cold and a little bit ill but I wanted to ride my early Xmas present, a 2007 Specialized SX Trail II, it is so cool!
Vess, Me, Matt and dad set of up the Twrch Trail, dad and Matt went on the road coz they are oldsters while Vess and I took the XC trail. The late starting pack of remaining fit riders cheated and tore up the tarmac. We all met up at the top but on the way I came around a corner on a narrow part and saw Vess putting his bike back on the track after being an inch off line and falling down a steep muddy hill through the trees. No photo, damn!
The very top of the mountain has a new area with many jumps but it was very windy. I tried a very low jump but a gust of wind took my bike sideways and my face hit the ground followed by the rest of my body. Ouch! I was dizzy for a few minutes and scared the others with my bloody nose.
It was good to get further down in the trees as there was less wind. Dad and I caught up with the others at the split for the Downhill track or the final loop around the promontory. Dad and I wanted to use the downhill course and Matt didn't need much persuading to come with us as he was on my 2004 Kona Stinky (Did I mention that it is for sale? Anyone want to buy their loved ones a extra Xmas present? Make me an offer!).
This is the first time Matt had gone down the Black run with decent suspension and he looked much more confident, in fact he said he only got off for two bits. I was not feeling well for the last bit so did the last bit to the end on the XC track and really liked how my new bike handled. I think the others needed some more pain so they went off to do it all again, while I had had enough pain so dragged Dad and Matt, screaming and kicking, back home!
I hope we can go to Afan Argoed soon to really try my bike, which is where we would have gone if the Rally GB hadn't been using the same area this weekend.