Inner city growing up is never easy. And when all your mates are out smoking dope and drinking, it's near on impossible to break away from the crowd.
But when one night's innocent chit chat on a street corner in Manchester turned into a riot and left Steven Ball facing prison, he knew it was time to break away.
Here the 21 year old tells how mountain biking has been the hobby he needed to make new friends and break the cycle of drink and drugs.
Continue reading "Mountain biking helped turn my life around" »
TURNING a sporting passion into a viable business is what so many of us dream of doing. And driven by a love of mountain biking and climbing, Jon Barton, 41, has done just that: building up a successful three-pronged business, Vertebrate Graphics, specialising in publishing outdoor titles. 
Here writer Clare Cook gets the low-down on mountain-biking tips, life as an author - and stealing time to ride when his three-and-a-half-year-old son’s not watching!
Continue reading "Mountain biking guides: a chat with Jon Barton" »
THE fittest mountain bikers are increasingly turning to endurance events as a way to let off steam.
And Scotland’s natural beauty, its mountains, lochs, glens, forests and coastline make it a natural home for Adventure Racing and Mountain Biking.
Increasingly, Scotland is hosting a range of national and international events. Last year the Fort William area played host to the Adventure Racing World Championships and a few weeks ago, the Mountain Bike World Cup.
MOUNTAIN Bike Skills, a small mountain biking company operating in the North West of England, had an unusual client this week - straight off the plane from India.
IT consultant Parvinda Singh booked a one-to-one course to further his mountain biking skills - hoping to put what he learns to good test when he returns home.
It appears mountain bike groups are popping up around the south of the city, proving that the sport is growing in the most unlikely of geographic locations.
Continue reading "I flew from India to England to learn mountain biking" »
THE campaign to save trails in Rivington to be open for use by all mountain bikers is gathering speed - with the support of a popular mountain biking club in Manchester.
Reddish Vale Mountain Bikers are supporting the appeal for more rides to be kept open - or even built - around Rivington and offered up valuable advice about their successful campaign near Stockport.
"I am upset over the plans or risks to close off Rivington. and it begs the question what can we do? said Brian Cook, who has raised more than £1million with help from an enthusiastic local community for a new development.
"There's plenty you can do."
Continue reading "Campaign for mountain bike trails in Rivington" »
THERE are risks involved requesting an interview slot with the all-round bike god of the downhill scene.
Will you swoon when he picks up his cell? Will you ask a ‘dumb ass’ question? Or worse. Will anecdotes about Uncle Joes mint balls and Earl Gray simply fail to cut the mustard of a yawning time-zone difference.
Luckily for me, I was interviewing Brian Lopes (that’s Lopes as in slopes not the Jennifer kind) and the man who is described as 'the best all around world class cycling athlete' is generally too cool to worry about funny tasting mints or tea.
He knows what he does best: biking. And apart from a cranky skewer dropping off mid-way through the first World Cup event of 2008, this mega star of the biking world is generally riding high…
Continue reading "Brian Lopes out to win at the World Cup" »
IF you are dusting off your mountain bike or wanting to start off there are several clubs and mountain bike societies you might want to join.
Being part of a club not only gives you an extra kick when you might be feeling lazy, but helps you share knowledge of local trails and excellent rides.
Where skills are concerned, there's also plenty of people to help you out with the basics or warn you when the terrain is likely to get a little more hairy.
Continue reading "Join a mountain biking club in the north west" »
SEEING the real Africa is one of those dreams so many of us mull over but never actually achieve. But we managed our 'trip of a lifetime' thanks to Escape Adventures and mountain biked across Kenya and Tanzania.
It's hard to put into words the sense of freedom you get from a trip like this: cycling up to 90km a day with the wind in your hair and sand in your eyes! This 16-day adventure, though, is the perfect mix of adventure, culture, wildlife and landscapes.
If you want to learn about the land and its animals as well as the culture and some of the best mountain tracks you will come across in your life, then this is for you. Take it all in and
ravel at the pace of Africa on this 16 day mountain bike adventure.
Biking far from busy roads and main tourist routes you will experience a different face of Africa - local villages and traditional tribesmen, breathtaking scenery and wildlife grazing on the plains. We travel through open savannah, desert, mountain rainforest, two game parks and tropical coastline. You follow the foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro with its snow-covered peaks and camp in the wilderness under a cloudless African sky.
Our highlight was without a doubt the Usambala mountains: this is a true garden of eden and routes that will have your eyes popping out of your head. The terrain is technical and challenging and although there is single track you will be able to only see and not ride, there is a good compromise throughout. Ultimately you are in a dangerous strange land and safety has to come first but, believe us when we say, you will end every day thinking you have already got your money's worth
* 12 days biking - 90% on dirt and 4x4 roads, some paved roads, and a wee bit of non-technical single track.
* While most of the riding on this trip is non-technical some off road biking experience will help.
* A good level of fitness will add to the enjoyment of your trip.
* From 25km to 90km per day. Total distance approximately 550km.
The trip details:
* We travel between Dar es Salaam on the Indian Ocean coast and Arusha City in Tanzania.
* 100% vehicle supported. Our trusty support vehicle carries all your luggage, helps you up those hills (if you like) and always has lunch, snacks and water at hand.
* Two Game parks included, Arusha National Park and Ngorongoro Crater included.
* Group size minimum 4, maximum 10 plus Escape leaders and local crew.
* Accommodation is twin share - 1 night in a hotel; and single or double for 14 nights camping. (Upgrades to rooms are available at some campsites at your own expense).
* Food includes 3 meals per day from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast Day 16. This excludes 2 lunches and 2 evening meals which are at your own expense to give you the opportunity to experience local cuisine.
* Includes visit to a rural primary school in Tanzania.
CONTACT US – for a detailed trip itinerary
DEPARTURE DATES FOR 2008
* Sat June 21st to Sun July 6th 2008: Arusha to Dar es Salaam.
* Wed July 9th to Sun July 20th 2008: Dar es Salaam to Arusha. ~ FAMILY TRIP
* Sat Aug 2nd to Sun Aug 17th 2008: Arusha to Dar es Salaam.
* Sat Aug 23rd to Sun Sept 7th 2008: Dar es Salaam to Arusha.
* Sat Sept 20th to Sun Oct 5th 2008: Arusha to Dar es Salaam.
* Sat Oct 11th to Sun Oct 26th 2008: Dar es Salaam to Arusha.
DEPARTURE DATES FOR 2009
(Please note that in 2009 we will be returning to our normal Kenya & Tanzania itinerary).
* Sat June 20th to Sun July 5th 2009: Nairobi to Dar es Salaam ~ UNICYCLING TRIP
* Sat July 18th to Sun Aug 2nd 2009: Nairobi to Dar es Salaam ~ FAMILY ITINERARY
* Sat Aug 8th to Sun Aug 23rd 2009: Dar es Salaam to Nairobi.
* Sat Aug 29th to Sun Sept 13th 2009: Nairobi to Dar es Salaam.
* Sat Sept 19th to Sun Oct 4th 2009: Dar es Salaam to Nairobi.
* Sat Oct 10th to Sun Oct 25th 2009: Nairobi to Dar es Salaam.
PRICES FOR 2008
* Euro €1970 (Plus local payment USD$200, bike hire in country USD$200)
CYCLING in Africa is breathtaking. The trails, the people, the culture. But sadly the recent troubles have meant that even the simple of pleasure or riding through this mysterious land has been disrupted.
Several mountain bike companies operate holidays and tours in Africa, with specific treks that take in not only the game parks but back streets and mountains.
Escape Adventures is one such company that specialises in intimate treks - with particular sensitivity to the local people, economy and culture. Their tours have been set up specifically to help generate income in the poorest areas, and were awarded the status of a Responsible Travel company.
But the troubles in Kenya have disrupted their work.
This year, treks which normally travel from Dar Es Salaam and Nairobi have had to be cut short.
Mandy, owner of Escape Adventures, said: 'The situation in Kenya this year has been a real bummer. The power struggle between two politicians has effected the lives of many and set the country's economy back years. And if things weren't tough enough, the media exacerbated things by exaggerating reports, generalising localised events and replaying old news when they had no new news.'
For anyone who has witnessed life in Kenya first hand, they will appreciate that getting to the heart of the story has not been easy.
The coverage by the BBC is thorough, Riots have been a major problem. Getting a true picture of the situation is not easy but there are a few blogs out there worth reading.
tourism failures
Many adds: 'Over a period of a couple of weeks Kenya went from one of the most reliable economies in Africa, to zero tourism. In Mombassa 120 000 people working in tourism lost their jobs.'
Hope now lies with the presidents.
Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki has announced a new cabinet to cement a power-sharing deal designed to end the country's political crisis following controversial 27 December presidential elections.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga, who said he had been robbed of victory in the poll, has become prime minister under the power-sharing agreement.
Mandy adds: 'Finally with an agreement for two leaders to share power - the situation has calmed although life in some areas must be tough with homes and schools destroyed and the tourism industry ruined. Smiley and the rest of our friends in Nairobi and surrounds are OK although business is much skinnier than before. Unfortunately no one is booking to travel to Kenya this year - so we are leading our trip in Tanzania only this year. It was a hard decision to make (especially at a time when Kenya needs our support more than ever), but with no one travelling to Kenya it was that or nothing for us. We are looking forward to returning to our normal Kenya and Tanzania itinerary again in 2009.'
For more on Escape Adventures see http://escapeadventures.co.nz/
