Showing just how popular mountain biking is becoming, 2008 womens World Mountain Bike champion Rachel Atherton overcame some strong opposition to be named BBC Midlands Sportswoman of the Year.
Rachel said: “I was really surprised at winning as it was such tough competition, but delighted and honoured!”
Rachel who was also nominated for ‘Personality of the year’ alongside brother Gee claimed the award in front of a star studded audience.
She collected her award looking fantastic in a strapless dress - showing you can ride bikes and still be feminine and look amazing!
Early the next morning we headed up to the Singletrack offices in Calderdale. We heard a rumour they served the best coffee of all bike mags, and can confirm that it is pretty great coffee – made even better by fresh éclairs and apple turnovers. They then sorted us out with a pretty fun route to fill the afternoon. A little bit muddy, but some great bits of trail, fantastic views and a great way to spend an afternoon.
The evening was spent in a great pub in Hoole Cheshire with some more friends Gemma and Andrew. And yet more great food.
On Tuesday morning, Guy, Rich and I left Morzine for some mountain biking in Italy. We spent Tuesday afternoon riding some great tracks at Pila, before driving to La Thuile to stay Tuesday night. Up early on Wednesday morning we headed off in search of trails. The only disappointment was the two hour lift closure over lunchtime. Still we made up for time lost biking by eating lots and playing with our food (see pictures!).
After a great couple of days mountain biking we headed back to morzine exhausted. I think it’s fair to say we’ll be back though…..
Pictures of the trip are here.
After Friday’s ride I decided to try some more trails I hadn’t ridden in a while. Chatting to guests at breakfast about some routes to ride I realised I hadn’t been up the Col de Bassachaux all summer so Guy and I headed that way. We started out on a muddy, but great fun trail down to lindarets, me wondering why I hadn’t been on it sooner this summer. Once up and at the col we decided to try out a trail neither of us had been on before. It started as perfect Alpine singletrack, traversing the hillside. All going well untill a slip of the wheel saw me putting the wrong foot down and falling backwards down the hill - luckily the bushes were soft and a handy tree was there to grab hold of! We carried on snaking through blueberry bushes until yet again I put the wrong foot down and disappeared backwards into the bushes - at least they tasted good!
After that we rode a trail Guy had done before (but not me) and opted for a new second half - one of the best discoveries of this season. A fantastic mountain bike trail that appears barely ridden. Rocky, rooty, with some tight switchbacks, we had to head up for another go.
After that we descended down to Lindarets, in part on an mtb trail I hadn’t done this year, and then down to Lac Montriond, and back to Morzine.
A great day out rediscovering, and discovering, some fantastic Morzine mountain biking trails!
