Bugger!

The word "bugger" typed itself across my visual memory as I saw the ground looming towards me. At first I was pleased that the front wheel of my bicycle had stopped after the huge drop off, if anything it rolled backwards a little. Unfortunately the rest of the bicycle was still in motion... with me on it. I rolled clear after breaking my fall squarely on my head and counted my lucky stars as they orbited my head punctuated by small tweeting birds. It took a while to shake the ringing noise out of my ears and count my limbs. Nothing broken thankfully. Crash helmet? Wouldn't be without it. Hot bath for sore limbs, cold beer for sore head.

The Moon

I'd love to spend my whole blog talking about music and motorbikes but the plain fact is that I do many other things besides.
A huge portion of my time is spent on a bicycle. I live in the mountains so mountain biking is a bit of a no-brainer; it keeps me fit and it's a thrill buzzing down hills at speed. Mountain bikers are also a good laugh. They're not completely obsessed with fitness and they like a drink- my kind of people.
I've just come back from a week in southern Spain in the Alpujarra mountains. Its a crazy area of winding hairpins, precipitous gorges and the best mountain-biking I have ever done. I was a bit annoyed that I had to put gears on my bike (even though I could only get 6 on) but after the first day I was glad of it... before every amazing downhill there is usually a punishing climb.
This picture was taken after a gruelling 10k road climb from a ski resort to the top of the Valetta pass. I managed it without a stop but it nearly killed me, not least because the air was quite thin at the top. The payoff was a 40k downhill from the moonscape at the top, through sweeping double-track, into rocky medieval roads and finally to fast single-track through forests, scrub and farmland. I was shaken to bits by the end of it but was high on endorphins. Cooling off in the pool with a beer was the perfect end to the ride. There were four other days of equally awesome riding and a day spent abseiling through a canyon. I would recommend it to anyone... www.ciclomontana.com.