Me and the boy wonder hit Adel again - after the last time we had an impromptu mess about before an XC session and I came over all queer at the sight of some dusty table tops running through the woods... So this time fully kitted up with a cheaper than cheap hard tail build. Man... the bike felt f*ckin weird. I've been spoiled... But I'd also forgotten how much of a grin you can get from getting through a pack of jumps smoothly. First time I've ridden a hardtail in years and after tweaking my ankles the first time I came up short - no give back there at all...

I wondered if this gnarled tree wasn't too old for this shit and started to remember why I'd gone over to full suspension - buggerd wrists and knees! But after some perseverance and a few more runs it all started to come back. Buzzin. Rob wasn't so sure and was pining a bit for his bouncer but I'm a born again jump bunny. That 24seven Gack frame is the best 36 quid I've spent in ages. Can't even get a DH tyre for that these days. Don't get me wrong - downhill isn't dead... Just good to mix it up a bit innit.