Hmmmm

How dare they tell a girl she can't eat chocolate!!

I was beginning to think they'd done the same thing with mountain biking. 5 days of riding in 3 places and only on the last did I see any other girls riding downhill (There were 3 at Innerliethen) and only 2 or 3 riding xc at each place. There are a LOT more people riding mountain bikes here than in Oz so I thought I'd see more girls. But it seems, that per capita, there are fewer girls riding here in Britain than in Oz. In Australia we usually get 5 to 10% girls at events, here it looks like it might 1%. Not many - what is the secret to getting more girls riding mountain bikes?

Fish

Yes - it had to be done, after all we are in the home of fish and chips!

It was not the best I've had - that was in Devonport in NZ.

Fantastic view

Fantastic view at Innerleithen after the fog cleared.

Fear and fun

"I feel like a British soldier going to Afghanistan - totally unprepared" said one of the blokes on the bus going up to the top of the Innerleithen trails in southern Scotland. That pretty much sums up how I felt on 3 of the 4 trails there.

Tight, steep, twisty, rooty, rocky, in the trees all the way down the track, unlike anything I'd encountered in Oz.

Friendly

Bike rack in the lounge in Wales and a beaut bike shed in the back yard in Scotland.

Fun, fun, fun!!!

2 days of riding at Cwmcarn - perfect weather! Great views! 20 minute shuttle drive. Steeper, longer and faster than Forest of Dean (but not as hard or long as Glenorchy back home) Lots of fun!!!

That's me on the start ramp

Biggest castle in Wales at Caerphilly

First ride

Joel at Forest of Dean. Lovely pine forest trails, a few steep sections, lots of rots, lots of fun!! Great uplift service called Flyup Downhill. Search for them on Facebook and check out the latest ed of Dirt Magazine - apparently they published my email to them about coming to the UK. The chap running it was telling everyone about us being there!

Tintern Abbey - circa 1269