LOCALS - Julie Fox: Santa Cruz Heckler

In this week's LOCALS feature we catch up with Julie Fox, commonly known as Jules fresh from the latest round of the Mini DH series with her Santa Cruz Heckler.

Name: Julie Fox (commonly known as Jules)
Location: Staines Upon Thames, Surrey
Job: Training Manager for a Cycle Training Provider - also a qualified Cycle Instructor Trainer
Bike: Kona Stuff / Santa Cruz Heckler / Specialized Big Hit / Brompton (this is a work company bike not something I ride by choice ha ha)

How long have you been riding?
7 years

How often do you ride?
2 or 3 times a week

What bike are you currently riding and talk us through your set up?
Used my Heckler at Mini DH at FoD but now have a Big Hit for that which my other half is upgrading with parts from the Heckler. What am I riding at the moment is a hard one because I use them all depending on what I'm doing. For instance when doing cycle training in Primary schools in the week for work I use the Brompton, when riding in my local trail centre at the weekends I use my Kona. If I'm doing a 4X race I use the Kona and when racing DH I will now be using my Big Hit! The Heckler may be retired to a new owner. I did use my Heckler for two whole months last summer when I was working in the Alps but will use the Big Hit for future Alps trips. But I guess my most often used bike for general riding is my Kona Stuff. The Kona set up is Fox RLC 130 forks / Mavic Crossride wheels, spokes & hubs/ Shimano Deore brakes/ XT rear mech / XT shifters / Deore crankset/ DMR V12 pedals/ Outland handlebars / Hope headset/ Maxxis high rollers/WTB saddle.

What's your favourite part on your bike?
Well at the DH race at the weekend it was most definitely my TYRES in all that rain & mud - I used Maxxis Swamp Things. Generally my favourite part on a bike is my forks as they soak up so much with I jump or ride down technical features.

What types of riding do you normally do?
Bit of XC, mainly trail centre stuff as that's what I have closest to me but my preferred riding is DH and 4X and just wished I lived closer to places that offer that riding.

What was the last new bit of gear on your bike?
On the Kona it was some Shimano Deore Brakes, on the Heckler it was the Swamp Things and on the Big Hit is was the whole bike!!!!

What are your local trails?
My local riding is Swinley Forest trail centre in Bracknell which has a bit of everything but I know lots of the old routes in the forest which are more natural than the new trail centre blue and red trails. I have various off-road routes from my house for a quick training blast around and I go and play on my local BMX track for 4X practice.