XC to DH In A Day

At MoreDirt we often reminisce about our first experience of DH. With that memory becoming hazy over the years and some interest from a seasoned xc rider of trying out DH we thought we would set up an experiment. The twist here was that Gerardo was from Costa Rica and only visiting with work for a few days so a rapid trip to the Forest of Dean to use their mini DH tracks and uplifts was planned. Body armour and helmet were borrowed, a trail bike was lent and we were all ready for Gerardo's arrival. Our guinea pig was now slouch or softie however; a regular rider of xc in the mountains of Costa Rica, a rock climber, a disaster team leader and an ex pan-American karate champion meant the boy could take the knocks so we didn't feel too worried throwing him into the mix. The weather was glorious, the trails dry, the gods were kind and Gerardo survived (albeit with a bruised rib and swollen knee from a cartwheel down the corkscrew track). Here is his original take on the day which we hope encourages many of you to give DH a go with whatever bike you have to hand. "Today I dressed up like a ninja turtle and dropped in 15 times through a beautiful forest near Wales. Downhill riding is better than surfing, because they take you uphill nonstop and you do not have to sit waiting for the right wave, checking for sharks!! Travelling fast through the forest, trying not to leave your teeth in a tree trunk sure needs extreme focus and skills. As it was my first time (downhill virgin?) I probably looked like I was in slow motion, although in my head, I kept shouting "Don't Die!, Don't Die" on my first run. In the afternoon and towards the end of the day, when the legs were a little shaky and the lunchtime hamburger refused to settle in my stomach I was getting quicker. Somewhere in the middle, I enjoyed the trails like a kid, and dreamed off flowing on the runs like the other cool ninja turtles around me. These guys disappeared in the woods the moment I'd brake for a nanosecond, but what can you do? Only try to go faster, until it was too fast to control. Good thing I had an armour, as on my only fall I did a number on several moving parts (and others not so movable) in such a way, that my flight tomorrow from London to New York and then Costa Rica is going to be ... quite interesting... :) Anyway, nothing our good friends the pharmaceutical companies can not take the edge off with pills of all colours. Can't wait to tell my surfing, climbing, biking, tennis buddy (my son!) back in Costa Rica that we need to take up DH mountain biking, which will have to include buying the proper horse (bike) and ninja outfit... Not a pretty prospect, judging from the high tech stuff I saw and needed to stay alive, but ...hey!...you can't win them all, can you!?! Thanks to James and MoreDirt. for a superb and memorable day!" Gerardo Huertas