Locals: Michael Yaxley

In this week's LOCALS feature we catch up with University student Michael Yaxley from Durham along with his Cove Peeler and Cannondale RZ 140 trail bike.

Name: Michal Yaxley
Location: Preston, Durham in term times
Job: Unemployed (student)
Bike: Cove Peeler and Cannondale RZ140

How long have you been riding?
I've been mountain biking seriously for about 3 years, before then I would just mess about on a local hill with my brother, or do some really tame biking on fire roads in the lakes.

How often do you ride?
Currently not at all, I haven't ridden for about 4 months because of dislocating and breaking my kneecap. More recently I've been using an exercise bike and a turbo trainer. Before my injury it would be once or twice on local trails in Durham, and every other week or so we'd go out to somewhere a bit more interesting.

What bike are you currently riding and talk us through your set up?
My trail bike is a Cannondale RZ140 with Fox float front and back, 2x9 XT drivetrain with a bash guard, superstar AM wheels, 760mm atlas bars and avid elixir brakes (on their way out). My downhill bike is a Cove Peeler, it's absolutely bomb proof and has some sweet blue/purple pearlescent paint. I've stuck some 2011 Fox 40's on it, a fox DHX5 shock, saint cranks, x9 drivetrain with an extra wobbly derailleur, hope wheelset and XT brakes.

What types of riding do you normally do?
I mostly ride trail and singletrack because there's plenty of it, and generally more people tend to do it. Ideally I'd do a lot more downhill though as it's what I love the most, and as soon as my knee lets me I'll be looking to enter some more races.

What was the last new bit of gear on your bike?
I bought some orange Superstar AM wheels that were on offer for my Cannondale but have yet to ride them! For my Cove it was the fox 40's, which I bought second hand from some guy in Denmark.

What's your favourite part on your bike?
My favourite part on my Cannondale would be the frame itself, it's got a great geometry for an AM bike, it's mega light and it's great for bombing downhill. On my Cove it would be the Fox 40's which will take absolutely anything you throw at them, and have endless adjustments

What are your local trails?
My local trails in Durham are the singletrack that's scattered around, and a couple of short downhill runs. It can be great fun, but in the wet it just turns to grease and becomes insanely sketchy! We're also very close to Hamsterley which is awesome for both DH and trail riding.

What other bikes do you own?
I have a Voodoo Shango dirt jump bike which I used to use to commute to lectures every day, and also just mess about on the streets with, it's super fun.