Ah, the onset of middle-age young Al. When a man's attention is drawn to dangerous exploits in a weak attempt to prove to no-one in particular that the spirit is still willing. Yes, I wear the middle-age badge with pride and enthusiasm. I have the car, the bikes, the boat, the receding hairline, the astonishment of the proliferation of tatoos, the preference for Radio 2 and the total absence of knowledge of any of the recipients of this year's Brit awards. The gym membership currently runs to something like 50 quid per visit and I now fancy women whom I'd not have given a second glance to just 5 years ago. This year's skiing holiday will include 2 days snowboarding as well as trying blading for the first time. I'll once again grow a goatee whilst something less than mindful that a grey beard looks wrong. Most of all, I'll be the one boring everyone back at the chalet that skiing pistes just doeasn't do it for me any more despite the fact that I'll be scared shitless most of the day.
Jump biking - embraced it for the first time last year and shall be doing more in the Pyrenees later this year whilst ignoring the aches from the ribs, shoulder and foot broken during the previous year's attempts to fight the ageing process by attempting a far too ambitious see-saw jump.
Keep the faith and keep it artificial.

Nice article, but where are the credits for using my photos eh Mr Leigh?! ;-)

"Pics by James Dymond"

Al is not a man given to hyperbole in his acknowledgements, obviously.

D'oh, ignore me! I knew I shouldn't have come to work at all today...

Great article Al.
My group of middle aged XC riders are going through just this transformation and it's great to see the experience put into words.

He's only gone all jumpy because he can't ride up hill any more!!! Isn't that right, Al?

Maybe it's all part of a midlife crisis (I'm on about my 4th) but I know exactly what you mean. I've booked some flying lessons at Aston and then on to Chicksands. Can't wait! Hope to see you there.

Bloody good write up and I fully understand ............ but then again I am 44 ;-)

awesome article...

the same is happening to me... but i cant write as well as that.

my current venue for fear, gross displays of ineptitude and generally becoming a member of the "old men just mucking about on bikes" club is wharncliffe... i highly recommend it at this time of year, although it's not in good condition it's basically deserted.....and the ground is softer at this time of year.

i saw the light by way of a XC holiday in morzine last year...the xc lasted a day!

Cool article, wheres the clubs credits for building the stuff!!!

help us to help you!!

Suspension is the anti-aging remedy. More travel and fatter tyres = less pain. Dropping off the kerb hurts these days on a hard tail.

Ah, tremendous article.
I too want to get a little air time (and am in my early 30s) but my enormous 21 inch cross country scoot balks every time its wheels leave the dirt and threatens to fling me over its dizzyingly steep head tube.
Can anyone make any recommendations at what I should be looking at - I'm assuming a small hardtail with a longish travel fork?? I am 6'4'' though?? I can't be spanding masses on a full sus behemoth that needs a team of horses to town it hill either!
I'd be interested to know what Al was riding on at chicksands?

apologies for the shocking typing BTW.

tim, dialledbikes prince albert and a set of 130mm z1's (or vanillas) decent rims and a nice fat tyre.

works for me http://gallery130951.fotopic.net/p11791514.html

sorry haven't mastered links yet.

For drops and jumps I'd have thought the Prince Albert would be a bit XC orientated. Something like a Chameleon or and Orange Zero would be more like it.

I've just turned 30 and find myself being more aggressive and hop, skip and jump as I get older. My first step to the dark side just happened by getting a Cotic Soul and a 125mm fork. Won't be long before I'm 'hucking' in Wharnecliffe with the teenagers!

It sounds as though a hardtail is the right tool for the job from what I'm reading here. This is not going to bode well with the wife. Would a Whyte 46 be ok as this is what I intend to use for jumping and drop-offs? My hardtail is a cannondale caad 5 which I wouldn't have thought would be up to the abuse.

i wouldn't use a 46 mainly because for me the saddle can't be lowered enough, but that may not bother you though being so tall.

NOOOOOOOO!

Whyte 46 is an XC bike with XC angles and designed for XC impacts only. You need something stronger and more relaxed.

If it's a budget thing then try looking at the DMR/Planet X hardtails. Or the On-One Gimp. Good strong steel stuff - you know it's right.

Actually the Gimp has pretty tight angles, like most DJ bikes.

Oh dear...looks like I'll have to go through that "I must have this bike/frame or my life won't be worth living" story again. I promised the 46 would be the last. Looks like I should have invested in some roses today. Thanks for advice, at least I have some wheels that should do.