Rough Riderz - The UK's only fully inclusive Downhill Mountain Bike Club
Downhill mountain biking is one of the most exciting sports in the world. It requires fitness, bravery and amazing bike control at scary speeds. Downhill riding is the ultimate test of nerve and bike control. It's about who is the fastest from top to bottom. Which rider has the skill to brake the latest, corner the fastest and ride closest to the edge of their ability?
Race individually against the clock, hurtling down a steep trail over a series of jumps, bumps and drop-offs. The courses can be a mix of natural and man-made obstacles covering a steep descent. These challenges can also include stutter bumps, table tops, bermed or off-camber corners. It's a long, rocky road to the bottom so the bikes used have full front and rear suspension. With plenty of thrills and spills, a helmet is compulsory and body armour is highly recommended!
In the fast-paced world of U.S. mountain bike racing, some members of loose-knit teams have been entering slalom and downhill events regularly for the past two or three years. These are now becoming the riders to beat.
The reason: although the four wheel bikes have no drivetrain, and thus can't be pedalled, their four wheels and low center of gravity give them extra stability in the turns.
On the rough, rutted tracks and trails where such off-road MTB races are typically staged, racers often reach speeds exceeding 30 miles per hour.
Downhill four wheel mountain biking is a fast growing sport among both wheelchair users and able bodied people in the United States and Canada. However, at present there are limited facilities and absolutely no equipment available here in the UK, enabling others to experience the pleasure and benefits of this exciting new sport.
Personal experience of this problem came about after hearing rumours of the sport and desperately wanting to know more about it. After a lot of research I eventually found a centre in Colorado, offering adventure holidays, including fourcross MTB activities. This was the only option available to experience the sport 'first-hand'.
The extreme thrills and enjoyment provided by these bikes convinced me that this amazing sport must be promoted across the UK. This is a 'fully inclusive' sport, for all levels of ability/disability and can be fully integrated within the current downhill mountain bike circuit.
Therefore, even some of the downhill MTB competition events could (and should) include the 'fourcross' bikes too.
