or the secret art of the forest fairies
I have recently been lucky enough to borrow a cross bike (thanks Paul), and wow I didn't realise how much I missed having one.
Venturing out into the recent snow was simply so much fun. It was one of the those halcyon days that should keep my spirits up until the days of the long shadows and cold beers are upon us again. Cross combines so many elements of riding that I love, I have an expression for it called 'Noddy riding'. Around the lanes of Herts abound mile upon mile of green lanes. Forgotten paths with a long history that, in some cases, go all the way back to Roman times. These can be only really explored aboard a Cross machine, although by accident I have done it on my road bike.
The Cross bike I borrowed has a classic mid nineties Norba feel to the bikes handling off road. The Mares comes with Racing Ralphs on it, what a fantastic tyre. Sure footed off road, with good mud clearing properties. On the road they were a beast, which is no bad thing as the extra resistance becomes welcome in a sadistic interval training way.
I'll be sad when it goes back as it has been really fun to ride. Never once have I been Cross when riding her, just happy.
