I have to be honest, the mountain bike hasn’t been getting as much use as of late as I would like. A number of reasons account for this severe lack of trail riding time, but the most pertinent is that I’ve been swayed by the world of cyclo-cross race.

I’ve always looked on at this odd sport with suspicion, never seeing the appeal. Me, I’d rather go mountain biking, not racing around a field on a modified road bike. Sounds like my idea of hell.

But here’s the thing. I’ve become strangely addicted this winter. One attraction is, due to living in London, its very time convenient and easy to fit around the other important things in life. And due to ‘cross bikes huge versatility I can ride them on road, then when the fancy takes five off-road through the many parks in South London, where I am based.

True, the trails may not offer the thrills and outright adrenalin rush that the mountain biker inside me craves, but ridden on a lightweight and extremely rigid road bike with narrow knobbly tyres and wholly ineffective brakes, these otherwise tame trails become quite the thrill.