WORDS CHIPPS

It was summer. Proper summer, the kind of day for a big ride with friends. Everyone was riding fast and feeling great, out on their ‘best’ bikes. Trails were dry and everything was going well.

A couple of riders led the charge on the last descent; a tricky, but fast zigzag trail back to the valley floor. I hung back to take some photos from the top of the trail as rider after rider took off on the track. Camera back in pocket, I did my own attempt at a speedy run – until I came round the third corner to see a bike on the trail and a dazed looking Rob walking back up the track towards it. He’d obviously been going a decent speed; we all were, and he must have caught an edge and shot himself out the front door.