Nurofen Big Lives Trust

Please vote for me here read below to see why

After my little crash at Llangollen I realised Granddads size and weight is starting to hold me back a little.

Given that he was only built for me to ride for 1 week in the alps back in 2012 he's done me proud.  Neither I or Darrel ever expected me to take up Down Hilling and Granddad has been instrumental in this, so I owe him. 

He was always a bit on the big side for me, and having been built in a era where DH bikes were build to be tough he's rather heavy.  We could do a few things to lighten him up but there is nothing we can do to make him fit better.  Now I'm trying more technical tracks the fit is really starting to show as I can't move around on him as well as I can on a bike which is the right size.

But more than this, Granddad is irreplaceable, I know from other Super 8 owners experience, that Santa Cruz no longer have the parts to repair him if I break anything, even the mech hangers would have to be hand made if I break one.  This old bike has so much sentimental value to both Darrel and I.  He was Darrel's dream bike for many years, up to the point of buying him.  After purchase our weekends were dictated by collecting bits from the bit shop and fitting them and after he was built many a weekend was spent by me standing on a damp welsh hill side while Darrel rode down (me swearing I'd never be so stupid to do 'that'), Darrel even did a couple of XC rides on him with me. I'm sure my ability to put up with cycling stuff was part of the reason Darrel proposed.

So as I've stuck with this DH lark for 11month and 2 weeks and in that time taken part in 6 DH races, I think it's worth the investment in a new bike. Not a new, new bike (unless a miracle happens - keep reading) but new to me.

Over the months I've sat on bikes to see what fits me and what doesn't so I have a good idea, so while not able to ride I started window shopping.  I was while doing this I saw a few posts on Facebook friends pages for the Nurofen Big Lives Trust, now £1500 would go a long way towards a new bike and it was 2 questions, so I entered not expecting to hear anything more from the.

Roll forward yesterday, I was sat in work eating my lunch when my phone rang, it was a London code so thinking it could be my brother I answered it some-what surprised to hear a ladies voice telling me I had been short listed for the fund.  The final decision is down to the public via a facebook vote, so I'm hear trying to justify why I deserve the money and to encourage people to vote for me so here goes.

I could bleat on about how much I love riding DH and how much a new bike would mean, but anyone can do that, so why vote for me.

There's all the bumf about a new bike and why I need one, which is all true.  But why do I deserve a new bike, I'm not particularly good at DH and being realistic taking it up at the age of 35 wasn't my brightest idea. 

Here are a few unique reasons I should get your vote.

The reason I deserve a new bike is I really want to try harder tracks, I do actually want to get better.  I'm fed up of being a wimp, all my life I've taken the easy options on a MTB, if the going got tough I got off and pushed and I don't want to be that person any more. 

I've got to that age where I've lost my self-consciousness and don't care if people see I'm scared and I don't worry about coming last as long as I don't let myself down by giving up.  This last year of riding DH, I've pushed myself mentally and physically beyond my normal limit and I know I'm a better person both on and off the bike for it.  I'm riding down tracks that I never dreamed I could and although I'm scared the sense of self achievement at doing it has pushed me further than I ever thought possible.  I've found belief in myself, something I've lacked all my life and it's amazing to have confidence in me. 

I would also love to see more women riding and ultimately racing DH, when I first started last year, I was too scared even to talk to the other ladies in my class, I had a preconceived misconception that they were all butch manly tough types (sorry ladies) who would think I was giving women DH'rs a bad name by screaming and swearing my way down a hill.  How wrong I was, they are lovely, welcoming and amazing women united by a love of hurling themselves down steep hills... These women have encouraged me, welcomed me and become amazing friends over the year, and I'd love to introduce more females to this wonderful sport and the absolutely amazing people who take part in it.  By racing and getting more publicity through competition I'd hope that I can encourage more women to ride DH, even pushing for votes to secure this award I hope to encourage more women to realise that DH is for everyone.

£1500 will go a long way towards a new DH bike for me.  I'm not after the newest Carbon V10, that would be wasted on me, what I'd like to buy is a newer entry level bike to show others that you don't need to spend thousand to race.  By getting this award, I can continue putting my money into racing and promoting women's DH through the posts on the Nurofen Facebook pages (part of the condition of the award is that they follow your 'big life'), my blog and through Loeka Clothing, whom I'm an Ambassador for. 

A new bike for me won't just last a few months, it won't be a fleeting experience that  afterwards all thats left is photos in an album and fond memories, a new bike will probably out last me.  My current DH bike has been in my family for 10 years, I still ride my GT mountain bike which I brought 15 years ago.  For me the prize will be a long term investment that even if I change in 5 years time the bike will be passed on to some-one else to start out on.

So please vote for me people here