So where did it all begin?

Well the love of the cycling started way back in the 70’s with trips ‘round the block’ on a Raleigh Tomahawk with a lollipop stick in the spokes (for legal and safety reasons we sadly can’t encourage this now – back then we only had our mums to tell us off). It then progressed onto a Grifter XL looking damn cool (no really!) in black with red laser decals and onto a five year flirt with road bikes until the MTB bug bit in around 1988. And I have to admit it bit pretty bad. I came out with a terrible dose of head to toe lycra.

From the initial skinny tubed (tange prestige ultimate) Team Marin to a classic GT Zaskar LE (the US made version) then a Specialized Rockhopper, things moved on more recently to the first full suspension bike with a much loved Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Pro. Being mechanically minded and keen to know my bikes were set up just how I like them they were all personally and meticulously maintained along the way with the 17 year old Zaskar still going strong and now turned into an urban bike for when the trails aren’t an option. We now ride the amazing new RC305XCAM and RC405XCAM bikes as part of our link up with Pace Cycles.

The terrain in the past has been equally varied from creating linked local bridlepath rides with friends and a bunch of OS maps to racing in the Forest of Dean, Lightwater Valley and Bolton (yes Bolton) on bleak January days. In around ‘95 we discovered the Alps (see www.bigbearalpine.com for more info), spending weeks in the French and Swiss resorts and watching the whole summer scene develop over there. More recently the North York Moors and Dalby Forest have become our playground and we're sure we'll still be finding new trails when we have to put the stabilisers back on!

Along the way I met a soulmate who grew to share my love of mountain biking (possibly out of necessity) and snowboarding, who I married (crazy chick) and who gave us two amazing children – one of whom, at 4 years old did the green loop at Dalby - the other, at 2 years old is already scooting along nicely on a 'Like a bike'. Future UK Olympic golds? You never know! :o)

So that’s how we got here and decided that there’s more to life than boardrooms and business travel. We live in one of the most amazing areas of the country for mountain biking and work with some wonderful people and businesses.

Want to know more about what you’ve seen? Have a burning question or just want to chat?

Call or text us on 01751 475111 or drop us an email at info@bigbearactive.co.uk

Look forward to hearing from you.

Ok, enough reading, it's time you were ‘on yer bike’! :o)

Big Bear Active