EZO BLOG

For us, this is the biggest bike event we attend here in the UK, a haven for all things “wheelie cool” (did we really just write that?), a collection of the brand new, the famous and the infatuated masses.

We roll into a sun soaked Brands Hatch at 9am on a Saturday morning to find the place literally swarming with all manner of bright eyed bike-fans wandering in, gawping at the beast that Future Publishing has created. For the 2nd year running they take over one of the premier motor racing circuits in the UK (Donington last year) and fill it to the brim with non-stop bike based action for a whole weekend.

Roadies, DH’ers, XC’ers and Dirt jumper’ers from the deepest darkest corners of the UK come together for a weekend of shiny new parts, stunt displays, and of course the hypnotic rubber-necking that only the likes of Steve Peat and the Atherton’s can command.

Whilst we were mainly there to see bikes going upside down through the air, we did witness the Cancer research ride round the Brands Hatch circuit, the purpose built dual course which was torn apart by the pro’s (Michal Prokop eventually took the win) and the immense trade village bursting with promotional freebies. Caffeine, everywhere…literally in everything, probably even in the clothing.

Saturday day was show time for the air cyclists, busting out all but their biggest tricks for the assembled crowds baking on the grassy knoll. Big jumps crafted by some of the best trail builders in the country + 20 of the UK’s premier riders = serious entertainment. Riding over, shower, Madison party, beer, hog roast, sleep.

Sunday is a sleepy start, bleary eyed riders stumbling out of tents zombie-ing it to the food area in a bid to soak up some of the Madison party juice from the night before. The King of Dirt round was an early one – 9:30am was the scheduled start time. K.O.D, a version of P.I.G eventually started. A pair of riders battling it out against other pairs to complete tricks pulled from a hat. If they failed to perform the desired stunt, they would gain a letter of the word K.O.D. Ryan Nangle and Chris Smith eventually taking the win.

Then we get to the big one, the invitational, the big ca$h money prize comp. And in true un-trained journo form, I cannot complete this blog post with a meaningful thing to add, so watch, see and love.

Roll on 2011 ‘cos I need more caffeine and more £9 jack and cokes!