On Any Friday #4: Forest of Dean Uplift

A quick snapshot of who is on the Forest of Dean uplift wagon, on…err…any Friday.

The Fozzer of Dozzer is really kicking off these days as a destination for mini downhills and general hooning about. We nipped over on Friday to see who was bunking off work for a day of downhill uplifts.

Get in touch with www.flyupdownhill.co.uk to book yourself on the wagon!

Name: Emily Retallick
Age: 26
Job: Accountant
Where do you live: Woodford Halse, Northamptonshire

What bike are you riding: Specialized Camber Expert 2011

What types of riding do you do? XC since I was about 14, but now exploring more downhill stuff and had a go on some 4x and dual tracks

Where do you usually ride?
Haven’t really got a usual spot, all a bit flat round Northamptonshire! I tend to do a bit of exploring round the country whenever I have a free weekend. Grew up riding the South Downs as lived down near Brighton until I was 19. This past year, been up to the Lake District for a week, Peak District (Derwent) for a weekend, also ventured to Wharncliffe Woods, Yorkshire Dales, Wyre Forest, the Chilterns, Dartmoor, Chicksands bike park and spent a few weekends at FOD over past few months after discovering the marvellous service of FlyUpDownHill’s uplift.

Who do you ride with?
Nearly always my husband, Eliot. Quite often when I venture round the North it is with my brother, Andrew and his missus, Niki. We also have a small group of friends who usually come to FOD and anyone else who we can persuade to come out really!

Favourite FOD track?
Umm, depends on the day! This Friday it was Sheepskull, but was enjoying Ski-Run and Corkscrew too though.

How come you’ve got a day off?
I get a ‘study day’ each week leading up to exams, on way to being a chartered accountant. So studying the rest of weekend to make up the time off.

Tell me about your bike set up?
My bike is new to me this year, still messing with setup each time I go out, especially fiddling with the rebound on the Fox Triad shock.
I found so far that I have not wanted to really change anything on the Camber, meets all my needs as standard, the 120mm Rock Shox Reba as of yet, handle my abilities more than sufficiently as do the Avid Juicy 5 hydraulic brakes.
My one moan is that I am in need of a chain guide as the chain keeps bumping off at FOD.
Only thing I have changed on the Camber since I bought it are the pedals, now fitted DMR V8 pedals (which have been the cause of the only injuries sustained out mountain biking since I’ve bought this bike, wouldn’t change them though).

What tyres are you running?
Currently on Specialized S-works tyres which came with the Camber, I will be investing in some more wintery tyres in the very near future though.

Tell me about your week?
Not very thrilling, work all week at accountancy practice in Leamington, bit of studying, the odd run or kayaking or in the evening helping out my husband at his rally preparation business – 3D Motorsport, then come the weekend either out on the mountain bikes or moto x bikes.

Name: Chris Dowling
Age: 26
Job: Director of a small garage, MOT tester & Mechanic
Where do you live: Cheltenham

What bike are you riding: 2010 Trek Session 88 for Downhill, Lapierre Zesty 314 for XC & although its now for sale a Yeti DJ with fox 831′s.

What types of riding do you do? Downhill & 4X but recently XC/Enduro & Downhill

Where do you usually ride? Forest of Dean & Cwmcarn

Who do you ride with? Whoever is around for downhill, & one mate for XC.

Favourite FOD track? The new one, Good Bad Ugly.

How come you’ve got a day off? I own the business but haven’t actually taken much time this year

Tell me about your bike set up? The Trek is pretty standard other than wider bars (but not silly wide) I was lucky enough to get free X0 brakes due to a warranty fault & Crankbrothers SPD as I find it hard to ride without them due to a old injury meaning I stand duck footed.

What tyres are you running? For this Friday I used Maxxis Wet Screams, which although works well on the rear the conditions needed to be much wetter, & I was running 2.2 instead of 2.4, which limited the control.

Tell me about your week? Crap week, only made better looking forward to riding & the ride itself, which even the rain at the end of the day could not spoil.

Name: Josh Preston
Age: 28
Job: Carpenter
Where do you live? Exeter

What bike are you riding? Orange Big T custom

What types of riding do you do? Downhill, motocross.

Where do you usually ride? I do a lot of traveling around, but Gawton woods, Tavistock is the place I spend most time.

Who do you ride with? Chris (I’m too old for this shit) Fairburn, Daniel son and Jayson aka Bryn from Gavin and Stacey. HaHa.

Tell me about your bike set up? My bike set up consists of a real old skool hard hitting simple frame from Orange, mixed together with modern day upgrades.

What tyres are you running? Maxxis Minion on the front, Maxxis High Roller on the rear, both 26x 2.5

Tell me about your week? My week consists of going to work mostly. Manage to get a ride night in once a week, depending on the weather usualy. Apart from that just chill and watch movies, football etc. until the weekend comes, then I always get a ride on the motocross bike sorted, and go out on the downhill bikes whenever the lads are out.

Name: Gary Hunter
Age:35
Job: Data Communications Engineer
Where do you live: Sunderland

What bike are you riding: Specialized Demo 2011

What types of riding do you do? Mainly downhill

Where do you usually ride? Hamsterley Forest

Who do you ride with? Chainsmokers crew

Favourite FOD track? Top section corkscrew onto ski run

How come you’ve got a day off? I’m self employed.

Tell me about your bike set up? DH ring set at slackest, also like to run a quick rebound.

What tyres are you running? High Rollers

Tell me about your week? Mon-Wed work. Thurs and Fri ride…Happy days.

Will you be back? Definitely next year with all the boys.

Name: Adam Cole
Age:24
Job: Electrician
Where do you live: Pontypool
What bike are you riding: Cube fritzz

What types of riding do you do? Trails, bit of dh

Where do you usually ride? Cwmcarn

Who do you ride with? Friends and family

Favourite FOD track? The newest dh track with the big ass drops

How come you’ve got a day off? No comment lol

Tell me about your bike set up? 160mm travel, rockshox lyrics,1×10,e13 chain
tensioner,raceface bashgaurd and cranks, truvativ 40mm stem with funn fatboy 710mm bars, formula rx brakes

What tyres are you running? High rollers

Tell me about your week? Flat out like a lizard drinking