HANNAH CHRISTIE

1. HOW / WHY DID YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH MOUNTAIN BIKING?

I have been riding since I was a nipper. Growing up and living in the middle of nowhere meant my bike helped me get to the shops, see my mates, get to work and explore. I’ve always loved riding my bike and using it as a way to explore, seek adventure and have fun. I discovered mountain biking when I went to college and uni, studying Adventure Sports.

I participated in a variety of coaching and leadership programs and discovered the love for the mud and technical terrain. In my early 20’s, I completed my degree and moved to North Wales to work for The Outward Bound Trust. Here I found the love for the Welsh mountain and the riding it's fascinating landscape. I’d moved away from chalky slick downlands of Hampshire and West Sussex, to rocky and rooty escapism of Wales. The feeling of freedom, adventure and the unknown has always driven my love for exploring the mountains. Doing this on a bike just made it even better!

2. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? (COULD BE RIDING WISE, IN LIFE IN GENERAL OR ANYONE IN PARTICULAR)

I love to learn, whether it is a skill, experience or awareness. I also have a big imagination and creative mind. As a kid I would look at pictures, watch the world go by, listen or play music and always wonder the endless possibilities. This has pushed me in many directions. It drives my desire for discovery and adventure and enables me to escape to places of comfort, away from day to day life and society. With riding (and other activities), it’s a map. I look at a map and count the opportunities for adventure and exploration.

I read/see the adventures of others and feel a surge to give it a go myself. This also translates to life in general, I see an opportunity and look at how I could achieve that, sometimes I discover it’s not for me, but for the other times it feeds my curiosity. As my riding experience and technique developed over the years I spent my hard earn pennies on the best bike I could afford, and decent kit to help me make the most of those adventures and explorations. I’m looking forward to taking the HB-130 with me and testing it's capabilities.

3. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU SPEND MOST OF YOUR TIME OUTDOORS, WHAT DOES YOUR JOB FOR FORESTRY UK ENTAIL?

I’ve been working for Forestry England as the Cycling and Events Manager for the West District for 18 months now. My role covers our landscape from Shropshire down to Cornwall.

My days are hugely varied with none the same. While I will spend time outside, out and about I also have my fair share of desk time. I manage the Cannop Cycle Centre site in the Forest of Dean, supporting the local cycle ranger in developing the site and it’s facilities. Between Forestry England and The Dean Trail Volunteers (DTV) we are already making some exciting progress with trail refurbishments and redesigns. Our work doesn’t stop at the trails, we work closely with our tenants, Pedalabikeaway and Fly-up Downhill in delivering a varied offer across the site. Away from the centre, I support the rest of the district with its cycling offer and development. I make a point of visiting these sites, speaking to the local staff and riding the trails to help support the teams in their site and forest plans, direction and development.

I also sit on the national cycling forum for Forestry England where I work alongside key stakeholders (British Cycling, Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland, Natural Resource Wales and Forestry Land in Scotland) in cycling development and engagement.

Away from bikes I support the districts permissions team in processing/auditing 3rd party applications across the district. We will host a vast spectrum, from environmental/habitat surveys, volunteer programmes, active forest programmes, educational visits to local/regional/national sporting events and demo days. It is a very busy and challenging role and can be quite reactive at times.

We've certainly found this during the Pandemic. We have seen a massive boom with cycling in recent months, and now have the challenge with educating, facilitating and managing these new visitors to our forests. There are certainly some stories to tell from the past 4 months. We are a close and supportive team. I am loving the change we are making, it’s a long and slow process, but we are already seeing some great changes and developments. The organisation is brilliant to work for. We have some exciting plans ahead in our district, even during these more challenging times.

4. AS AN INSPECTOR OF BIKE TRAILS FOR THE SW YOU MUST HAVE SEEN A FAIR FEW, WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO RIDE AND IN YOUR EYE’S, WHAT MAKES A GOOD TRAIL?

Ooch, a tricky one! I have been so fortunate to of ridden in a such a varied series of landscapes, not just in the South West, but all over the UK.

The Forest of Dean (or FoD to many) as my local riding spot is so varied and great for a day’s adventure. Within our district, I do love Hopton (a Dave Pearce special). It has just the right level of fun and exploration on the Red XC with the opportunity to sneak a few gravity runs in too. The trail itself varies from roots, to rock, mud, puddles. It brings a little bit of the Wales to England. However, my all time favourite place has to be Rostrevor in Northern Ireland. I was over there in December for a conference. I flew my bike over with me to see what Ireland had to offer, and oh my she delivered! A bit of a steep lung busting climb to get the height, but once up, wow, the views over Carlingford Lough were fab! The red trail is surfaced, but has an off-piste finish to it, so you did not feel like you were riding a “trail centre”. It takes you on an adventure, away from the hustle and bustle. You feel the remoteness, even though you’re actually not that far from the cafe (which has an incredible menu……as a foodie, this is important). The run back to the car park, just goes on and on and on, so busting a gut up the climb at the beginning made it so worth while. Taking my trusty steed on discovery, a trail offering adventure variety, distance and authenticity makes it for me.

5. DO YOU HAVE ANY EPIC RIDING STORIES OR AN ADVENTURE THAT DIDN’T GO TO PLAN? (FOR ME THESE ALWAYS SEEM TO BE THE ONES THAT STICK IN THE MEMORY)

When I was 17 I decided on a warm sunny day to take my bike for an adventure. I had a 1998 Raleigh hardtail at the time. I filled up my water bottle, a few snacks, my trusty Nokia 3210, pennies, map, and little repair kit only really big enough to deal with a puncture and took to the road. I told my parents I was going for a bike ride and would only be a few hours. Before I knew it, I had spun about 20 miles from home (which was pretty far as an unprepared 17 year old!).

I decided to eat my Mars bar, then cheese and Marmite sarnie (dessert always first!) before working out the best way home. The South Downs undulates all over the place - my legs were starting to feel tired and my sarnie/chocolate fuel was running low. I was about a 30 minute ride from home, and was making the most of a descent on a remote country byway when a stick ended up flying into my front derailleur. Quickly, my chain froze. I stopped to assess the damage - racking my brains from the little mechanical repair work I had done at college. With my limited repair kit, I realised I couldn't carry out a trail side repair.

With no signal on my phone I had no choice but to walk the bike home. My water had run out, all my snacks had been devoured. It was me and the heavy broken bike. I eventually made it to a main road when my trusty Nokia suddenly started buzzing - it was dad. I answered the phone to be met with “Where the hell are you?”…..gulp, I was in trouble! I tried explaining that my bike had a mechanical. “Wait where you are, I’m driving down now”. He pulled up, picked up my bike to inspect it and soon realised the derailleur had actually broken and the chain was snagged. Not a word was spoken on the way home. My mixed emotions of joy for the recovery versus utter fear that I was in trouble when I got home were short lived. Dad took the bike to his workshop and did some magic. Voila, it was working again! Many lessons learnt, most importantly; fuel yourself properly, don’t be late for tea and have a decent repair kit (or ride with a mechanic)!.

6. YOU’VE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE OF KIT WAS A K9 SPORT SACK. 1 I’D LOVE TO SEE A PICTURE OF YOUR DOG IN IT, AND TWO HOW IS PIPPIN GETTING ON A TRAIL DOG?

We’ve actually got two spaniels, one English Springer, Puzzle and one Cocker Spaniel Pippin. Puzz is the big sister at the ripe old age of 2 with Pippin just over a year old. Pip came to us as a rescue at 4 months old, she had had 3 previous owners before stepping her paw across our door. She is real gem and loves to learn and please. She is a huge poser for the camera and will aim to get all the focus and attention, especially if Puzz is getting some.

The K9 Sport Sack is superb if you’re looking to take your companion further afield, socialise or get them out if insured. We still use it for Pippin to help her fitness develop for running with the bike. I must say she is a natural and fab to have as a trail dog. Puzz on the other hand..…we stick to walking, mainly for my sanity.

7. THERE’S NO ESCAPING THE CURRENT COVID SITUATION, HAS THIS HAD AN EFFECT ON YOUR RIDING?

I made a point of riding less “gnar”. In honesty, when the traffic levels massively reduced I took to my roadie. I got some big miles under my wheels and improved my fitness quite considerably. I’ve had some wicked days out on it, and got quite creative with my routes. I have worked the whole way through the pandemic and made a point of getting to the office/site when I could on my XC bike, making the most of my off-road commute to work. I would often ride to work but I am certainly going to try and do more of it. I am starting to push my riding again off road, it’s been fab getting back into the swing of things on the HB-130 and having the improved fitness to go with it.

8. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT LOCKDOWN HAS UNEXPECTEDLY GIVEN YOU?

Lockdown certainly helped me slow my pace and not charge around so much. I had time to sit and relax at home and spend more time with the dogs too (i’m sure they see it more like bootcamp with all the additional training they’ve been faced with!).

We have explored a lot more of the local area, which has been fun. I’ve also used the likes of FaceTime more to communicate with friends and family. I am not the best with technology but I have found ways for it to help me connect with loved ones. It’s been fab to see friends home projects take shape or meet their new family addition from afar.

9. WHAT WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO DO, WHEN WE’RE OUT OF THE CURRENT COVID SITUATION?

Having worked all the way through this pandemic, I am looking forward to taking some time off and defragging my brain. I’d love to catch up and visit family and friends. My parents have two spaniels too, so booking in spaniel club time is a must.

I also want to head to somewhere remote and quiet, might be a while before then, but I am looking forward to that day. Pippin hasn’t been up a mountain yet, so we need to go and bag her a mountain day. I'm looking forward to taking the HB-130 away on it's first road trip and get exploring.

10. OTHER THAN RIDING, HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SPEND YOUR SPARE TIME?(WE’VE ALREADY TASTED FIRST-HAND SOME OF YOUR BAKING AT THE FACTORY, AND CAN SAY YOUR BROWNIES ARE DELICIOUS!)

It would be rude not to send a parcel of bakes to the crew who sent me a lovely shiny bike, It was the least I could do! I love to cook and bake, I make all my food from scratch including morning loaves of sourdough. I have a little hobby business called Han-Made-Me. I make celebration cakes for weddings, birthdays and suchlike, as well as the odd dinner party. I love being creative and experimenting to see what works and learn new skills. Kids cakes are my favourite to make, they’re full of fun and excitement.

I couldn’t be without sport. When I’m not on the bike I love to be in the mountains - to run, hike, ski, sail and climb. Music is also a massive passion of mine. I grew up playing the piano and flute as well as singing classical and jazz. While I was living in Cardiff I sang with the BBC National Chorus of Wales and made it to the proms with them on a couple of occasions, a wicked experience and memory for life!

I enjoy catching up with friends and getting up to speed with their antics. Where I have worked in many different places, I have friends dotted around the country, so love getting on the road to see them. I’ll always try to make something to take round to feed them up with!

HANNAH RIDES

• A HB130 with the Fox Suspension package.

• A mixture of Orange and black anodised Hope Components

• Running on the Fortus 26 Rim laced to Orange Pro 4 Hubs