EIGHTYPSI PORTSMOUTH

This edit was filmed over the weekend of this year’s DJ memorial ride. This is a ride that I haven't attended for many years and nearly didn't this time either, luckily though I have a solid group of friends that enabled me to make the 6 hour journey there and back as well as giving me somewhere to sleep for the night.

Friends are what make riding so important to me. Many of the finest human beings that I have ever met are riders. They don't all ride trials anymore, many of them have never ridden trials, but they do roll on two wheels. It seems that this passion alone breeds a special kind of person who is always willing to go that extra mile for you or anyone. Whether it be to add a few hours onto their journey so they can get you to the ride, or whether it be driving almost the length of England just to have a pedal and a drink for your birthday. The only explanation I can come up with is that we all know that freedom you experience when you ride your bike. We all know the feeling of elation when you stick a line that you've tried for hours. We all know how much satisfaction you get from earning that knuckle bump when you pull out all the stops and 'send it'.

Now, the weekend that I spent in Portsmouth was a great chance for me to catch up with some old friends, I even got to make some new ones, which is awesome. But it was a memorial ride, so there was a point when some reflection took place. The ride was primarily a memorial for DJ and it always will be. Unfortunately though, there are many other riders that were in our thoughts that day. Whilst bicycle riders are an incredible breed this does not take away their mortality and so there are many of our friends that couldn't ride that weekend. There are also many riders that I will never get the opportunity to meet, nor will I ever get to bump knuckles with. These guys will never be forgotten and will never stray from our thoughts. The only fitting way I can see of honouring their memory is to pick up your bike and ride until it hurts. So I'd like to propose that you take a look out your window and check the weather, if it's sunny, go ride and watch this later.

Otherwise, I hope you enjoy...