Top image credit: Sofia Creatve Co
For years, Big Bear Bikes-supported enduro racer Mat Wright has been chasing a top-three finish at the UK's biggest mountain bike festival. Mechanical problems, crashes and near misses have all conspired to keep him off the podium at Ard Rock.
This year, everything finally came together.
Riding his new Trek Fuel MX, Mat put together a fast, consistent weekend to claim second place in the Veteran Male category, just 11 seconds behind the winner. It's a result that means a lot after so many attempts.
We caught up with him to talk about finally standing on the Ard Rock podium, what makes the event so special and why he's convinced that less bike can sometimes be more.
It feels brilliant. I've been trying to get on that podium ever since the event first started, so it's been a long time coming. Whether it's been mechanicals, crashes or just not being quick enough on the day, I've always found a way to miss out. To finally bag second place after all those years is really satisfying.
Credit: Digital Downhill
There's just such a great atmosphere. It draws thousands of people over the weekend and I honestly don't think there's another event like it in the UK.
The stages are incredibly fast, rocky and long, which makes it a proper challenge. Living where we do, we don't have hills on that scale to train on, so it always pushes you out of your comfort zone.
It was brilliant. I actually missed last year's event after breaking my ribs in practice, so I never got to ride the new stage.
This year I rode it blind, which was equal parts fun and terrifying! It turned out to be one of my favourite stages of the weekend.
Thankfully it was a pretty clean and uneventful race. Apart from a few '**** yourself' moments, which are pretty much part of the course at Ard Rock, everything went to plan.
Sometimes that's exactly what you need at an event like this.
Credit: Steve Baxter
I'm riding the new Trek Fuel MX this year with 160mm front and 150mm rear travel, so it's actually got less travel than my previous bikes.
For a while I've felt that we're all maybe riding more bike than we really need, so I decided to go with a shorter-travel set-up and I'm loving it. It pedals incredibly well but still has everything I've needed, whether that's racing Ard Rock or riding somewhere like Golfie [Caberston Forest in the Tweed Valley, Scotland]. At no point have I felt under-biked.
It's definitely one of the highlights. I've wanted an Ard Rock podium for years, so finally achieving it means a lot.
Hopefully, I'll be able to get an entry for the Croquet Classic, then it's on to the Naughty Northumbrian in September.
Congratulations Mat from all the team at Big Bear Bikes. Here’s hoping for more podium finishes this year!
