Exercise Typhoon Ridgeback was a mountain biking weekend ran in the midlands over the 5 and 6 Nov.

Saturday saw 7 bursars head to Sherwood pines, outside Mansfield. After waiting for OCdt Burton to finish his 7^th bacon and egg cob, we set off on the 16km Kitchener trail. The trail was a tough cross country route and recent rain had made the trail extremely muddy and consequently very physically demanding. Halfway round the trail was a bike park, giving everyone the chance to test their courage on a series of jumps and north shore features- large wooden structures to ride on. 

The Sunday saw 6 bursars meet early for a McDonald’s breakfast to fuel up for the coming day, before heading to Cannock Chase, near Wolverhampton. OCdt Elliott was excited to try out his new blue lenses for his glasses, which promised to “Enhance shadow definition.” The 24km Cannock Chase trails contrasted well to Sherwood Pines, consisting of gruelling uphill sections, followed by tight twisty down hill sections closely flanked by trees. As confidence and skill grew everyone started taking the quite technical sections with increased speed and style. All finished the weekend saddle sore but smiling.