Harry Widdowson: Riding

Share

The feeling when rider and bike seem to act in unison; an extension of body; one with the machine…All the cliché statements we use to try to describe that feeling we search for as riders – I have been feeling that lately. I have owned a fair number of bikes now from downhill rigs to fixies, spanning at least 20 years, and I have great memories on (almost) all of them. But inevitably, there are favourites.

I have always found it impossible to predict how much I will like a bike when I build it up. Of course, any new build is exciting and after so many bikes I know roughly what I like,
but there are no guarantees that the latest and greatest will immediately supplant my former steed; no assurances that more money spent or care taken will result in a new favourite.

And so, along with a great deal of excitement, I was filled with trepidation when my HB130 arrived last year. What if I don’t gel with it? What if I cannot find that ephemeral feeling of flow?
Am I worthy of such a machine? My fears were unfounded.

First off, the bike is very pretty. It is impossible to describe the feeling of unboxing an HB130. As a designer for a climbing equipment company with many similar manufacturing processes as Hope,
and as a long‐time bicycle enthusiast, it is the attention to detail and sheer manufacturing complexity that really hit me. The HB130 is a work of art. The combination of machined/bonded aluminium rear end and the raw carbon finish of the front triangle had me smitten from day one.

Being my first ‘proper’ 29er, it took me a handful of rides to get used to the HB130. It may not be the longest/slackest/lowest bike out there, but it was certainly a step up for me in length.
I immediately felt at home with the slightly steeper angles and appreciate how lively this bike is on the trail. North Wales doesn’t offer the rowdiest trails in the country nor the most mellow but we have a good mix to go at and the HB130 loves it all.

Just over a year on and we are getting on swimmingly. The shorter travel platform has brought out a playfulness in my riding that I haven’t felt since my skatepark days and, combined with the extra traction from big wheels, I have been smashing corners and off‐camber sections with an ear‐to‐ear grin. Recently, things really seem to have clicked and I am really excited to see what 2021 will bring to my riding. I always assumed that I wouldn’t be learning new skills on the bike past 25 and I am glad I was wrong! This rig rips and has brought a whole new level of confidence to my riding.

Thanks Hope!