Dawn was about to break. Conditions were inclement, damp and misty, more like the hangover of a storm. There was no margin for error. You need nerves of steel to ride over a narrow rocky ledge hanging over a sheer 600 foot dropping down to the waiting rocks and pounding waves of the Atlantic.
Photo: Victor Lucas via Hans Rey
When Hans Rey ventured on a road trip with fellow mountain biking star Steve Peat, the plan was “to ride all the cool biking trails and spots in Ireland and to visit a few pubs along the way.” Yet the Swiss trials rider and multiple World Champion had long had his sights on the Emerald Isle’s legendary Cliffs of Moher.
The problem was that they hadn’t foreseen the Cliffs being quite such a tourist trap by day, nor that the weather would be as adverse as it was. So they postponed their plans until early the next morning, though not without misgivings. “We were well aware of stories of the dangerous upward drafts, strong winds that would sweep the cliffs, and as stories have it, pulled several people down over the years,” said Hans.
The problem was that they hadn’t foreseen the Cliffs being quite such a tourist trap by day, nor that the weather would be as adverse as it was. So they postponed their plans until early the next morning, though not without misgivings. “We were well aware of stories of the dangerous upward drafts, strong winds that would sweep the cliffs, and as stories have it, pulled several people down over the years,” said Hans.
Photo: Victor Lucas via Hans Rey
“Even though it was a stormy day, the winds were calm right on the edge of the cliffs. We got more and more daring. We rode ledges that were only about 4 inches wide and even jumped over 4 foot gaps.” !!!
Photo: Victor Lucas via Hans Rey
“The dangerous part riding the ledge was not to ride too close to the hillside, since we didn't want to catch a pedal on the rocks and high-side down the cliff.” Obviously it takes superlative skill to pull off a stunt like this, and the riders completed their spectacular trail without mishap.
Photo: Victor Lucas via Hans Rey
Of course, the local authorities knew nothing about what was going down on the Cliffs of Moher that cold Irish winter morning. Just for the record, there were no parachutes in their backpacks. Hans concludes. "Mind over matter and the mercy of Mother Nature.”
Surprisigly the Highlands were once covered with trees. Now only about 1% of the forest remains.
Scotland trip around Torridon and Skye with Scotland’s mountain bike holiday experts, Highlands and Islands Adventures.
Hans Rey riding a tight bend at the Quiraing, Skye.
A documentary style VIDEO showing the state of mountain biking and the people that are helping to define the sport. Watch it.
VIDEO: Danny MacAskill discovers Livigno with bike trial legend Hans Rey, in the heart of the Alps.
Well, after seeing and reading about them, I can surely ask myself, Do the helmets make sense ??!!
