Having found my way to Southampton’s Coxford Road, I bag some on-street parking and set off to find the bike park. Running fashionably late due to traffic, when I reach the top of the drop-in, I find there’s a big crew already hanging out there, which is honestly a little intimidating. But that feeling is soon shrugged off once legendary snapper Steve Behr introduces me to today’s riders.
Steve has gathered an impressive group for my first Trail Crew – four legends of the sport, in the shape of Steve ‘Gilly’ Geall, Chris Smith, Ben ‘Deakinator’ Deakin and Grant ‘Chopper’ Fielder – together with upcoming rider Fran Dawson, who’s recently moved to the area. It looks like we’ve lucked out with the weather, too – the light isn’t perfect for pictures, but it’s T-shirt weather in February and the trails look spot-on.
From what I can gather, a lot has changed since were last here. Luis – the brains and brawn behind Southampton Bike Park – informs me of the recent resurfacing work and that the park reopened in November 2022 after
