First Post - why am I doing this?!!

I've heard about blogging, I've seen blogs and now I'm finally doing it myself!

Why? 

Well two main reasons:

1. For the higher good reasons!

I took a friend and his brother mountain biking for their first time at Whinlatter Forest trail centre in the Lake District the other weekend and they loved it. They didn't even know trail centres like this existed. They thought it was such amazing value that you could access these trails free of charge! (well apart from the parking but at a few quid divided by 3 of you it's still great value). We hired bikes from Cyclewise and I loved showing them the ropes and hopefully opening them up to a whole new world of thrills and an increased love of the outdoors. This has inspired me to set up this blog in the hope that by reviewing UK trail centres I can help a few more people to get out there and explore one near to them. Not only by going to these places can you help yourself with loads of health benefits, you gain more respect for mother nature and it's also great for the local economies in these rural areas...what's not to like!

2. For selfish reasons!

I've been mountain biking for about 4 years now and have been to a good handful of the trails centres around the UK but I'd like to visit them all. Hopefully by writing this blog it will help me to acheive this ambition and keep me going back to the ones I love (as if I needed another reason to go back anyway). Also I've taken loads of photos over the years and they are all in some random order. By setting up this blog I'm sure it will help me keep a better record of my amazing ventures. I want to start making some films too - still need to buy a video camera - perhaps somone can help to recommend one?

So that's my first post, as I go along I'm sure I will set up some order to this page so please be patient with me. 

Feel free to follow me on Twitter  @ukmountainbiker, comment, get in touch...whatever floats your boat (or bike)

Laters

Mike