Downhill

To win the World Championships is unreal!! But to win in front of the home crowd, on a British-built downhill bike designed by my friends on the team, with my training partner taking the Silver … it just hasn’t sunk in yet, I’m lost for words.

The Atherton frame is covered in so many nice little touches, one of which is that the only threaded part of the frame is the bottom bracket. For the rest of the joints on the bike, it uses barrel nuts and standard fasteners.

To be the first British bike brand to take that Elite World Champs win, and to achieve that win on a production bike so soon in our company’s history is the absolute dream.

The A.200's carbon construction and complex DW6 suspension linkage has a brilliant mix of sensitivity and forgiveness in one hand, but in the other lies a supportive and robust bike. That's an elusive combination that I've yet to find in any other downhill bike.

A bike that fits correctly and just ‘feels right’ has improved my confidence and has actually sped up my rehab from injury. I love the adrenaline rush that bikes offer and the Atherton fits like a glove and rides like a dream.

For me having the EFBE tests is amazing, it’s an extra seal of approval, another layer of confidence, and of course, it helps people outside of this immediate company to be reassured. But to be honest, we already knew that the bike was going to be up to it (Red Bull Hardline). The engineers we work with here at Athy Bikes have proved themselves to be so knowledgeable in this area, over the years, we have both understood what the other ones are capable of, and we’ve learned to trust each other. I know those guys are going to design a bike that is going to take some of the biggest hits in the world in its stride.