Rider Review
DW Link For Life
From Iron Horse Sunday To Sundays In The Hotseat On The A.200
Words: Gill Harris
29 year old Dan Farley is a Freelance audio & music producer, a Dyfi resident since September this year and already well on the way to becoming a local hero.
A former junior World Cup racer, Dan came back to racing UK nationals in August after almost two years effectively bed-ridden with an auto immune disease. He steered his 26” inch Iron Horse Sunday to 8th and 2nd place Seniors but on his new A.200 he was unstoppable – two consecutive victories at British Cycling’s National DH series round 5 At Revolution Bike Park and Rd 4 Pearce Cycles at Redwood Park.
DF: “I’m a music producer, mainly working in the video game industry which is awesome as it means I can work from anywhere! Wherever I go it’s always around the riding; I’ve spent the last two summers in Morzine but in the UK I’ve ridden Innerleithen, Guisborough, Dalby, Kilburn, Caersws, Revolution Bikepark and Dyfi of course … you’ll find me (and girlfriend Izzy) at Bike Parks most weekends, it’s been that way since I was a kid. I grew up in South Lakes, just outside of Kendal so we’d ride Descend Hamsterley every weekend… I grew up racing National downhills then did a few World Cups as a junior. My brother was three years older than me so he got me into riding and DH racing. My first race was Caersws Cup on a Kona Stinky in 2009, I was in Juveniles and Andy in Youth but he didn’t have as much of a racing head as I did; I was hooked from the start! My mum used to ride with us too – she did a few races and rode an Ironhorse Sunday but she stopped after she broke her shoulder.
I’ve recently moved to the Dyfi for the riding and people, it was definitely on my locations shortlist but when Izzy landed her dream job at Athy Bikes that was the clincher… everyone that rides or works at the HQ pr the bike park is very friendly and welcoming and there’s just so much to go at; there are plenty of trails that I’m still treating with a good chunk of respect, even with the A.200 which basically nullifies all the imperfections on a trail for you! There’s nothing quite like riding a more natural DH track on a DH bike it’s literally the best thing ever, Dyfi has quite a similar atmosphere and friendly vibe to Morzine you can chat and ride with anyone and it’s always good vibes. The cafe at the bike park is a lot nicer than Carrefour though
I have an autoimmune disease called Lupus (SLE) which basically meant I was bedridden and never expected to ride bikes again so I took a bit of an enforced break from racing and riding. But in the last few years I have been lucky enough to live a nearly normal life thanks to medication and the NHS. Me and Izzy have been traveling and taking part in enduro races, riding our bikes anywhere and everywhere we can. After getting fit enough to complete an enduro race, (a great achievement for me at the time!)
I thought it would be fun to give some DH a go. I planned to race my old 2009 Ironhorse Sunday 26” at the National Series in Llangollen for a bit of fun, I love that bike! It’s a real crowd favourite at the races – like a Ford Escort in a rally setting, everyone thought it was cool that I was racing on 26” wheels! And such an iconic design! I’ve ridden loads of bikes but I always go back to the Iron Horse, the suspension platform is just noticeably better, its easy to ride in the same way that the A.200 is easy from the off, you can tell that they share a lot of the same DNA; the DW6 is just a more evolved more modern version. Anyway I surprised myself with a 2nd place in Seniors and had a great weekend catching up with old friends. By the time of the next round of the National Series I’d have built up my new Atherton A.200 so we’d see what a modern DW link bike would be capable of!
When I chose my new bike I was looking for a DH bike to ride bike parks, Europe trips and maybe the odd race, though now I seemed to go okay on my new A.200 I might give a full season of Downhill a bash in 2026! I enjoy riding on the limit at a race and the A.200 makes that a lot easier to do.
Key factors for me in choosing are that the bike had to be strong and come with a lifetime warranty. I did a demo with Horatio on the S.200 and I didn’t really think it could get much better; but I tried the A.200 immediately after and it became an expensive day for me within the first few corners! The extra comfort is a genuine consideration for me; I often struggle in the alps and have to have a bike that doesn’t beat me up too much… I can’t wait to get the A.200 out there next year. I found the A.200 frame very comfortable with loads of grip when pushing my limits, the DW6 platform stays composed when I’m trying to keep up with fast people but also when I’m cruising, it’s somehow planted and poppy, the bike is easier to ride, grippier – It somehow just improves every aspect of your ride.
I played around a bit with aesthetics with a black logo and some bright yellow Mavic wheels (Horatio hates them!) but the only other thing I’ve done extra is add an STFU chainstay protector. I’m 6ft and chose a size 7. I’ve been riding various bikes over the last few years going longer and shorter on reach and decided the 470mm mark was what I wanted. The fit calculator put me at 473mm which was reassuring. Your position on the bike, the DW6 and something very special with the lugged titanium and carbon tubes, it’s a killer combination. The flex and compliance the frame provides feels more tuned than other bikes I have ridden. Not only does it seem to nullify vibration from the track, the grip is endless. You really have to feel this for yourself.
Practise for the first race at Revs was my first ride on the bike bar a quick lap at Dyfi to check the suspension set-up. I needn’t have worried, the DW link just works out of the box; you don’t have to start reaching for adjusters or volume spacers on the shock. I’ve had bikes in the past where you have to almost work-around aspects of the bike’s design to get them to work for you, shock tunes, fiddling with stack height etc. Every Atherton bike I’ve ridden has made me feel at home right away; I think every good bike should do this. It has no weirdness, nothing you have to get used to it just feels super-natural; everyone I’ve let have a go on it just whizzes off straight away’ it’s like instant confidence!
So those first laps at Revs felt very comfortable to ride and fast. It feels like the A.200 just gives you free speed if you want it. In fact I was a bit nervous about exactly how fast the A.200 would actually go!! You never fully commit until you’re in that race run but it holds you hard when you need to chill, gives better speed, goes better through rock gardens, keeps its composure right at the limits – its mint! I saw my time after seeding and I was taken aback; I’ve never gone that fast in my entire life! Definitely my best result against that level of competition; really at the sharp end, the bike was a huge part of that. I’d have won in expert too with the times I posted so I’m thinking maybe I’ll race that category next year!
