It is with great satisfaction that I write about probably one of the best Oxfordshire mountain bike demo days this year, because not only were the bikes of the highest standard and the attendees the loveliest, but I get to boast that the whole thing was organised by my partner Kevin.

When he first said to me that he was going to organise a demo day at Aston Hill (a mountain bike venue just outside Wendover in the Chilterns) I thought it would be a waste of time, with few attendees and most probably bad weather, because – let’s face it — how many of us Oxfordshire residents are seriously into downhill mountain biking?

But what do I know. Within a week of advertising, he was inundated with fans of the bikes wanting to get a chance to try them out on off-road trails, instead of the roads around their local bike shops.

By the way, the bikes were the wonderful Orange mountain bikes, all handmade at Halifax in Yorkshire, and including the first demo outing of the Orange downhill 322, plus Kona, the largest manufacturer but still small company famous for amazing bikes.

Meet the team from Kona in the flesh and you quickly realise the geeky fuss over bike design is not necessary – you may have the best design software in town but the guys at Kona realise if you don’t ride what you design, you don’t have ‘a clue’.

I like to think that I have some ‘balls’ downhill, that I don’t shy away from steep rocky inclines or halt when faced with a tree root.

However, when you’re faced with not only wet clay mixed with mud but slippery smooth roots after a previous evening’s downpour, your bravery swiftly fades and I quickly became enamoured by the courageousness of those downhillers last Sunday.

After having a go on my favoured bike – the Orange Alpine 160 – I quickly relegated myself to photographer.

If you have ever watched a horror film where something comes speeding through the woods to maul some poor, unsuspecting actor, and all you hear is the sound of leaves being crunched and fallen branches breaking, this is what I felt as the cyclists sped toward me.

Even with burst mode activated on my camera, the reality of the speed these guys were doing simply could not be captured.

Those bikes were certainly fast. For instance, if you have ever seen a hill or ravine you couldn’t walk down, imagine cycling down it, yeah, it’s that hardcore, life in your hands stuff.

Full face helmets are favoured and you can certainly see why after the speeds they do.

And don’t think because I’m a girl it was me pitted against the men, because there were some serious girls out there. Helmets off to all who show more courage than I.

If you want details of the next demonstration day, then email Kevin on info@spoke.co.uk – you certainly won’t regret it.