Who says ‘it’s not about the bike’? After a weekend’s riding my Trek 9 Series at a favourite trail centre in South Wales, I have to disagree.

My husband and I were mountain-biking in Afan Forest last weekend. I wanted to try my carbon fibre race machine on more challenging off-road trails than offered by the Kentish countryside; and, because it was my birthday, I chose where we went.

Saturday’s ride was a wash-out; literally. It rained and rained and rained. But the weather could not dampen my enthusiasm to test my bike. Our first ride was Cwm Carn’s Twrch Trail and within a few minutes of riding … wow! I realised how fantastic a carbon fibre bike was going to be at climbing. It made me feel awesome: it was nimble, quick and light. Riding this bike was no effort at all, despite the horrendous weather and the loss of brake pads (my fault). And, I completed one lap faster than I have ridden that course before. This bike was fast!

We rode my all time favourite trail on Sunday: Skyline. This course begins with a long and gruelling climb from the trail centre. However, this bike took the ‘gruelling’ and the ‘long’ out of the climb and we were climbing comfortably and enthusiastically.

It wasn’t just the climbs where I knew time was being saved but technically too. This bike did as I told it.

I never thought the material of a bike would affect me. However, I can fully empathise with carbon converts: what fantastic bikes they ride. I really can’t wait to see how well this bike performs on the race scene which is all about quick times; I’m so excited and if it wasn’t snowing right now … !