Cycling is a hugely popular sport in Britain and people take it up not just as a hobby but also as a regular means of non polluting transport to and from Work. Even at the university I have been surprised by many a high profile lecturer arriving for work on Cycles. As for me, I`ve flirted with cycling though out my childhood, but if i think about it, I have as much balance on a cycle as I have a penchant for falling off it ! Maybe thats why I have been hesitant in getting myself one now, although it would have solved a lot of my transportation problems.
I'm a shy starter and tend to gain confidence as I do things, so when I was offered an invitation to kick off my cycling initiation in the U.K it was difficult to refuse! This time it was Josi (Joseph), my cousin, who was playing host. In the months past, Josi has accomplished himself well in the art of cycling and my weekly conversations with him abound with his cycling exploits in the cycling tracks of Scotland . One of them was in a place called Glentress. It was here that we were heading.
Called as the "Hub in the forest" , and designed by an engineer, Glentress ranks as among the best cycle trails in the world. There are 5 trails here, each varying in terms of difficulty and excitement. For instance three trails are coded as the blue, red and black trails, and each increases in difficulty with the blue being for beginners and the black for experts. All the routes are weather proof and start at the foot of the hill, from where the common, long winding way upwards begins. It is on the return that the different tracks separate themselves. 
Our team consisted of five of us cousins; Apart from Josi and myself there was Thommu, Sebu and Sony, and to be frank I was the least experienced biker amongst them. After Initially hearing about the tracks and their difficulty, I reckoned it would be a wonder if I got back without broken bones...but that was if we took the easiest blue track! My cousins had other plans, one of which even included the black track on which, if attempted, we would be doing more flying than cycling! However sense caught up, and after giving due consideration to my less than considerable experience we settled for the red track! 
We rented five mountain bikes from the bike rental at the foot of the hill (Here in the U.K cycles are called bikes), and after leaving the women, parents and children behind, set off on and arduous journey up the hill. It didn't take more than 5 minutes of uphill cycling before I decided to get off the cycle and push it .
Sony, being out of practice gave me company and we formed the tail with Josi, Sebu and Thommu leading on pedals as if it was as easy as drinking another cup of tea! 
After what seemed to be hours of riding (read as pushing), as the altitude increased we began to get spectacular views of the Scottish countryside from atop the hill...and even as we were using up what seemed to be our last reserves of energy, there were people cycling up uphill at more than twice the speed that we could manage.
When it finally seemed like I would black out from exhaustion, after what seemed like the steepest climb of my life, we reached the summit to spectacular views and a multitude of cyclists , all taking a break before they began their way downhill. 
I was relieved to be able to collapse on the nearest rock and take a well earned break.
Looking down at the incredibly mean looking tracks, I had no doubt that I would make it down hill, but the question was..would I still be attached to my bike or will it come tumbling after me. It reminded me of the Jack and Jill nursery rhyme – 
Tom and bike went up the hill
to do a trail of biking,
Tom fell down and broke his crown
and bike came tumbling after!
However as soon as we started and I went down and up the first “u “ shaped obstacle, and came up miraculously on the other side, my 
fear turned into relief and that into excitement and that in turn into exhilaration.. It was totally craziness ...madness. In spite of trying to hold onto my brakes as if it were the handle, I was hurtling down the track like a scud missile! and not just straight downhill, but at curves designed to set u at a 45 or less degree angle to the plain!
Often as I came up a mound both my tires would briefly be in the air and I found it hard to quell a rising panic, but the instant I was back on the track the bike moved on like it was designed to do. By the time I had completed my first leg of the red track I enjoyed it so much that i was looking forward to doing the rest on one wheel !
Yet normality reigned, and with some gear trouble with the bikes, we decided to settle for a blue track descent. I expected that it would be less difficult and thus less exciting but I was to wrong again. We were soon hurtling along and jarring every single bone in our body across bumps and roots and past tracks which were so narrow that if I had the time to assess it, I`d have ended up in bushes or gone on a flight downhill!
By the time we reached downhill, We were totally exhausted and the jarring in my bones had got thru right into my head., also we were starving and thirsty. But I must say it was one of the craziest rides ever in my life. An experience worth treasuring. Especially as I realized that perhaps I was just plain lucky to get away without a significant increase in the count of my bones!!
Although I may buy myself a bike in the future, I`ll make it a point to stick to the routes where my tires have a firm contact on the ground ! I wish Josi and his cycling life ahead all the best of luck..he`s gonna need it!!!
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P.S.
My cousins and I had also been to attend the British International motor show..for those of you with interests in cars heres a slide show of the photos i took of it.
