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« Last post by Paul B on January 06, 2007, 06:49:15 PM »
OK so now it's 2007. I've been out riding in the rain, got really muddy but had a blast. Now I'm back home, what's there to do on a wet saturday afternoon? Thought I'd ditch the chores and see whats on the internet. I flicked the PC on and had quick shufty round the room whilst the old girl was booting up. There on the shelf pride of place is a framed program from the 94 National Champs at Eastridge bearing the signature of one Jason McRoy. That set me thinking and as a result I ended up hear posting my memories of Jason and the inspiration he gave to not just myself but my riding buddies too.
I started riding back in 92 and remember the article in MBUK about the newly formed race team consisting of Jason and Sophie in thier funky Salsa race uniforms. I never realised how Jason would inspire our riding. Myself and my good friend Nick did a fair amount of racing in the Schoolboy then Junior class at the local races. Imagine our delight when we found that the 94 National Champs was being held at Eastridge which was only a stones throw away from Nick's Mum's house. It was gonna be a good weekend. That was the weekend I got to meet Jason amongst other stars of the UK MTBing scene and got my program signed by the man himself. It was such an awesome feeling to finally meet one of my idols. I also met Rob Warner too which was also pretty cool, both guys were super friendly and approachable. Rob also signed my program, this time with his name written in a speech bubble he'd drawn coming out of Jason's mouth. Like I said earlier, I still have that program sitting on my shelf at home, it is probably one of my most treasured personal posessions.
The National Champs I believe came after the release of the classic MTB film DIRT (I still have my copy, I'm surprised it never wore out we watched it that much). DIRT Inspired us everytime we went riding, we spent hours messing about on our bikes trying to emulate the moves and buzzing down the local trails. It was a huge inspiration to us at the time. I think I even had a set of odd coloured Gripshift grips and fitted a set of 2" rise Azonic DH bars (which i still ride with now) to my Cannondale hardtail. Things were great.
I was standing in WH Smiths at the time I heard about the accident perusing an issue of MTB Pro (I think). When I read the news about Jason's accident. I was devastated. Like some of the other guys have written, I actually shed a tear and to be honest I have today whilst reading the content of this website. I couldn't believe that this could happen. Not to someone in the prime of the live, someone who had so much more to offer.
Anyway time moves on, we carried on riding then we hit 17 and found women, cars, beer, and in Nick's case skateboarding. I had a break from riding whilst I was at uni until I graduated. I couldn't hold out any longer, I had to get riding again........guess it's something that's always gonna be there such were the memories of the past. The sports changed a hell of a lot, but thankfully I still get the same buzz out of it as I did 15 years ago. Jason will always inspire me out on the trails and for that I'm eternally grateful.
Thankyou to the McRoy family for building this website as an outlet to finally write down some of my thoughts and for bringing into this world and MTBing legend. I can't beleive how the time flies, I'm absolutely gutted that I missed the ride to commemorate 10 years since the loss of a hero.
Thanks for reading, I think I've rambled on for far to long.
Kind Regards
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