With the success of Falmouth Week still fresh in our minds, we awoke on our day off to the traditional sound of an English summer morning – luckily we’d already made plans to get tubular, and with surfing being an activity in which you inherently get wet, the rain did little to dampen the team’s spirits.

We drove Northwest to Perranporth where we met up with an old friend of the MC’s who showed us where the swell was best and the waves un crowded. This was the first time since Boardmasters last year that the team had a chance to surf together, and it was a great opportunity to test out the riders waterproof Kodak Playsport video cameras – check the video to see just how much better they performed than the boards!!

Two and a half hours later, almost entirely spent barrelled according to Blake, we were back on the road exhausted but satisfied, heading in the direction of Salisbury.

Salisbury, or Searesbyrig as it was named by the Saxons, it is a beautiful Cathedral City in Wiltshire, and with an Animal shop close by, the Market Square is a regular fixture to the Animal Bike Tour’s calendar.

Following a sunrise interview on a local radio station the rig was set up in record time, and with music and expectation building, the square began filling up for the first show and kept swelling till pack down. A new skatepark in the area has created a breed of excitable local bike enthusiasts. All seemed to leave with a fresh passion after watching, what even for top riders, is an inspiring show that Martyn, Blake and James craft.

Photography: Robin Kitchin

There were a lot of people that had seen the show in its previous forms, and after hearing the show was back in town, had come back for their yearly injection of Rad! Martyn’s seemed to be a familiar face, but Blake’s was a relatively new addition to Salisbury. Keen to prove himself as the ABT’s No.1 he mixed things up with some new tricks unseen thus far on the tour in 2011; one-handed-superman, double-can-pendulum and 360-tuck-no-hander!!!

It was only fitting that after such energetic shows that there was a calling for store signings, so the boys were whisked away to the Animal store where those who had narrowly avoided having their minds blown could meet the stars and get their limited edition ABT posters. The smiling faces of those who got to walk away with a signed memento of having seen the show, and having met the riders, makes the tour even more worthwhile!

And just as fast as they appeared, they were gone and back on the road, this time on the short journey south to Portsmouth.

Gunwharf Quays is a busy and vibrant shopping centre by day, and a lively nightspot for locals with clubs and restaurants surrounding the area. It’s not uncommon to see shows on display at the Quays, but even on what we believed to be the ABTs 6th visit, it feels better than ever with a constant buzz of excitement in the air for the full 48hrs.

Gunwharf always make an effort when we come to town, and this visit was no different. Street Force DC Dancing Crew had been asked along for the weekend to perform along side, so together we made for a really entertaining weekend. Especially with Blake busting out the no-hand-flip for only the second time on the Tour!

The weather was definitely on our side, the only rain we’d seen over this time on the road was during our day off, and for the most part of the weekend we were joined by good old Mr Sun. One of the brilliant things about the Gunwharf location are the balconies that surround the square in which we perform the shows, it’s amazing to see people lining the show on two levels. Robin the Tour manager/ photographer/ cinematographer/ DJ/ driver/ handyman/ psychiatrist even popped up during a show to get a couple of quick shots from above.

The Animal store just around the corner was looking fantastic with the new season apparel lining the rails and shelves and window displays, and once again the guys took the opportunity to have a signing session in the busy store, to the joy of the enthusiastic locals.

“5 days, 17 shows, 5 store signings, 4 new tricks, 18 dance routines, 1 red arrow display and 1 dinner/striptease – another successful leg of the bike tour!”
Blake Samson

“It was great to hear from spectators that they had come along especially to see the show – we always get such a good welcome here. It was also cool to see the Animal store looking so good, the new season clothing looks amazing. Apparently the T-shirt I was wearing at a recent show became a top seller – if it looks good on me then imagine how good it would look on a handsome man?!?!”
Martyn Ashton

Falmouth was the amazing start of the longest stint on the road yet for the Animal Bike Tour.

Photography: Robin Kitchin

Falmouth Week has grown into one of the largest sailing regattas in the southwest, with more than 300 yachts racing over eight days, and a lively programme of shore side events of which the ABT would be a part for the first time. We’re always looking toward supporting new events, and with an Animal store not far from the proposed site, we had eagerly inked Falmouth Week into the calendar.

The scenery over looking the harbour was fantastic, so much so that even Roger Moore had purchased a house with the same view from the opposite side of the water…some say, in anticipation of our arrival! This was rather fitting as one of the Bike Tour’s mottos has always been ‘If it’s good enough for James Bond it’s good enough for us’.

All was still during the set up, and we wondered if many people would find us in what was a rather secret space, but time would prove our worries ill founded. By first show it seemed both holidaymakers and locals were up and hungry, word being spread of what was going down by the Animal store staff’s enthusiasm and the banging tunes rattling through Falmouth from the shows huge sound system.

“It was nice to have a short break prior to this mammoth run of shows, but I couldn’t wait to get back on the road, especially to a new event. Blake and I felt fully recharged and ready to make an impression!”
Martyn Ashton

And an impression he and the team indeed made; word spreading as far of the attractive ears of Brad Pitt – he apparently had director Marc Forster halt filming of his new movie World War Z, which he was shooting on a battle ship across the harbour from the show, to check us. Apparently as an ode to the spectacle he had excitedly witnessed, if you listen very closely in one of the battle scenes you will be able to hear the faint cheers of glory as Martyn and Blake perform the Grande Finale!

Photography: Philip Farndon

Before the last show we, for the third time this year, let the Red Arrows warm up what was a phenomenally big crowd. As our area was one of the best viewing spots for their display we ran the BBC commentary though our sound system – giving an in-depth insight in to what was happening in the air above. 30,000 was the official estimate out to witness the event, and as they rocketed off towards the horizon the music started pumping and is wasn’t long before we embarked upon one of the busiest shows of the year under the evening sun.

A quick mention has to go to the Tapas bar we were invited to it by its Kiwi owner, where at 10pm the restaurant turns into a strip club…very off putting when halfway through your Chopitos!

“I was so glad Brad and Roger could make the show. Brad was round my house the other day and I was worried he was still trapped in the flashing-colour-box in the front room!”
Blake Samson

Plymouth and the Olympic MTB site in Essex provide the epic locations for this weekend’s action.

The huge tiled Plaza at the centre of Plymouth will always be one of the Animal Bike Tours favourite places to come build and perform the show – from the images and video it should be obvious why!

Photography: Robin Kitchin

Plymouth city centre holds the record for most bike show attendances since its conception – Saturday we took that into double figures – and all for very good reason as the city again delivered big excitable crowds to bring out the best in our riders. Rare though was the scorchio breathless summer weather that taxed our supply of Vito sweatbands for both riders and the fevered fans – liquid hot action has never been such an apt description!

Martyn Ashton and Blake Samson were joined for the day by MC Toby Phillips. Having only ever witnessed the show as a spectator he loved every minute of his VIP access in to the danger zone, his rad new wardrobe of shiny Animal clobber, and most importantly how easy it is to get caught up in the adrenaline of the show. Good work Toby!

The day ended with a finale show full of wild tricks, huge grins and an exhausted crowd – special thanks to Bob Bogdan Williams for helping capture some of this from the barriers.

But this was just the start of our weekend as on the Sunday we were to be performing near Southend-on-Sea some 280 miles away – good job we have an amazing rig that packs down in a super efficient Tetris style into our lovely trailers and luxurious vans!!

As Martyn and Blake got a head start and drove the Vito Sport via what was supposed to be the faster route on the main roads, Robin took the scenic route. Detouring via Lyme Regis to check out the finals of Redbull Harbour Reach wakeboard contest and collect MC Thorne who’d been loaned out for the day to give a bit of wake-banter. It was a really cool event and I’m sure the after party would have been fun, but there was no time for such antics with it being 9pm and the Olympic XC course a solid 4 hours away.

Photography: Sim Bradley

Martyn and Blake were being real team players and found a closed section of M25 to detour around and make sure they arrived at the same time as Robin and James, in the early hours of Sunday. Four powerful hours of sleep later we were sat down for breakfast laughing and sharing stories about the lovely drive – fortunately the excitement of the day ahead was providing the kick required to shake off the need for pillow time!

Bright eyed, we set up under the toasty morning sun, atop our hill of glory overlooking the Hadleigh Farm Olympic Cross Country course. We had been asked down as part of the London Prepares event among an invited field of national and World Champion riders to give the 5,000 spectators some fast paced, alternative mountain bike action during the breaks in racing.

The infrastructure was in place, marshals and officials dotted the course, an enormous screen kept us up to date with lap times and leader positions, and the constant commentary from ex-Bike Tour MC Dan Jarvis informed and entertained. It was easy to envision how amazing it will be on the Olympic weekend, a year from now, with four times the amount of spectators lining the course – fingers crossed for similar weather!

You could view almost half the course from our commanding position on the hill, with a breathtaking back drop of fields rolling away towards the Thames river mouth, it was arguably one of the most picturesque backdrops the show has ever had – on par with the beauty of Croyde bay at Goldcoast Ocean Fest, or the Lord of the Rings style epicness of Sea Sessions in Bundoran, Ireland.

“It been an amazing day, I think everyone is in awe of what the actual event is going to be like. After today it’s that little bit easier to comprehend what a historic moment for London and mountain biking it’s going to be. I feel very privileged to have been a part of the Olympic build up…hopefully we will be part the main event.”
Martyn Ashton

“Is that an Olympic torch or are you just happy to see me?”
Blake Samson

The Animal Bike Tour raises the temperature of Bath for a Sunday of scalding hot action!

Photography: Robin Kitchin

Southgate shopping Centre is a new area in Bath, rebuilt in 2007 to mimic the city’s Georgian stone façade architecture, offers grand surroundings in which to set the show. Plus being only a stones throw from Future Publishing, the guys behind our favourite magazine MBUK, and the Bath Animal retail store – provided a double whammy of support for us!

Attracted by the immaculate new rig, like moths to the moon on a summers evening, buzzing crowds built around in anticipation of an exciting Sunday of riding. As always each show was filled with epic trials action, amped music, wild commentary, amazing giveaways, and the energy of a star!

Martyn, the lone rider this weekend as the footprint of the show was too short for our Blake, led a stream of Bike Tour enthusiasts to the Animal Store, freshly hyped up from a show to get a limited edition poster and some banter with our champion.

If you look closely in the show pics you’ll spot a certain Doddy and James Blackwell from MBUK getting rather over excited!!

“Amazing! I laugh so much every time I watch the show. The nephews couldn’t get enough and made us stay for a second show!”
Doddy.

“What a fantastic day, people in Bath are so friendly and receptive, one of my favourite places to perform.”
Martyn.

“Let’s get out of here before we prune up!”
Blake. (Who misread his email and spent Sunday in ‘a’ Bath)

Check here for the Bath Chronicle’s take on our day

This weekend with ‘The Ride of the Valkyries’ at full volume (check this link from Apocalypse Now to hear Wagner’s rousing tune) the Animal Bike Tour blasted into RAF Fairford with the sun on our backs for the Royal International Air Tattoo, the world’s largest military airshow!

Arriving the day before the event opening to setup, we were excited to find the road leading to the airport lined with crowds and photographers waiting in anticipation of our arrival – luckily they had been kept entertained by various aircraft taking off and thundering overhead at crazy proximity on practice flights.

Then whilst setting up we even had a visit from Secretary of State for Defence, The Right Honourable MP. Dr Liam Fox, who had popped down to see how we were getting on and make sure we were integrating well into the TRI@RIAT.

“Do something different” was the central message of TRI@RIAT, located at the heart of the showground, which alongside the Bike Tour was Andy Gwynne’s Rally Drift Display, Field Gun Competitions, Broke FMX, and a ton of interactive activities.

We woke the following day to the sound of traditional English summer rain! But with spirits not as easily dampened as the clothing we were sporting, we prepared for a day of tricky shows. Low cloud meant Aircraft aerial action was postponed, the same applying for Blake! When it rains things get wet, when they’re wet they get slippy, and there are few in the action sports world who’d perform to audiences clutching at umbrellas…but Martyn Ashton, with skin as water resistant as a Kodak Play Sport (3m), stepped up where most would curl up and weep (which as Mart knows, in these circumstances only adds to the traction issue) and gave an enthusiastic audience a hot cup of sick(ness) to warm them up!!

Come afternoon things had cheered up a touch (unlike Blake who was gutted about the strong wind now effecting his performances), and the sky started to fill with the screams of fighter planes and synchronised aerial routines. Umbrellas were now abandoned and the event began living up to its reputation as one of the UK’s best events.

Sunday, although interrupted by sudden down pours, was much better and the best shows of the weekend went down as the planes and helicopters went up. My favourite was the Dual counter-rotating Chinook Helicopter (the only vehicle in the world which can literally crash into its self), Blake liked the F-16 best, and Martyn and Robin were fans of the Volcan Bomber. Alongside these the sky and runways were filled with Red Arrows, Frecce Tricolori, Wingwalkers and literally hundreds of others.

“It all turned out really good in the end – it feels great to make a real effort to perform in hard conditions as people really get behind you and show a lot of appreciation…it’s very rewarding! To be getting told by the crowd that we are the best thing here, amongst all these awesome planes, is very flattering.”
Martyn

“What a great weekend, so much action in the sky, my ears are still ringing! Definitely a challenge at times but it’s better to have battled and won, than never to have battled at all! Or is that love?”
Blake

James Thorne