The third annual Red Kite Winter XC Series based around the Coed Trallwm trail centre and café in the heart of Wales got off to a flying start with 50 riders of all ages and abilities tackling a challenging course in unseasonably balmy conditions.
Luckily big climbs meant big descents, ranging from the fast and furious to the tricky and techy, including brand-new lines through the trees with roots and rock gardens to test bike-handling skills.
2014 European Enduro Series winner Rob Williams led from the start and proved fastest uphill as well as down, completing five laps of the 6 km course in a shade under two hours, well clear of singlespeeder Chris Schröder in second and James Joyce in third.