Mountain biking: Every bike has its very own story

Tom Holland in the 2013 Skyline Sprint Warrior - this event will feature at the 2nd Rotorua Bike Festival, February 14-23 next year. PHOTO/ALICK SAUNDERS

I'm not really a bike shop's ideal customer. There was a time when I'd replace my bike every couple of years. But now as I look at the collection in the garage I realise how old they all are.

One is 10 this month. I remember my excitement when the frame arrived by courier late in 2003. He asked what it was and when I told him a bike frame, he commented on how light it was.

It's aluminium, so not as light as the current crop of carbon fibre frames. But light enough. And still a bike I love. The handlebars are unfashionably narrow, the running gear and look are both dated and travel is only 120mill, yet it still rolls like a charm.

My singlespeed is steel framed and a hard tail. I don't use it very much these days.
I keep it for sentimental reasons and it's not really worth anything. The running gear came out of the spare parts bin and was already old when the bike was first cobbled together in Spring, 2007.

The bike I ride the most is a big bruiser - a trail bike with 160mill of travel, seat dropper, 2.4mm tyre on the front and 2.2 on the back. The frame is aluminium. Even better, it is polished, very shiny aluminium.

The frame is the same vintage as the singlespeed. But it was a shop demo. It didn't get built up until 2008 and wasn't ridden that much by its original owner. I did put a beefier front fork on it and it's on a second seat-dropper. However, I don't think I've replaced any other running gear, apart from tyres and the bottom bracket.

This bike's been round the world and has served me well. Saved me a few times, too. I call it the big silver tractor and it really does roll over, down and off most things, making me look a far more skilled rider than I actually am.

It was hand-built in California. The welded seam down the top tube isn't quite perfect. I like that. The frame has a unique character that comes from being crafted, not punched out of a mould.

I'm riding a lot at the moment. I've also found a new level of fearlessness I never used to possess. So I'm harder on the bike. How long will the frame last? I hope a while yet and, when it does break, I'll hang it in the shed. Or maybe on the wall.

Then what? Well, every so often I look at new models. 29ers really aren't for me. I like the playfulness of 26-inch wheels - that they don't feel like they're on rails.

The new 27.5 wheel size looks interesting - maybe the best of both worlds?

What brand? Well, my head (and credit card) would say one thing about price and specs.

But my heart would probably point at the same one I ride now.

Which brings me back to bike shops. We're very lucky to have so many in town, with a wide range of brands represented. Spend some money with them this Christmas.

And it's only two months till the 2nd Rotorua Bike Festival. www.rotoruabikefestival.com