LOCALS - Elbry Sandland

In this week's LOCALS feature we catch up with Elbry Sandland, an ambassador for Rocky Mountain Bicycles UK, onboard his Rocky Mountain Altitude Rally Edition.

Name: Elbry Sandland
Location: Edge of Exmoor.
Job: Summer; Skills coach, Winter: painter and decorator.
Bike: Altitude Rally Edition.

How long have you been riding?
I got my first Mtn bike in the mid/late 80s and started racing in 89.

How often do you ride?
I ride most days be it coaching, training/road riding or just as my roll as brand ambassador for Rocky Mountain Bicycles UK out riding trails.

What bike are you currently riding and talk us through your set up?
This is the Altitude Rally edition and its just about stock out the box other than a 66sick saddle / grips, plus some Kore OCD bars from my sponsors. It won the most race ready enduro bike of the year award for 2014 and it's perfect for shredding UK trails be it Exmoor or spots like bikepark Wales. So this is my main ride, but Rocky Mountain will set me up with what ever bike I need from the 2014 line for an event adventure I'm going on.

What types of riding do you normally do?
My roll at Rockys is not as a racer but as a brand ambassador, so its just about going out having a blast on the best singletrack I can find out and about in the UK. When I'm at home I do ride my road bike a lot, just because its the best way to train to stay in shape, riding just the mountain bike only works you to a point. To get a clean soild workout the road bikes better and we have some great roads to smash by us.

What was the last new bit of gear on your bike?
I'm lucky its all kind of box fresh.

What's your favourite part on your bike?
Have to say the frame, without a great frame all the trick parts in the world it would still suck. I love the RIDE-9™ System and SMOOTHLINK™ Suspension. Plus its carbon, you got to love carbon!

What other bikes do you own?
Well I love Rockys and it shows. I have a Rocky Mtn Blizzard, Element, RMX and a Slayer. On the road I have a Specilaized l4 tarmac, Specilaized l3 tarmac and a LeMond reno.

Any shoutouts?
Yes, Big props to Rocky Mountain Bicycles UK, Kore-USA, Wind-Wave, Morgan Blue, Fuel ,66 Sick and anyone thats supported me back when I was a freerider for 10+ years and also as a racer for 20+ years.