2012 guidebook 17-19th august
bike advice what’s the best bike?
food matters get your diet dialed
win or survive
Welcome Photography supplied by Russell Burton
to the Ritchey TrailMaster 2012 powered by MercedesBenz Vito Sport guidebook.
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A
new event, a new guidebook and a new exciting challenge ahead. 2012 will be an exciting year as we are introducing our new event idea to the mountain community in the UK and abroad.
For the last six years we have been running
the TransUK events - a unique take on stage racing which has found friends and followers in various disciplines (for example gravity enduro racing) all over the world.
A
fter six years and lots of experience gained we felt it was time for a change and a new refreshed concept – so here we are: The Ritchey TrailMasters.
W
e have also given our guidebook a fresh new look and a new way of experiencing it. Rather than printing the magazine in huge quantities we have now created an interactive flip-book version. This allows readers to enjoy the magazine on their computers, tablets or even their smartphones. However if you are keen to enjoy the various stories, features and information on good old fashioned paper then there is a downloadable PDF for print available as well.
O
ver the next few pages you will get a real flavour of the Ritchey TrailMasters powered
by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport, showing what will be on offer over the long weekend in August, what we recommend for the event and all sorts of other useful and informative stuff for The XC Enduro event of 2012.
So sit back and enjoy the ride and we look forward to seeing you in the heart of UK mountain biking later in the year.
Happy Trails and see you in August.
Michael Wilkens Co-Organiser
Content P age 6 - 11
Page 12 - 13 Page 16 - 21 Page 22 - 24
Page 26 - 29 Page 32 - 37 Page 38 - 40
TrailMaster Genesis - The in-depth story behind the newest mountain bike event on the block What to Ride in 2012 - The season condensed The Joy of The Big Ride - Just go out there TrailMaster Bike Adviser Genesis - Choose the right bike for you TrailMaster Equipment Tips - Prepare yourself for the big ride Win or Survive - Make your choice for 2012
Back at Base - The guide to what happens in and around the Ritchey TrailMaster 2012 Page 42 - 44 There is No ‘I’ in Team - Tactics for the the Ritchey TrailMaster 2012 Page 46 - 50 Food Matters - Get your diet dialed Page 52 - 56 Water Works - Stay hydrated Page 58 - 60 Camping Tips for the Big Event - Create your perfect home away from home Page 62 - 64 Security Tips - Make sure your trusted steed stays with you 3
It’s all about balance.
Desirable and accessible.
Who says you can’t have one without the other? A 3 year unlimited mileage warranty, 5 years or 60,000 miles free servicing, 24 hour roadside assistance definitely make the Vito Sport range desirable. And as all these come as standard, it’s entirely accessible. With great finance deals available, it’s the perfect choice for your bank balance too.
vitosport
@thevitosport
www.vitosport.co.uk
A standard stem. Ritchey WCS C260. 30% stiffer, 14% lighter, 100% faster.
Ritchey WCS C260 Stem 103 grams (100mm size, with hardware) 30% stiffer than our race proven 4Axis • Patented C260 bar clamp
Radius cut 3-bolt steer clamp Forged and machined 7050 alloy body • Installs without removal of levers
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TRAILMASTERS
GENESIS
The in-depth story behind the newest mountain bike event on the block: the Ritchey TrailMasters powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport
J
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
ohn Lloyd is one half of the mountain bike event brain that, together with Mike Wilkens, is responsible for the MTB Marathon Series, the TransWales, and the Kona MashUp. After six years of running Britain’s toughest mountain bike challenge, the seven-day TransWales, John and Mike decided to put the Trans to sleep for a while in order to give life to a brand new
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event: the Ritchey TrailMasters powered by MercedesBenz Vito Sport. “The Kona MashUp,” explains John of the zygote for the new event, “proved to be very popular and people kept asking for us to put another one on again. But because of the timing issues we didn’t and, of course, the TransWales was proving too costly to be sustainable –
“The Ritchey TrailMasters is shaping up to be one of the best proof-soaked puddings any mountain biker could wish to savour...”
www.trailmasters.cc
so we decided on a bit of a mix between the Trans and the MashUp.” “We also wanted to create something which is a little easier to get involved in from a riders’ point of view,” continues Mike. “The TransWales took lots of time commitment from riders
and their support crew; we thought we will try to create something which has all the aspects of the TransWales but only ‘takes’ a long weekend.” Mike hopes that this should make it easier for riders to give it a go and by making more of the ‘off bike time’, which should be a great weekend for everyone
www.trailmasters.cc
“
The focus is on creating an event which is challenging for the seasoned riders but equally manageable for the ones who are starting out in stage racing or events in general
”
Continues overleaf...
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TRAILMASTERS
GENESIS
– both riders and supporters. “As we are not roaming [from venue to venue] we can really go to town on the evening entertainment and activities for all the guys staying behind,” he reasons, “It should be great!”
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
It certainly sounds attractive: the big day-long marathon stages peppered with the pointy elbow duking of the rally-style timed special stages, topped off with a full timetable of plenty of off the bike activities – for both riders, friends, families and support crews. A proper biking festival, if you will.
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Mike is quick to underline that the fundamental underpinnings of it all is based on the quality of the riding experience itself. “The focus is
on creating an event which is challenging for the seasoned riders but equally manageable for the ones who are starting out in stage racing or events in general,” he says. “So it will have some technical stuff in there, but nothing a regular mountain biker can’t do.” Course designer John confirms that there will be more technical trails in the mix than compared to an MTB Marathon or TransWales course; taking in plenty of singleand double-tracks – both in the forestry and on the open hill – as well as some “infamous single-track, such as the Tywi Valley and the Crychan forest – with its endless technical trails,” says John, “There’s quite a mix [of trails]: there’s plenty there – you’re spoilt for choice.” A key ingredient to the colour and feel of the Ritchey TrailMasters powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport will also be its setting in the beautifully idiosyncratic Llanwrtyd Wells. The home to the fantastic Neuadd Arms – which will be just a short
Event organiser John Llyod
walk from the event village itself – Llanwrytd is also hosting the World Alternative Games as its celebration for the Olympic year. Beginning on the Friday of the TrailMasters, and running for a fortnight, events include the notorious World Bog Snorkelling Championships (including a Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling event), the Horse V Man race, Corinthian Backward Running, Pooh Stick Champs, Rock Paper Scissors Champs, and many, many more. See www.worldalternativegames.co.uk for more. But, as with all of John and Mike’s events, it hasn’t been arrived at overnight. Indeed, the seed for all the events you know and love was planted way back in the swirling mists of time in the year 2000. Continues overleaf...
Expect some technical riding at the Ritchey Trail Masters
www.trailmasters.cc
BRITISH INNOVATION
TRAILMASTERS
GENESIS
The MTB Marathon events were all birthed by John’s desire to bring something different to the mountain bike table; that was testier than the short course XC format. “When I started racing NPS and Welsh races,” he explains, “I wanted to do more endurance stuff as that had stopped before I started biking. I always wanted to do an enduro event – it was always in the back of my mind – and then Mike came along and mentioned that they have marathons in Germany so we decided to have a go.”
linking stages interspersed with timed special stages on private land to circumvent the draconian UK rights of way laws that prohibit bicycle racing on bridlepaths). The TrailMasters is another step in their journey to create outstanding and unique events by riders, for riders. “All our events have been born out of John and my eagerness to ride them ourselves,” agrees Mike. And at the start, that’s how it was for a while: “John used to ride the marathons in the beginning,”
“All our events have been born out of John and my eagerness to ride them ourselves,” The same motivation – to create events that they themselves want to ride – continues to drive Mike and John’s work to this day. Never standing still, they are always coming up with concepts and developing new ideas: from bringing the joys of gravity enduro racing to the UK through the conceptually praised Kona MashUps – which allowed all types of riders (downhill, cross country, trail riders, and beyond) to vie for glory on an equal footing – to developing the unique ‘TransUK’ concept (marathon
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Mike reveals, “but due to the size of the event is not able to do that any more.” John’s reasoning for having to stop riding the events wryly differs a little, however: “The idea was to organise one of these events so that we could ride it,” he agrees, “which we were doing in the early days until the events got too big and too busy that Mike was threatening to commit suicide, so I had to stop riding them.” An observation that speaks volumes of John’s indomitable style: “I’m very laid back and Mike’s always on www.trailmasters.cc
edge,” he laughs. “I was always keen to ride the Trans in particular,” Mike says, “as it reflects what I like to ride and the TrailMasters is exactly the same.” Mike – himself, no slouch on the bike whether geared or singlespeed – has even had a few people asking him if he would join their team for the TrailMasters. “I would love to,” he admits, “but I guess there will be too much to do on the day again… which is a shame!” A long time resident of Builth Wells, John was originally farming before he got into mountain biking far back in the swirling mists of time. “I was marshalling on the Man v Horse v Bike race – a local event in Llanwrtyd Wells – about 16 or 17 years ago,” he explains, “and I saw the bikers there. I played some squash, and I used to ride a motorbike on the farm so I was already reasonably fit so I went out with a few friends and I took to it quite easily…” Before long he was getting out racing and onto the national scene, racking up numerous Welsh national titles, and also becoming UK Grand Veteran National Champion along the way. He’s also been awarded an MBE for his services to cycling. Not bad for a Builth boy, not bad at all.
Event organiser Mike Wilkens
So why, given the TransWales garnered many positive plaudits from both riders and the media alike, is it being put to sleep for a while? “They [both the TransWales and TransScotland
and checking it out. It would be superb if we can establish this format in its own right, but also [for it to] be seen as a try out event for riders who are keen to get into stage racing at some point.”
events] were great,” Mike says genuinely. “[There was] lots of hard work – very little sleep and lots of stress, but well worth it. We met lots of great people along the way and saw some fantastic places. However, from a business point of view,” he admits, “we needed to look at the costs [involved in] running such an event – they were scary.” However, Mike is optimistic that the new, ‘risen from the ashes of the TransWales’, Ritchey TrailMasters powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport event is “a new twist to the original idea of combining timed and untimed stages, and we are looking forward to developing that.” Mike hopes that lots of people will give the Ritchey TrailMasters a go in its inaugural year. “We have done our homework so we know we’re going to run a first class event,” he promises, “and I hope that we will have lots of people coming along www.trailmasters.cc
The proof of the pudding, of course, will be in the eating. But already, the Ritchey TrailMasters is shaping up to be one of the best proof-soaked puddings any mountain biker could wish to savour...
Click on the TV to watch the TransWales event video Further videos below: 2009 TransWales video 2010 TransWales video 2011 TransWales video
Photography supplied by Paul Box
Mike, conversely, is German by birth. When he was 25 he came to the UK to work for Giant bikes in Nottingham in 1996; it was both a brave and fateful decision. After a year he moved to Bristol to work for the then GT and Schwinn distributor, Caratti Sports. It was in his role as marketing manager for Schwinn in 2000 that he had the firepower to really put his money where his mouth is by sponsoring the first MTB Marathon in the UK: the Schwinn 100. Then fate intervened and, after being made redundant when the company he worked for folded, Mike took another risk by going self-employed to dedicate his time – alongside some freelance marketing work – to develop the MTB Marathon Series with John. 12 years on and Mike and John’s partnership has seen them emerge in the top echelon of mountain bike events organisers in the UK, alongside such luminaries as Pat Adams (of Mountain Mayhem fame), and Martyn Salt (of Bontrager TwentyFour12 and the Olympic MTB event). Their events, too, remain amongst the premier events on the calendar.
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What to
ride in
2012... New in 2012 the Ritchey TrailMasters powered by MercedesBenz Vito Sport is closely following in the food steps of infamous TransUK event and will hopefully carry on the torch of UK stage racing. But as for the last few years we have more to offer to the dirt and tarmac hungry crowd out there than ‘just’ our new three day stage event. So listen up and check out what else our team has been hard at work at over the winter and what might just be the event ticket you are looking for. Some of our events look back on 13 years of history, some are a little bit more recent…but they all have a few things in common. Passion for riding some fantastic trails and routes, a laid back yet well organised approach and lots of helpful people who are keen to make your event experience one to remember. Our 2012 event offerings:
The season will once again start off with the April round of the Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series which is also powered by MercedesBenz Vito Sport.
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The MTB Marathon Series offers a broad range of courses and locations to all you MTB Marathon enthusiasts, night owls, novices and intermediates alike. So whatever your skill or fitness level, we have the right course length and level of difficulty for your ability with the choice of course length to progress over time – whilst enabling you to experience and discover challenging and exciting biking terrain across the UK.
But the CRC MTB Marathon Se-
ries doesn’t just look after the riders who like a good portion of dirt but also has something up its sleeve for the skinny tyred fraternity. As in the last few years some of the rounds of the marathon series offer more than 3-4 superb MTB courses but also two fantastic road courses. All together four locations are on the calendar of the Vitus Road Sportives powered by CycleOps Power visiting, Wales, England and the Scottish Borders. So if you prefer to enjoy the breath taking scenery, challenging climbs and spine tingling descends from the saddle of your
www.trailmasters.cc
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road bike then make sure you check out the offerings of the Vitus Road Sportives in 2012.
And then last but certainly not
least the BIG NEW event for 2012. The Ritchey TrailMasters powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport. This unique three day event awaits riders from the UK and abroad to fight out the most accomplished all round solo riders and teams in one of the most famous mountain bike locations in the UK.
So whether you are looking forward to a long day on your trusty steed, race action with short bursts against the clock, additional training for the TrailMasters, a crack at the UK Marathon Champs or just want to take in some of the most breath taking views and trails the UK has to offer - we will have something in the mix for you. So come along and join us for an action packed season of mountain bike and road events.
Dates & locations of the CRC Marathons & ELBNO Builth Wells: 7th – 8th April (ELBNO) Selkirk: 19th – 20th May Marshbrook: 14th – 15th July Where to find details and entry facilities:
www.mtb-marathon.co.uk
Abergavenny: 4th – 5th August Ruthin: 15th – 16th September (ELBNO)
Dates & locations of the VITUS Road Sportives
Where to find details and entry facilities:
Selkirk: 19th May Marshbrook: 14th July Abergavenny: 5th August Ruthin: 15th September
www.roadsportives.co.uk
Dates & location of the RITCHEY TrailMasters Start / Finish – Llanwrtyd Wells: 17th – 19th August
Where to find details and entry facilities:
www.trailmasters.cc
www.trailmasters.cc
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The Joy Of The
Big Rid
Photography supplied by Russell Burton
de
Getting ‘out there’ and exploring by bike is not only a great adventure but also a fantastic way to take your riding to the next level.
There is something incredibly pure about heading out for a big ride. Short, sharp singletrack sojourns don’t quite hold the same life affirming test. Yes, they’re damn fine and super fun in their own right – especially with a bunch of mates each taking the singletrack fight to each other – but they’re safe. Short. And known. Big rides, on the other hand, are anything but. And therein lies their allure. Where everything else in life is increasingly sanitised, risk-assessed, and – for want of another phraseneutered, where is the source of primal arousal? Of never knowing what comes next? Of just, well, adventure?
On big rides, that’s where.
Photography supplied by Matt Skinner
Nothing can beat that sense of
excited anticipation of clipping in and setting off into the big wide yonder. With little more than your wits, your friends, a multi-tool and a bruised banana festering in the depths of your pack, there’s an invigorating sense of freedom of seeing where your tyres will take you. Add to this already heady mix the sense of discovery – especially when stumbling over an entirely hidden piece of Heaven – whenever you crest a climb, drop into a valley, or cross a river, that turns the regular act of pedalling a bike into a voyage of discovery, and you’ve a thoroughly intoxicating proposition.
Of course self-sufficiency dictates that taking just a random piece of fruit festering in the depths of your pack into the back of beyond isn’t the best idea: we’d also include the usual trail essentials (spare tubes, puncture repair kits, chain breaker, spare chain links, tyre levers, mech hanger, zip ties, a pump, spare clothes, waterproofs and so on), together with a proper map and compass (and knowing how to use them), a first aid kit, emergency food in case the engine starts running on empty, a charged mobile phone, plenty of water and snacks, and an emergency shelter/bivvi bag should the worst happen.
But that’s not all. No, siree Bob.
Continues overleaf...
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www.trailmasters.cc
T H G I N E TH N OW
pear from nowhere; and the obvious line may actually end up to be the line to nowhere. In short, riding natural trails keeps you on your toes, sharpens your riding skills and your mental faculties to read the trail ahead to make the correct snap decision, each and every time.
Photography supplied by Matt Skinner
Mountain bikes are tools after all, and not to let them loose to frolic on the flanks of a mountain is like using a camper van just to run to the shops in. Of course, you can just trundle around manmade stuff – and don’t get us wrong, that is great, too – but sometimes you want the real thing, not an artificial approximation. After all, what’s the point of keeping a tool sharp if it can’t get its teeth into the job it was made for?
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Even for all their fine qualities trail centres just can’t replicate the authenticity of experience of heading out into the hills. Although the trail quality varies from centre to centre – some are smoothly groomed buff singletracks whilst others are megalithic rock-fests with enough trail armouring to give an ankylosaur dinosaur – the mid-Jurassic equivalent of a Challenger tank – a run for its (admittedly now extinct) money, the ride can be described to be more theme-park like than Russian roulette: realistic but entirely safe thrills. Natural trails, on the other hand, are unpredictable. Corners can suddenly and unexpectedly tighten, holes and wheel-catching crevices can ap-
Roots and rocks will invariably ar-
range themselves in the most inconvenient arrangements possible, climbs may not be the benevolent benefactors of traction, and descents may not actually be rideable. Yes, we know it sounds odd but this lack of certainty will actually make you a better rider: your judgement will come to the fore and override the unthinking auto-pilot as your line choice will improve and improve as you constantly scan the trail ahead for the smoothest, fastest, or the path of least resistance rather than just the line the trail pixies designed for you.
Your riding technique will go through the roof as you master the irregularities of off-piste riding: honing traction and power delivery to claw up otherwise Teflon-coated climbs, perfectly balancing your weight between the front and rear wheels as you negotiate knots of roots and piles of rubble in your inexorable rise to the summit, and learning the true limits of traction as you pick your way back down the near vertiginous descent on the knife-edges of braking and tyre control. Rather than dulled due to the predictability of conveniently packaged terrain, your riding senses will flourish.
www.trailmasters.cc
Certainly there will be challenges both large and small in those places: whether it’s due to slow going under tyre or frustratingly sustained sections of undrideable terrain all are part and parcel of the adventure. Indeed, before purpose built trail centres and in the time of the fully rigid precursor to today’s refined suspension bikes hike-a-biking was part and parcel of the mountain bike experience. This also rekindles those memories of child-hood exploration: of the thrall of adventure for adventure’s sake – wherever and however it took you. And it imbues a steely resolve to ride as much as possible, even if it looks unrideable at first. Inevitably, this is how you widen your eyes to the potential for what you can ride and not what you can’t. Trail centres, too, are often nestled
into woodland so shroud the views of the landscape. Yet for many, a large part of the allure of mountain biking is seeing the great outdoors in all its naked, undiluted beauty: whether riding
exposed ridges, mountain passes, or remote moor tops, being right out there means that the landscape unfurls before you like a carpet wrapped over the contours of the land. Its endless variations are life-affirming reminders that it’s not about the bike. It’s about the ride. And whether or not you’re a paidup member of the misanthrope’s club (an ironic organisation if ever there was one), your soul can’t fail to be touched by the allure of the empty places.
Heading home is also rarely as sweet as when it has been hardfought, when memories of the day’s highs and lows have been recorded in HD for perpetuity – ready to be replayed whenever reminders are needed that there’s a wide old world out there. After all, the ride is about getting
into that nebulous ‘out there’ before coming back full circle to reminisce with your riding buddies over a cuppa. Sharing the adventure with friends and loved ones makes it all the more special – especially for those for whom this is their first taste of ‘out there’ mountain biking – as the confidence that comes from successfully pushing back personal boundaries – even by just an inch – is deeply satisfying.
And once the phone line is opened up the empty places will call to you wombingly. Incessantly.
Slowly planting and tending the seed for the next big ride. www.trailmasters.cc
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bike advice Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
As with the Marathon events, don’t let yourself get too hung up on the sort of bike you need for the Trail Masters events. The rider counts far more than the bike, and while a decent full suspension bike can undoubtedly get you down rough descents quicker than a hardtail, you need to weigh that up against the advantages of a lighter hardtail on the climbs.
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If you have more than one bike to choose from or if you’re thinking of buying a new bike, it’s well worth considering the pros and cons of the different bike types. Also, if you’re hoping to be competitive in the special stage results you could choose to ride a different bike on different days... although you do have to ride each whole day on the same bike you started on so you can’t change bikes for a single special stage. Inspect the details of each special stage to work out which of these bike types might be most advantageous.
www.trailmasters.cc
medium
travel full suspension...
Weight 26-32lb
lightweight
short travel full suspension... Weight 24-28lb
Bike weight is always going to be an issue in events that involve going uphill from time to time. Any pro racer will tell you that most races are won or lost on the hills, and many riders would say that a ‘raceready’ short travel full susser is the perfect bike for a place to place event, long or short distance. But what does short travel mean? Well, the lightest race-bred full sussers usually have about 100mm of suspension travel front and rear, although some will happily take a 120mm travel fork. Such a bike doubles up as a perfect trail centre or big day out bike too, so you’re not just buying a bike for one purpose. Inevitably, the cost of the ‘perfect’ lightweight short travel race-bred full susser is going to be high: World Cup level race bikes like this are often £4000+. But the good news is that you can get something pretty special for around £2500. Above that the law of diminishing returns kicks in, with just tiny weight losses for each extra £500 spent. For an average rider of average fitness and weight it’s hard to justify much more than £2500. Getting fitter, losing a little weight or working on your trail skills would probably reap more speed reward, although it has to be said that the feel-good factor of a superlight bike has been known to turn carthorses into slightly faster carthorses.
Lots of riders opt for a 120mm travel full suspension rig as their go-anywhere doeverything bike, and this makes perfect sense. The cautious overbuilding, and consequent extra weight, of bikes like this means they’re not as quick up the hills. But the extra suspension travel and the confidence that can give will often mean you’ll end up going a little faster across really challenging terrain and quite a bit faster on the downhills. Few riders would say that a 120mm+ full susser is the perfect marathon bike, although there are some very low weight ones around if you’re willing to shed enough money, but the attraction of such a bike is that it’s going to be a lot of fun to ride on other big terrain rides when gravity assisted speed and damage avoidance are the main priorities. Expect to pay £2500+ for something that weighs in at just under 30lb. If you’re less than fussed about being up among the fastest riders in a marathon, but want to focus more on having a blast on challenging terrain, this might be the bike for you.
hardtail...
Weight 21-28lb
Almost any hardtail short of a jump bike is suitable for place to place riding. A suspension fork is an obvious advantage but we’ve seen riders on rigid forks and even a few on skinny tyred cyclo cross bikes enjoying themselves just as much as anyone in marathon events. Hardtail weight range reflects the price. An ideal marathon hard
continues overleaf
www.trailmasters.cc
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bike advice tail is probably the lightest one, but that’s the one that will cost you the most too... World Cup level marathon hardtails cost upwards of £3000 and the really special ones weigh close to 20lb.
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
An ‘average’ marathon-capable hardtail can be a do-everything mountain bike too. Okay, you won’t get the comfort of rear suspension but that lack of rear suspension will save you 2-3lb of weight and usually quite a lot of money. A typical £1000 hardtail will weigh in at around 26-28lb, or a couple of pounds more if you prefer the idea of a harder hitting one with a beefed up frame and a longer travel fork. 100mm of fork travel is the norm for cross country terrain but there are plenty options around with 80mm or 120mm.
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The Big Wheeler Options Big wheelers (29ers) are an increasingly popular option in all bike types. The 29in aspect refers to the wheel size from tyre edge to tyre edge, so overall radius is 3in wider than the usual 26in wheels. There’s an in-between 27.5in (650b) option too but those are currently pretty rare. The shallower angle of attack on bigger wheels means that they roll more easily than smaller wheels over bumps and holes, and that’s the main reason for the growth in popularity. The downside is that they weigh a little more and the ride feel is not as lively as that of 26in wheels. Not everyone appreciates them but there’s no doubt that the extra stability of 29ers make them easier to ride over rough terrain.
Big wheeler hardtails have become very popular for pro’ riders in marathon events. Because of their more forgiving ride feel they’ve almost taken over from short travel full suspension bikes. There are loads of excellent 29ers to choose from £1000 upwards. As with 26ers the more you pay the lighter they tend to be. So far, full suspension 29ers have had less appeal, partly because the redesign of the back end (to accommodate the bigger wheel as well as the suspension) often results in them being noticeably heavier than their 26in wheeled counterparts. But they’re getting better, and can generally be made with less suspension travel than 26ers because of the softer roll.
www.trailmasters.cc
w w w. a l p i n a - h e l m e t s . co. u k
EQUIPMENT CHOICES
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk & Matt Skinner
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ven
the most experienced riders have totally different ideas of how to equip their bike and what to take on a marathon event. Obviously a lot depends on the distance you’ve chosen to ride and the conditions you expect to be riding in. Be aware that conditions can vary enormously from hour to hour in big hilly terrain. Clear mild sunny weather can turn to cold blustery wet weather and a dry trail can turn to sticky mud after a single heavy rain shower. Provided you appreciate the risks it’s up to you to decide whether to opt for a minimalist or a ‘better safe than sorry’ approach. Use your common sense and think about how long you’re likely to be out there. Remember, there may not be anywhere to shelter for hours and you’re likely to get colder as soon as you stop. If you can’t handle the ‘back of beyond’ idea, consider the shorter distances. THE SPECIAL STAGE TUNED BIKE Adaptable choices like gearing and tyres are worthy of consideration if you’re going for a fast result in the special stages. The no-fuss approach is obviously to ride the whole day with all-rounder tyres that roll well and grip well in typical conditions, and a gear range that offers an easy to pedal bail-out gear ratio for when you’re tired and tackling the steepest
rideable climbs. But a closer inspection of the special stages on each day might persuade you to consider different tyres, different gearing or even a different bike for particular days if you happen to have a choice. Bear in mind that every tyre is a compromise. If a tyre rolls fast enough to get you a few seconds advantage on easy terrain, it’ll probably be compromised in grip in muddy technical trail conditions. On the other hand, incredibly grippy tyres will probably slow you down and/or get blocked with mud in some faster trail conditions. Our best advice on all but the wettest days/events would be to opt for one of the new generation of big profile fast rolling tyres. By big profile we don’t mean deep treaded, as deep treads block in the mud. We mean high profile for comfort and shock absorption but with a fairly shallow rapid rolling tread pattern. Such treads offer a great mix of speed and traction. We would also favour going tubeless (UST or DIY) with liquid sealant inside the tyre, as this vastly reduces your risk of punctures. The sealant will instantly fill thorn type holes and the fact that there’s no inner tube means you can’t get pinch punctures. Only tyre splits can disable you.
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EQUIPMENT CHOICES
Another point worth bearing in mind on tyres is pressure. Tubeless tyres can be safely run a little softer than tubed tyres, because there’s no risk of pinch puncturing the tube on hard edge bumps. Less pressure means more traction but a more squirmy ride. A happy medium is around 35psi for a 180lb rider. Other than gears and tyres, you might like to give some consideration to the comfort of your bike’s contact points. Saddle comfort in particular is obviously crucial on long rides. If you’re a big ride novice you might not realise that big padded saddles tend to get less comfortable as you ride further, because they chafe, whereas the slimline specialist saddles tend to support your sit bones and crotch better on long rides because they’re designed to relieve pressure at all the points that sink into the saddle surface. But saddle choice is a very personal thing, as all our bottoms are different. We know a lot of guys who’ve found that they prefer the slightly wider back and central softness of women’s saddles, and it’s very noticeable that a lot of leading saddle brands are now designing obvious dipped channels into the centre of their mens saddles too.
pound grips will chafe less. Some riders prefer thicker grips, some prefer thinner and some prefer the new breed of anatomically shaped grips with extra support. Like grips, pedals are a personal thing too. Few riders will go back to flat pedals and soft shoes once they’ve discovered the pedalling efficiency of the clipless variety with cleated shoes, but if you’re using clipless pedals for the first time think carefully about whether you’ll want to be tightly fixed to them or whether you prefer to have some ‘float’ and an easy release. Most clipless pedals can be adjusted for easy release but only a few brands offer the ‘float’ that riders with dodgy knees tend to prefer. SPECIAL STAGE KIT AND RIDING We’ve already dealt fairly comprehensively in the Marathon section of this site with the sort of clothing, kit, tools and spares you need to consider taking with you on the place to place sections of the TrailMaster event. There are a
Think carefully about your grips and pedals too. Lock-on grips won’t slip and soft comContinues overleaf...
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EQUIPMENT CHOICES few more calculated risks, tempting fate with punctures or other mechanicals.
It’ll seem obvious to most riders who’ve done this sort of thing before, but take a few minutes to consider whether you could strip down your all-day kit to the bare minimum for each special stage. Whether it’s realistic to do this or not is usually going to depend on whether you can come back to the start to collect your surplus kit after the timed section... many of the timed sections are loops so this is possible... but it goes almost without saying that carrying less weight and wearing less clothing helps you to ride faster. Don’t skimp on spare tubes and tools though, as the urgency of a timed section is often when you’ll take a
If you’re aiming for a good result, the relative urgency of the special stages is also likely to cause things to go wrong with your riding technique. We’ve dealt with tactical issues elsewhere, but think carefully about each technical section of trail as you enter it. It’s tempting to take risks when you’re going for a fast time, but make sure those risks are well calculated. If you’re riding a bike with plenty of suspension travel you’ll usually be able to deal with technical sections of trail faster and
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk & Matt Skinner
few slightly different considerations when it comes to the special stages.
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EQUIPMENT CHOICES with a little more bravado, but concentrate on keeping calm and smooth. It’s the best tactic of all.
ing to a dead halt in the middle of a boulder field before realising that you shouldn’t have attempted to ride it.
Despite the relative panic that can set in when you’re aiming for a rapid time, constant hard accelerations followed by constant hard braking is not always the fastest way of riding a technical trail. Look well ahead and focus on trail lines that need less braking. Maintain the flow and you’ll save energy for the next bit as well as maintaining your cool and being less likely to crash. And if a technical section of trail looks to be beyond your riding abilities just jump off and walk/run to the next easy bit. All the best racers know that climbing off the bike for a few steps is better than risking com-
Last, but certainly not least, don’t panic if you find yourself coming up behind a slower rider. As you close in on them look for a safe passing space and give them a polite shout of “on your left” or “on your right” to let them know where you’re going to pass. Likewise, if someone comes up behind you, look for an opportunity to let them past before they start buzzing your rear wheel.
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It’s all about balance.
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Who says you can’t have one without the other? A 3 year unlimited mileage warranty, 5 years or 60,000 miles free servicing, 24 hour roadside assistance definitely make the Vito Sport range desirable. And as all these come as standard, it’s entirely accessible. With great finance deals available, it’s the perfect choice for your bank balance too.
SU
N I W
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
&
E V I V R
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OUND GET R F O T T WAN TOP O JUST T TO BE A HE U O Y WAN HER EAD T WHET PIECE OR ’D BEST R YOUR E E U I N O L O Y EA S Y BE… IN M, A ODIU YOU R THE P TO HELP ER THEY M V W E O T L A E H B MS, W DREA
SURVIVING
If you’ve never tackled a multi-day ride before then don’t be afraid: with the right attitude, it’s more than achievable: it’s hugely enjoyable and massively rewarding, too. Just be warned: it is a bug and you will no-doubt end up being hugely bitten by it! With distances ranging up to 85km not only is it good physical preparation to have racked up similar distances in the lead up to the event itself, it’s also great to know that psychologically, you really can do it. Of course you can rack the miles up yourself but why not try one of the Chain Reaction Cycles MTB Marathon Series, powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport events? With marathon distances ranging from 25km, 55km and up to 85km or so, not only are these a great way to focus your preparation in the lead up to the Ritchey TrailMasters, but they’re damn enjoyable, too. If you’re literally just starting out with marathon riding then a good way to get yourself physically and psychologically prepared for the TrailMasters would be to tackle a mini-marathon in April, before building up to a mid-marathon in May or July, then a full one in early August. That way you have achievable milestones staggered right up to the TrailMasters to keep you focused and on-course with your preparation.
Of course, getting yourself in shape is just one half of the partnership so don’t forget to make sure that your trusty steed is suitably prepped and pampered, too. If you’re not confident in tinkering with your bike yourself then take it to a reputable bike shop to be serviced and checked over for you a good few weeks in advance of the event: this way, if anything needs replacing you will have plenty of time to bed it all in and cure any initial gremlins that can occur. What you don’t want to do is to turn up at the event with a bike that hasn’t had a few decent shakedown rides. So give yourself some breathing space to make sure your bike is running smoothly, and that you’re comfortable for long periods of time in the saddle, too.
T
he other important thing to remember – besides getting your body and bike prepared – is how and when to fuel it so you can enjoy, rather than endure, the ride. Torq fitness is the Ritchey TrailMasters nutrition sponsor and Matt Hart from Torq is a great person to discuss any specific questions or queries you might have about what can be, at first glance at least, a baffling subject. The truth is that, despite the technical details, the logic of good sports nutrition is simple. Your body runs on energy – it can run off what it already has stored or what you put into it. If you didn’t eat or drink anything then your body would use up its own energy stores and when they’ve gone you will ‘bonk’ – hit empty. This isn’t a pleasant experience but it is also almost entirely avoidable. The trick is to spare your body’s energy stores as much as possible by topping them right up the night and day before the event by eating and drinking plenty of the right foods, and then to become an eating and drinking machine on the ride by nibbling and sipping a little and often in order to keep everything nicely topped up. Remember not to wait until you’re hungry – by which time your body’s energy stores will be depleting – but instead be disciplined to eat and drink right from the start, and to keep doing so every 10-15mins or so until the finish. Continues overleaf...
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certainly, but if you’re riding to survive and not compete, then keep that focus in mind and just ride them as you would the linking stage. Given that the faster riders would’ve already gone through the special stage too, it’s likely that you won’t have folks overtaking you. So find your rhythm for the ride, and enjoy it.
SURVIVE N I W &
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
See the Nutrition articles on Food Matters (p46) and Water Works (p52) for more specifics on what to eat and drink and when, as well as what not to eat.
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It’s also important to note that at the TrailMasters, the linking stages aren’t races so you shouldn’t feel pressured to go hell for leather. Indeed, doing that is a sure-fire way to make you struggle as it’s always better to start slow and finish strong, rather than to start well and then fade through overdoing it. So take it easy and pace yourself and, if you’re unsure how fast to go err on the side of caution and go slow. Your legs will thank you for it come the end of the ride!
T
he linking stages at the TrailMasters are very similar to the non-competitive rides of the MTB Marathon Series: i.e. they’re not races. They’re rides. There’s no pressure to go like a bat out of hell from the start line through to the finish – if the fast folks want to tear up the trail as quick as bullets from a gun then let them – you can simply ride, enjoy the conversation of your riding buddies or of new-found friends out on course, take in the scenery, and revel in the experience. And although many of the special stages – which are timed – are on the linking stages, just because they’re timed doesn’t mean that you have to gun them. Have fun,
As the courses are all fully way-marked, you don’t need to worry about navigation either: just follow the arrows and relax. There are also numerous feed stations out on course so you can replenish any drinks and food supplies you need, so you won’t run out. And if you need mechanical assistance out on course the chances are that other riders will offer to help as the camaraderie will be A1; there will also be mechanics at the feed stations, too, so if you can make it to them they can work their magic for you. The other bonus is that as the event returns to the same location every day, if you need a rest day then it’s not a problem: you can. What’s more, there’ll be tons of things to see and do to keep you entertained at the event village (see the Back At Base feature on p38 for more) so you certainly won’t be bored.
WINNING
So you’ve earned your endurance stripes and now you want to put yourself to the test to see how you stack up against the other fast folks? Make sure you’ve done lots of long distance riding so that the distances don’t take it out of you: as you know, you can’t race if your legs have caved in from fatigue. So rack up the mileage and also the speed at which you can cover the distance in.
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Steve Peat and his Birzman Dragonfly Chain Tool photograhed by Dom Worral
INFO: www.birzman.co.uk
SURVIVE N I W &
on the rivet, guaranteed. Your training needs to replicate this and prepare you for it.
Get some big training rides in the can and target key endurance events in the build up – like the National Marathon Champs in Selkirk (19-20th May, see www.mtb-marathon.co.uk for more) – to test your speed and endurance. You should also get used to doing large rides back-to-back as you need to perform consistently for the duration of the event.
T Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
he promise of the TrailMasters is that the riding will feature high quality trails with technical challenges aplenty – both descending and climbing. So in order to rise above, you not only need to be physically firing on all cylinders but also technically, too. And that includes both descending and climbing skills as the TrailMaster aims to crown the very best all-round riders – not just the fittest.
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ADDRESS YOUR
WEAKNESSES
Whether fitness (e.g. power), climbing, descending, roots, or off-camber riding – then working hard on this aspect will make you a stronger all-round contender. The TrailMaster will test every facet of your mountain biking repertoire so strengthen your hand by addressing the parts of your riding that you already know need polishing. Although the linking stages are un-timed, the special stages are anything but: they require sustained intense efforts that mean you’ll be
As the special stages are generally short and sharp, mechanicals can scupper your chances: therefore being able to fix punctures and mechanicals in the minimum time can help salvage your chances. Practice fixing punctures, replacing tubes, and snapped chains in double quick time; if you’re not already acquainted with CO2 cartridges then get acquainted: they help get fixed flats back up to pressure in mere seconds. Or go tubeless together with a dose of sealant so that most punctures are either averted altogether or get fixed automatically. If the worst happens and the mechanical is unfixable then get running/freewheeling through to the end of the special stage as quickly as possible to minimise your time losses. You can then take your time fixing the problem. Knowing how to fuel your ride and recovery – before, during and after – can give you the edge by ensuring your body is optimally prepared for each day’s efforts. Get up to speed with the nutrition and hydration features (on
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p46 and p52); and give yourself plenty of time to experiment with different fuelling strategies (liquid, gels, bars and so on), with different foods and drinks to find the ones that work for you and your body. Remember that what works for one person may not work as well with another, so finding the best combination for you can be a process of trial and error. Understand the rules, the format, and the timing allowances for each and every part of the event so you can hone your plan of attack. For instance, although the linking stages aren’t a race – you may have around 7hrs to complete a linking stage in – that doesn’t mean you have to take the full 7hrs as that will eat into the total recovery time you have before the off the next day.
post the best possible time, in which case it’ll be full-bore from the start of the linking stage. After you’ve done the biz you can then use the remainder of the linking stage as a recovery or wind-down ride. The choice, as they say, is yours. If you’re riding in a team then further tactics will come into play as only the top two times of the three riders on the special stage times will count towards your position. So if it’s a downhill special stage one of your three riders isn’t the fastest thing downwards then the other two can head off for the line like heavenly fireballs scorching into the finish to record the fastest time your team can. Similarly this is also true of the climbing special stage and, indeed the night time special stage, too. There’s plenty more to consider so take a look at the TrailMasters tactics feature on p42, too.
Similarly, it also doesn’t mean you have to race like a person possessed and finish in the shortest time possible: minimise your effort and conserve energy where you need to throughout the linking stage so that you’re as fresh and as fuelled for when it counts (e.g. in the special stages). Of course, you may want to get to the special stage first to ensure a clear and uninterrupted run at it so you can www.trailmasters.cc
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Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
back atbase
A major tenet of the Ritchey TrailMasters powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport is to be a complete festival feel so you can be sure that there’ll be plenty to keep you and the troops of all ages entertained – both on the bike and off.
Riding is without doubt the main attraction for riders coming to the Ritchey TrailMasters, but the event is not simply about the bike. It’s about bringing together like-minded people, have a great time riding bikes and once all the dirt duelling is done, to have a great time off them. And there’ll be plenty to do off them.
be lots to do at the event village throughout the day and then plenty more at night. What’s more, if you want to make it a proper long weekend the event will be open from the Thursday afternoon through to the Monday morning. The great news is that it’s almost all included in the entry price for riders and is free of charge for their support crews; those that aren’t will be marked accordingly.
Equally, the event is founded on the idea that everyone – no matter whether they’re riding, supporting, or soaking up the vibe – should have a great time. And to this end, everything will be open all day long – from catering through to the demo courses, and more – so that there’s something for everyone. There’ll
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So without further ado, here’s what’s in store… Fun run
Bike & kit demos
Test ride the latest road, mountain bikes and kit from selected brands. There’ll be marked mountain and road bike test courses throughout the event so you can really put the latest and greatest through their paces.
Fun rides
There will be both mountain and road bike fun rides taking place during the day so that those supporting can also have a slice of the action, too. The roads and trails around town have some very fine gems to be enjoyed, so come prepared to discover them in rides to suit everyone.
Kids’ activities
From a bouncy castle through to face painting, kids races, and more, the Ritchey Trail Masters will be as kid friendly as it is bikefriendly. They’re the next generation of twowheel stars, after all so we’d best look after them!
Technical talks
Get up to speed with the right pre, during, and post-event nutrition from the likes of energy food masters, Torq, together with many other technical seminars from folks like Stan’s No-Tubes, Birzman tools, and Alpina helmets to help fuel your knowledge for the ride.
Live bands
For your musical and dancing delictation there will be a selection of live bands on Saturday night. So put on your dancing shoes and your good time attitude and get ready to get down!
On the Saturday there will also be a cross country fun run for everybody staying back at base to help keep everyone’s blood pumping, so bring your trainers and running gear, or why not get yourself dolled up in fancy dress and become part of the entertainment yourself?
Film shows
Showing both film highlights of the day’s riding together with feature films and kids programmes to help keep everyone entertained and enthralled. There’ll also be photo slide shows of the best shots taken by our event photographer, Jon Brooke (www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk).
Chill out zones
Had enough action or simply need a break from the hustle and bustle for a few minutes? The TrailMasters’ calming and tranquil chill out zone will just the ticket to help rebalance and revitalise yourself in.
Hydro pools
We’re still working to confirm these but we hope to get them sorted so that you can soak away those aches and pains in style! Just don’t forget your swimmies!
Pub quiz
With a licensed bar on-site we felt it only right that a pub quiz should accompany it – just as cheese is nothing without pickle. So get swotting on your general knowledge, acquaint yourselves with mountain bike history and current cycling trivia, and cram on popular culture.
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back atbase Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
Coffee vans
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Although you’ll need to pay for your skinny lattes, the Cafe2U van will be on-hand all weekend to keep you nicely caffeinated. From your early morning shot through to your afternoon pick me up, they’ll be onhand whenever you absolutely, positively, definitely must have a coffee. Or tea and hot chocolate, for that matter!
Massage team
If you need a pre-ride rub down or a little help after a long ride to be back in tip-top form the next morning our massage team will be on site all weekend. Please bring some money as this is not included in the package.
On-site catering
Food and refreshments will be on-hand throughout the weekend via the Ritchey TrailMasters on-site caterers. From breakfast and brunch, through to lunch and supper – not forgetting snacks and treats of courses – it’s all on-hand for your taste bud tickling. There’ll be more besides all this so keep an eye on www.trailmasters.cc website for the latest news and additions. And if you have suggestions and ideas of what else we should look at please drop us a line on info@trailmasters.cc and we will see if can make it happen.
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LEARN MORE
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Designed to Win.
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THERE’S NO ‘i’ IN TEAM THE TACTICS EXPLORED THAT COULD MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE TO BAGGING THE TOP SPOT OR BEING AN ALSO-RAN AT THE RITCHEY TRAILMASTERS…
The TrailMasters has male and female categories for Open, Veterans, Open Mixed, Veterans Mixed, Open Solo, and Veterans Solo racers. Each team has three riders. Rankings will be given in all categories and all categories will have day winners as well as overall winners. But with so much racing to be done and so many things to think about, where should you look to go about planning your campaign for TrailMasters glory? Right here, that’s where…
LINKING STAGES
The long distance rides which fill the majority of your riding time are called ‘linking stages’. These linking stages are not competitive but do have a time limit (usually based on an average speed of 12kph) within which you should complete the stage in; if you come over the finish line before the time limit then you won’t get any time advantage. However, if you finish the day’s stage over the time limit you will receive a time penalty (the amount of which is dependant on how late you are).
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The linking stages are tactical because they lead to the special stages and so if you want the best, most trafficfree run you can on the special stage you will need to ensure that you get to the special stage start ahead of other riders. That means busting a gut to get to them early for a clear run at the special stage. If you take the linking stage leisurely you will no doubt have to negotiate plenty of traffic when you hit the special stage – having a negative effect on your time. Equally, you want to arrive at the special stage in the best condition possible to deliver a cracking time so you can arrive early, have a breather, fuel up and then go, or just ride in and off as you would normally, using the last portion of the linking stage to fuel up. All this is simple enough, however days two and three see not just one special stage during the linking stages, but two. That means that pacing and planning of efforts on the linking stages in order to slingshot you into the best possible position to take on each special stage will be crucial. All
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that’s gone before applies of course, but riders should also pay special attention to their fuelling strategies to ensure optimum performance and recovery ahead of both special stages. Once both special stages are despatched riders can then use the remainder of the special stage either as a warm-down ride, or opt to head home at a fair lick to maximise their off-the-bike recovery time.
SPECIAL STAGES
The special stages are rally-style off-road time trials where the clock does well and truly tick. The special stages are held within the linking stage (except the night time special stage), with every day having at least one special stage, sometimes two, within the linking stages. The special stage starts and finishes will be clearly marked. Each special stage will be different: there is a climbing special stage, a descending one, three technical loops (equal parts climbing and descending), and a night
time stage. Every stage is a time trial with riders going off at set intervals, rather than en-masse. The start order is done simply on a ‘first come, first served’ basis to avoid delays and help ensure riders self-seed for an optimal run of the special stage. For solo riders, tactics, timings and results are straightforward: the rider with the shortest time will win so riders will have to put the hammer down from the very start. However, for the team riders things get a little bit more interesting. Although teams consist of three riders, only the average time of each teams’ top two riders’ times will count towards the stage result. Therefore, team tactics will come into play as teams should be asking themselves which two riders are the strongest descenders? The strongest climbers? The best night riders? And which two are the strongest all-rounders? Matching the best tactics to the days’ special stages will be one of the key ingredients for the recipe of success. Even out on the special stage’s course, teams need
to decide whether the two riders will just get their heads down to record the fastest individual times as possible, or should they ride out on course as a team, with the stronger climber dragging the weaker one up the climbs, and likewise on the downs, in the hope that this will result in an improved average time? But can you also shave a few grams of weight off by handing over the hefy hydration packs you might be wearing to your third team rider to carry down to the finish like a gear mule? And what about mechanicals? Should each of your team riders look after themselves or should the team ride and fix mechanicals together? All of these questions need to be mulled over by the team to find the best tactics for them.
AND FINALLY…
The TrailMasters is not just about riding your bike fast and long – tehy’re also about making new friends whilst chewing over the day’s events, riding through amazing countryside in one of the most picturesque places in Wales, pushing your own limits, following an active and healthy lifestyle and simply www.trailmasters.cc
i about being part of something special. If you have had the chance to be part of the TransWales in the past then you will know what we are talking about and if not, come along to the Ritchey TrailMasters 2012 and find out for yourself.
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You don’t have to eat much less to reach your potential, just much better. What Mountain Bike magazine explains how…
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
Losing weight might be the most common New Year’s resolution but it can be the hardest to keep. So if you need extra motivation remind yourself that not only will you look better, you’ll be a faster and stronger rider. According to Matt Fitzgerald, author of Racing Weight: How To Get Lean For Peak Performance, being overweight is a major hindrance to improving fitness. “It wastes energy, slows you down, affects performance and stresses joints.”
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When it comes to changing your physiology, weight and body composition are areas where you can make a difference. There’s no point wishing to be taller or have longer legs but, says Fitzgerald, “you can reduce your weight to a level that is optimal for performance given your genetic constraints”. Improving body composition through training and diet will help up your power-to-weight ratio and thereby be able to ride harder. Fitzgerald warns against using body mass index (BMI) as a way to gauge ideal body weight. “BMI charts are designed to identify unhealthy weights for the general population, based on a statistical susceptibility to disease,” he says. “This is too vague to identify ideal athletic weight.” Instead, he says, lowering body fat percentage is the key, as it will increase both your power-to-weight ratio, and your aerobic capacity because your www.trailmasters.cc
muscle will have less competition from fat tissue for oxygen and fuel. The easiest way to keep track of your body fat percentage is with bio impedance scales, which work by measuring your body’s electrical resistance – something that changes depending on your fat/muscle ratio.
Quality and quantity
What you eat is one area where you have total control. “If you only focus on one thing to reach your optimal weight, quality food is it,” says Fitzgerald. Quality means high nutrient value and low calorie density. Fitzgerald splits high quality foods into six categories: fruit; vegetables; lean proteins such as fish, meats that are 10% fat or less, nuts and seeds; whole grains; low fat dairy; and essential fats such as omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, the best sources of which are fatty fish, and seeds. Low quality foods are grouped into five categories to avoid: refined grains; sweets (including soft drinks, pastries and desserts with loads of refined sugar); deep-fried foods; whole milk dairy produce; and fatty proteins (such as any meat that contains more than 10% fat).
Get it in proportion
Rather than strict proportional macronutrient diets – such as the 60% carbohydrate, 20% fat and 20% protein often quoted, Fitzgerald advises taking a more personally tailored approach. “It’s not carbohydrate as a percentage of total calories you should worry about; Continues Overleaf...
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instead, match your carbohydrate intake to your training load while ensuring you still get adequate amounts of fat and protein, and that the quality of the calorie sources is high.”
Little and often
Eat early, eat often and eat before, during and after exercise. Eating early makes you less likely to overindulge in the afternoon and you’re more likely to eat higher quality calories. When you eat has a big impact on body composition, as it affects energy partitioning – how calories are stored. “Try to take in 25% of your total daily calories within an hour of waking up,” suggests Fitzgerald. “The key is to shift the balance of energy partitioning away from fat storage to muscle storage and immediate use.”
Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
Eating little and often can boost metabolism and thus burn more calories. It also reduces appetite, helping to avoid over-eating at meal times.
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The ideal time to eat before a ride is two to four hours ahead, and you should include 100g of carbohydrate. “Fuelling a ride will enhance your performance and help you burn more fat,” says Fitzgerald. “It will also increase the number of food calories you burn and decrease the number you store.” Fuelling with carb-based drinks and gels during a ride will help you become leaner in the same way.
Mind over matter
Mindful eating is essential to cut out poor eating habits, such as emotional eating – because you’re sad, happy or even bored; spontaneous eating – just because the food is there; unconscious eating – finishing a packet of biscuits while watching TV; habitual eating – because it’s a mealtime and not because you’re hungry; and clearing your plate – portion sizes vary, so why not leave some if you’re full? Small portions of high-satiety foods, such as soups, nuts and low-fat yoghurt, are filling and low in calories. Eat small portions of them before meals to help manage your appetite. Counting calories will help you become more diet aware and establish good habits. Online tools such as www.trainingpeaks.com and weight loss sites are useful. “They don’t have to be 100% accurate,” says Fitzgerald. “Just counting will increase dietary awareness and you will eat better.”
Training right
There are two schools of thought about the best way to exercise yourself lean: high intensity interval training or prolonged moderate intensity exercise in the ‘fat-burning zone’. This zone is typically 59-64% of VO2 max in trained cyclists, and 47-52% of VO2 max in less fit individuals. For both this level equates to a comfortable conversational pace. “But,” says Fitzgerald, “almost all riders could benefit from doing both.”
Eating soon after exercise also works because it shifts energy partitioning towards muscle protein and glycogen synthesis and away from body fat storage.
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Getting the balance right
Kate Percy, sports nutritionist and author of Go Faster Food, says, “The general guidelines are that bikers should aim for a diet that consists of around 60% carbohydrate – the main source of fuel for energy, 20% protein – for muscle strength and repair, and 20% from fats – unsaturated for cardiovascular health.” The calorie count should be high enough to balance what you’re using, and you should try not to consume ‘empty’ calories such as fizzy drinks, sweets and alcohol that won’t help fuel your training. Dietician Renee McGregor suggests the easiest way to achieve this is to fill a 10in plate in thirds. “A third of starchy food, a third of lean meat or fish, and a third of salad or vegetables,” she says. Although the balance of the diet will remain the same for most people, portion sizes will vary according to the rider’s size and energy requirements. Regular consumption is also a necessity, starting with the food you eat in the morning. “It’s true that breakfast is the most impor-
tant meal of the day,” says McGregor. “By missing breakfast you won’t ‘wake up’ your metabolism from its overnight resting level. So when you do eat you will burn it up at a lower rate than if you had eaten breakfast.” Morning meals that work well include muesli, porridge and wholegrain toast. “Oats and grains are excellent at releasing sugar into the blood slowly,” says McGregor, “and so will keep you going until lunch.” The calorie count of your meals should be split fairly evenly, but the highest carbohydrate quantity should come in the meals that follow a ride or training session in order to replenish lost stores. In the days leading up to an event, when nutrition is of utmost importance, you should shift your dietary balance to incorporate more carbohydrate for more muscle fuel. “24-48 hours before a race, enduro or any big event, a rider should go for a steeper ratio of 70% carbohydrate, 20% protein and 10% fat,” advises McGregor. “This will ensure that as much muscle fuel as possible is available on the event day.” Continues Overleaf...
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disrupts your sleep – the average meal takes between six to 10 hours to digest completely.
Carbs are king
Carbohydrate, in all its forms, is what fuels your ride You’ve got up early every morning, spurning that extra hour in bed. You’ve shivered through dawn rides and braved the dark to make up the hours after work. You’ve checked food labels, measured portions and eschewed treats to keep your diet on track. Having worked so hard for months, don’t let poor fuelling get in the way of your success. Eating right in the days before a race, epic ride or just prior to spending a weekend away with your bike will give you a much better chance of success – and of making it through in great shape. And the most important part of that diet, both in the lead up to an event and while you’re on the bike, is Carbohydrate.
Opinion is also divided about whether to focus on simple or complex carbohydrates, but more important is the level of carbohydrate content and that the meal doesn’t upset your digestion. Foolproof choices such as pasta and rice are good places to start. This isn’t the time to try out rich recipes or experiment with exotic ingredients.
Give it a miss
Just to be on the safe side, here are few things to avoid eating (and drinking) when sitting down for pre-event grub. - Rich sauces: Adding lashings of cream to a pasta sauce could leave you feeling bloated and uncomfortable. - Alcohol: This will dehydrate you and affect you the next day. - New dishes: Don’t try a new food for the first time before an event even if it’s full of carbs and protein.
Be prepared
Sports nutritionist and dietician Dr Gary Mendoza agrees: “The key aspect of a preevent supper is carbohydrate, and also for the seven days before. Eat 7-10g of carbohydrate per kilogram of bodyweight each day to ensure that your riding capabilities are at their peak.” For someone weighing 76kg (12 stone) this equates to between 530g and 760g of carbohydrate a day. “Timing is not critical for the evening meal, as it is far enough away from your start time. The key aspect is the level of carb content – picking healthy, low fat options is a good idea,” says Mendoza. The reason for loading up on carbs is to increase your muscles’ glycogen stores ready for the next day’s event.
Ideally you need 30-60g of carbohydrate for every hour riding to maintain your glucose levels. Mendoza gives us his top tips for on-ride food boosts. - Gels, bars and drinks: All are easy ways to get a quick carb boost on the bike, and most modern offerings also contain electrolytes to maintain hydration. - Banana: One large banana has 30g of carbohydrate and also contains potassium which helps replenish lost electrolytes. - Jelly beans: A 57g serving (around 30 beans) contains 50g of quick-release carbohydrate and 200 calories for a quick energy burst. - Jam sandwich: Two thick slices of bread and four teaspoons of jam (no butter or margarine) provide 50g og carbohydrate.
You want to eat enough to feel full but not so much that your meal is difficult to digest and
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During your ride
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Hydrating right is not just vital for your health, it’s also important for performance. What Mountain Bike magazine explains how to get it right. There are a lot of myths about hydration, and about how and what you need to drink in order to stay fully hydrated.
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Hydration status is best thought of as the level of water in your body. This can be estimated using equipment that measures the electrical conduction (or ‘bio-impedance’) of a small current. You can even get bathroom scales that use this technology for under £50.
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Probably the simplest hydration indicator is urine colour. Clear and copious is the goal! However, vitamin supplemented bars, gels and antioxidant supplements can cause dark urine, so be warned. Vitamins B and C can turn urine yellow even at small doses but this doesn’t necessarily mean you are dehydrated.
If you’re thirsty, drink
One of the major fallacies about fluid consumption is that you can teach yourself to survive without water. This probably stems from sports where fluid was restricted to minimise body weight, such as boxing and bodybuilding. Many old-school riders and coaches used to advocate this as a way to
make riders harder and learn to survive without liquids. While it will make sessions harder and the rider (hopefully) mentally stronger, this is simply dangerous. Fail to sweat effectively and your core temp can start to rise, leading to complications such as heat stroke. So if you’re thirsty, drink. As a rule, the larger the rider and the faster the speed, the greater the sweat rate, but in fit or larger individuals it is likely to exceed one litre per hour.
Drink even when it’s cold
In the summer good hydration is important because of the heat and faster riding speeds, meaning more and quicker heat build-up, but thinking about your hydration is not just confined to the hot months: exertion will lead to sweating, regardless of ambient temperature. Drinking to offset the loss of fluid and help cool your body’s core is vital. You can survive an hour without drinking but several hours sweating, gaining internal heat, with blood that is getting thicker and less effective, is a recipe for disaster.
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It is important for riders of all levels and abilities to see fluid replacement as part of riding and to learn how much they need to offset thirst and maintain energy levels.
Can’t drink? Make up for it afterwards
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There will always be times when you can’t drink as much as you’d like and have to deviate from your normal drinking plan – whether because of the terrain, speed of riding or you’ve simply run out of liquids. You are likely to lose between one and two kilograms in average UK temperatures in a 25-mile race – but you will be able to complete it, just as marathon runners can run for more than two hours over a similar distance without drink.
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Instead of worrying that you might be dehydrated, attend to your fluid replacement as soon as you can after the event. Your immediate post-ride hydration should constitute 150% of the missed fluid intake. If you usually drink 600ml in an hour, then you’ll need to take in 900ml of a sports drink with electrolytes after riding. These are best absorbed after being chilled in the fridge.
Improve on nature
Water. What could be better than pure, natural water? One of the biggest myths about fluid intake is that you can’t beat water for hydration; it’s not true, you most certainly can. Sports drinks (see the TORQ range at www.torqfitness.co.uk) work better at maintaining hydration during rides and rehydrating you after, as the added electrolytes – sodium chloride, potassium, magnesium, and calcium – help your body maintain its opti-
mum hydration status. Research shows that you absorb 35% more water, and rehydrate better, when consuming a 4:1 ratio carbohydrate and protein drink, than if you drink just water alone. If ‘recovery-type’ drinks are too rich or expensive for you, down a bottle of your fluid replacement drink as soon as you get off your bike – you’ll still absorb three-quarters of what you drink.
WHAT’S YOUR SWEAT RATE? In order to get your hydration right, you need to calculate your own sweat rate. Start by weighing yourself without clothes on before riding for one hour. After the hour of exercise, return home, strip down and then weigh yourself again. Assuming that you did not use the toilet or consume any fluids during the ride, your weight loss is your sweat rate. For each kilogram of lost weight, you lost one litre of fluid, and this is the amount of fluid that you need to replace per hour. For hotter or harder rides multiply by a factor of 1.2 to 1.6.
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Altitude measurement version 2.0
MC 2.0 quickScreen B B B B
B B B
Quick and easy to use The most important information at a glance Menu system for settings Clear allocation of the functions to the buttons Bike, Altitude, Heart Rate / Cadence Display backlight Data storage during battery replacement Battery status display
MC 2.0 WL Altitude + Heart Rate or Altitude + Cadence B
Digital wireless transmission
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Current gradient uphill / downhill permanent in display
B
Altitude correction during transport
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Altitude measurement uphill and downhill
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Available as a wired or wireless version * *Heart rate and cadence option only available with the wireless version
More information at:
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Sodium counts
CHEMISTRY OF THIRST We all know to replace electrolytes when riding in the heat, and all good sports drinks will contain them. But what exactly are they? Electrolytes are clever things. These critical salts and minerals regulate thirst and enable your muscles and nerves to function. They’re present in our body tissues, muscles and blood and conduct electricity in the body, passing chemical messages and regulating the body’s fluid levels. The balance of these salts and minerals needs to be just right to help muscles work at their peak and optimise riding performance. Accredited sports dietitian Dr Sarah Schenker takes us through the chemistry of hydration.
Keeping it level
“Electrolytes are positively and negatively charged salts and minerals that allow messages to be passed from the brain to the muscles,” says Schenker. “Without them, our muscles will cramp, become weak, and lose power.” However, too high a concentration will make you feel sick, dizzy and can lead to coma or even death in extreme circumstances. “In the body, electrolytes take the form of sodium, potassium, calcium and bicarbonate,” says Schenker, “but in our sweat we lose more sodium, so it’s the most important to replace on a ride.”
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Usual blood levels for sodium are around 3300mg per litre. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that adults should consume 1500mg of sodium each day to replace the amount lost. For endurance athletes this figure increases – but to what? “The variation in sweat rate and sweat sodium content between individuals is so large that average values are largely meaningless,” says Sports Exercise and Health Sciences Professor Ron Maughan. For example, in an average athlete, the sodium concentration of one litre of sweat can range from 800-3600mg, but an unfit person’s sweat can contain up to 4500mg of sodium.
Sodium loss leaders
- Clothes that don’t breathe. - Eating more salt, you will sweat more sodium. - Genetics: Are your family heavy sweaters? - Athleticism: Sweat of a very athletic person is likely to contain fewer electrolytes. - Temperature: Hotter environments up your sweat rate.
Sodium and salt
Salt is 40% sodium and the IOM states 5800mg (one teaspoon, with 2300mg of sodium) is the upper level of salt consumption per day. High salt intake is linked to elevated blood pressure, heart disease and strokes. However, a study of runners showed that low sodium blood content (under 135mg per litre) caused confusion, vomiting, headaches and seizures. Understanding sweat rate (see boxout) and keeping your intake of salt and sodium balanced is therefore key.
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Camping is an essential part of the Ritchey TrailMasters and, as such, it can either add to the adventure or undermine it all together. Our 17 essential camping tips will help you avoid the latter and embrace the former for a great weekend away.
1: PRACTICE YOUR PITCH
If you’ve just bought a tent, don’t wait until the day you arrive at the event to work out how to put it up: take some time beforehand to figure out its foibles in the comfort of your back garden or local park. There’s nothing worse than wrestling with an alien tent in the pitch black with a blowing gale trying to scupper your best efforts. Even if it’s an old tent, practicing your pitching will also ensure that you haven’t forgotten to replace or repair those critical parts from the last time you were camping.
2: TAKE SPARES
Always take a selection of spare pegs and guy ropes in case any should get broken, bent, or otherwise put out of action. If they don’t get used with the tent they could also come in handy for a makeshift washing line. A spare ground sheet or tarp can be worth its weight in gold if it’s particularly wet on the ground – especially if the ground sheet of your tent is of a questionable age. Alternatively, it can be used – in conjunction with the spare guy ropes and/or pegs – to make a makeshift awning to help keep the worst of the weather out from off your heads.
3: BRING THE KITCHEN SINK
And why not? If you’ve got the room and intend on making it a extra long weekend – especially with the family in tow – why not bring all the glamping accoutrements: the BBQ, gazebo, chimnea, comfy chairs, rugs, and so on? If there’s group of you coming then it is easier to divvy up who brings what, to help make your camp a home from home. And to keep some beverages well cooled you can fill a bucket up with cold water to help chill them. We have also heard of
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a great brainiac beer chilling technique: soak a sock in cold water before placing a can or two in the said sock, then hang the sock up in the wind (off a tree, tent post, car roof rack and so on) – the water evaporates and the whole thing acts as a heat exchanger. Et voila! Clever cold beer!
4: LOCATION,
LOCATION, LOCATION
If you’re bringing the family make sure you pitch up in an easy to find spot – you can use a tree, or a building or erect a flag similar as an ad-hoc landmark to help the kids find the tent easily. Similarly, pitching too close to the loos may be convenient but if the weather’s hot it might not make for the most fragrant place to be. Also, it’s more likely you’ll be disturbed during the night with folks traipsing in and out of them.
5: PITCH THEN PLAY
When you first pull on site it’s very easy to get drawn into the festival goings on and general hubbub of the site – and why not, you’re on holiday after all? But try and find your pitch and get the tent up sooner rather than later – especially if the weather is good. Getting your camp
established early means that you can enjoy the rest of the day without worry. That said, don’t rush in blindly as choosing your pitch is important, too: you want it to be level and not in a natural hollow or low (if the weather turns wet, your pitch may flood or become swampy sooner than a higher pitch); make sure you clear the tent’s footprint of any hard objects like rocks, sticks, and so on, and if you can clear any animal muck out, too (or don’t pitch on it!); if it’s looking stormy or windy then you also want the smallest part of your tent facing directly into the wind direction to make your tent as aerodynamic as possible to limit the wind’s effect on your comfort; use all your guy ropes.
6: INVOLVE THE FAMILY Make sure that if you’re bringing the family along that they’re involved right from the get-go: from what to bring, how to pack, to pitching and planning the camp. Involving the kids as much as possible and encouraging them to be responsible for their own camping gear will make this a liberating adventure for them, too. The adage ‘Pitch Up And All Pitch In’ can help the family
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enjoy the whole experience more than if they were just dragged along. Take your time, have fun, and enjoy the time together.
7: WAGON CIRCLE
If there’s a group of you then pitch your tents in a wagon circle, with your tent doors opening into a communal hub. This will give you a great sociable focus for your group but it’ll also help ensure that no one else pitches right on top of you.
8: HAMMER TIME!
Depending on the geology of the ground (not to mention the weather conditions), the ground can range from concrete-hard to soft as sand: taking a rubber headed mallet can help save your hands, feet and even the pegs themselves, by giving them the necessary persuasion to slide home in even the most obstinately hard ground. Frying pans, although making a highly satisfying sound, don’t make good substitutes! Nor do feet as they have a tendency to bend pegs. Always remember to place the pegs at a 45 degree angle, pointing away from the tent, too, and if the weather is particularly windy or stormy it’s also worth weighing the pegs down with rocks or other heavy objects.
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9: MAKE FRIENDS WITH
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THE NEIGHBOURS
Not only will making friends with your neighbours add to the camaraderie of the event, but it’s also a good way of bolstering security – if you
all know who is in which tent/group then any tea leafs (thieves) trying their luck are more likely to be challenged and thefts averted.
10: THE BARE NECESSITIES
Although all facilities on-site will be well lookedafter, stocked and supplied by the organisers, shortages can happen despite their best efforts. To ensure that you’re not caught short in compromising quandary always, always, always bring spare loo roll – perhaps even one roll between two people in your group. Keep it dry by storing it in a waterproof (or plastic) bag, and keep it to hand in case you need to make a midnight journey… Believe us, there’s nothing worse than making it to the porcelain palace only to find the essential supplies have run out.
11: DON’T LOCK YOUR TENT
Sadly, tents aren’t the most secure of things, however locking them with a padlock merely announces to the world ‘There’s something worth stealing in here!’ And if there is, and a thief breaks in, you won’t just be missing something from inside the tent – you’ll be left with a ruined tent, too. Not good at the best of times but very bad if the weather is wet. If you must bring things of value then don’t leave them unattended in the tent – lock them securely and out of the way in the car or van. For bike security tips, see the Bike Security piece (see p62).
12: WARM & DRY
For a good night’s sleep a camping bed should both keep you insulated from the cold of the ground as well as comfortable; so use a good, comfortable roll mat, inflatable bed, or Thermarest-type self-inflating mat. Everyone has their own preference but if www.trailmasters.cc
you’ve never camped before – or just rarely – err on the side of comfort. Depending on how big the sleeping compartment of your tent is, a Lilo may be just the ticket. It’s both more comfortable than a foam roll mat and miles cheaper than a self-inflating bed roll. Just remember to bring a decent foot pump and correct adaptors to get the bed inflated (depending on their power, electric ones can take forever). Other tips for staying warm and dry include: keep shoes and wellies out of the sleeping compartment to prevent moisture creeping in. Also, don’t let anything inside your tent push the inner compartment onto the flysheet as this will let water in. So remember to periodically check for this. Also, remember to keep your tent ventilated (most tents have mesh vents, some of which can be open completely or partially, as you wish, as well as having doorways that can be closed with a mesh door to allow airflow in but keep the bugs out) to keep condensation at bay. Finally, take some spare blankets with you in case the mercury drops over night so as to keep toasty.
13: FEET FIRST
Taking sensible footwear for camping can make all the difference: whether sensible for you means ‘flip-flops’ come what may (feet are waterproof, after all), Crocs, Wellies, or Gore-Tex trail shoes, they all have their pros and cons. The important thing is to keep your feet dry from the inevitable morning dew or from the mud-fest that can emerge after a particularly horrendous downpour when 1000 people trudge around. Having a decent grippy sole can make all the difference.
14: LET THERE BE LIGHT
Having enough light to see by whatever you’re doing – whether cooking or traipsing to the loo block – is an absolute must. The best all-round solution is to invest in a decent headtorch like a Petzl Zipka or Tikka, or the good value option of an Alpkit Gamma so that you can see hands-free, whatever you’re doing. Alternatively, a decent communal camping lamp (LED or otherwise), like Alpkit’s Bulb II, helps everyone see without being blinded whenever you look at each other. Alternatively, if you already have
some Exposure Lights bike lights, buy one of their ‘Beacon’ diffusers (£3-£8, depending on size) to turn it from a bike light into a camping light. Simples.
15: WRAP UP
Remember to take properly warm clothes for the evening for everyone – from fleeces, through to snug softshells, down jackets and beyond. Together with woolly/fleece hats, scarves, Buffs, woolly socks and so on, they will make the evenings out under the stars much more balmy despite the drop in air temperature. And why not a wee dram of fire water to help warm your cockles, too?
16: FEEL THE HEAT
Go to bed warm. If you go to bed cold it will take you ages to warm up – if at all – which would make for a bad night’s sleep. Having a hot drink or food, or going for a walk to get you warm, will help. Ditto for the rest of the family. As soon as you’re ready, get into your sleeping bag to make the most of the heat you’ve just generated.
17: RELAX
Hopefully, the process of pitching and getting organised was nice and chilled, but if not now’s the time to relax and let yourself go with the TrailMasters vibe: it’s about having fun, meeting people, riding bikes, and getting away from it all. With the added spice of the World Alternative Games taking beginning on the same weekend there’ll be plenty to see and do for everyone – whether on two wheels or off them. So whatever you do, make sure you get stuck in. You won’t regret it!
Happy Camping at the...
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Bike Security Tips
`Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe!' Our essential tips to help ensure that you keep your pride and joy safe, come what may. Bike events are flippin’ great. We all know that – otherwise we wouldn’t go to them. However, although there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of like-minded biking souls, bike events are sadly also a magnet for nefarious types. To be blunt: we’re talking thieving scum. Bike thieves – both casual and professional – are attracted by the glut of expensive bikes at bike events: they see the laid back and relaxed atmosphere as good cover for simply walking off with bikes – both under the cover of darkness and in broad day light. Although it’s very easy to be lulled into a false sense of security and think its okay to leave that Santa Cruz Tallboy Carbon on the ground by the loos as you take a leak, it could – sadly – be just enough time for an opportunist to steal it from under your nose. Our advice is to hope for the best but prepare for the worst: be prudent, keep an eye on your kit and of that of those around you, and take the necessary precautions to ensure that the only things that get carted off are the would-be
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tea leaves in the back of a police car… Here’s how: YOU HAVE THE POWER The only person responsible for stopping a piece of thieving scum slithering off with your bike is you, so don’t make it easy on them – anywhere or any time. The best way to do that is to use your common sense and never leave it unattended, even for a second. LOCK IT, DON'T LOSE IT Always use a lock when your bike is unattended – preferably a damn good one, but even a bad lock is better than no lock at all. If you’ve no lock, then either take the bike with you or don’t
leave it unattended. If a bike presents anything more than a casual challenge they’re likely to pass it up. On average, thieves will give up on stealing a bike if
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they can’t get through the locks within three minutes. SPREAD THE WORD If you see anyone suspicious sloping around the camp site or event village and it just doesn’t feel right, spread the word and alert those around you – including the event organisers and officials. Stay safe and don’t put yourself in danger, of course, but if you feel confident and comfortable to challenge anyone whom you have reason to believe might be up to no good, then do so. BE INSURED It’s always prudent to have specialist insurance for your pride and joy: if you race or take part in an event of any kind then you’ll need to make sure that you take out a race/competitive events cover, as otherwise your insurance would be void and you could end up with nothing. That said, there are often clauses in the policy small print that invalidate any insurance if bikes are left in or on cars overnight – or between certain hours. Check the small print of your insurance documents to be sure of the specifics of your policy. USE APPROVED LOCKS You should also ensure that your bike locks and the way in which you keep your bikes locked up are in line with your insurer’s criteria. If you don’t have the correct lock then you won’t be able
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to blag it – if you do make a claim, the insurer will require the proof of purchase of an approved lock, its keys, or the remains of the lock itself. If you didn’t have or use an approved lock, then they won’t honour your claim. THE MORE LOCKS, THE MERRIER The more locks you use, the better. Use both a combination of brands and types so that it will take the thief longer to get at your bikes because of the need to use different techniques to break all the locks. What Mountain Bike magazine recommends the Pragmasis Protector 13mm chain and Squire SS50CS lock combination (www.torc-anchors.com); the Abus Granit X-Plus D-lock (www. abus.com); the Kryptonite New York MC D-lock (www.kryptonite.com); and the good value OnGuard Bulldog BT D-lock (www.onguardlock.com). For more recommendations and reviews see www.bikeradar.com. LOCK UP LIKE FORT KNOX Although the day presents a casual opportunity for thieves to make off with bikes, it’s at night time when they’ll really go to work at a bike event. If there’s nowhere to lock it up inside a secure building or lock-up, either lock it in your car/van (preferably locked up and locked to something immoveable) and cover it up so it’s out of
Bike Security Tips sight; alternatively, lock your and your riding buddies’ bikes together in one
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Photography supplied by Jon Brooke - www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk
immoveable mass close to where you are sleeping. If you can lock them to something immoveable (a fixed, rather then a removable, tow-bar makes a good makeshift ground anchor) then do so.
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SECURITY SECRETS Having the right locks is half the battle, but not all. Knowing how to use them correctly and to maximum effect is the secret to security success. Here are www.bikeradar.com’s top tips: • Never lock the bike to anything that is less flimsy than the lock itself (a wooden fence or a tree, for example). • Make the lock mechanism difficult to get to – if it’s a pain in the ass for you to get to in order to unlock it with the key, then it’s going to be worse for the thief.
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Always ensure that you fill the lock up with as much of the bike, wheels and the immoveable object as possible: if there’s no space for a thief to get a lever through the shackle, then their primary form of attack is redundant. The same is true of any cables or chains. Always leave your bike in plain sight – don’t lock it somewhere quiet where a thief can spend time undisturbed. The maximum most thieves will spend trying to nick a bike is five minutes, unless you make it easy for them. Remove anything (seatposts, pumps, bottles, etc) that can be easily removed and put them somewhere safe. Use good D-locks and chains in combination, and lock every part of the bike – through the front and rear of the frame, the wheels (lock around the rim and tyre – not just around the delicate spokes), through the fork brace, and so on.
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