4 minute read
MTBO – RIDING IN SAND
Riding Skills – Sand
Andrew Slattery The Key Skills: • Keep weight to the rear of your bike • Maintain smooth powerful pedaling in a medium to low gear. • Use your body weight to steer and keep your bike straight. • Increase your speed through easier sections to help maintain your speed as you gain confidence. • Ride to your ability.
Many riders will be planning to travel to the Limestone Coast region of South Australia in June this year to compete in the Australian Mountain Bike Orienteering Championships. Lee Merchant, an experienced course setter says, “The Mount Gambier forest tracks are fast limestone and easy to ride which will make for an enjoyable event for all riders”. However Lee also mentions that some riders may encounter the occasional short section of sand. For those intending to ride here is some advice on the best ways to tackle the short patches of sand which may be encountered on some route choices. Firstly, the difficulty in passing a sandy section can change depending on recent weather. If it has rained lightly the upper layer of sand will become moist and easier to ride, however, if the sand is deep your tyres will cut through this layer into the soft dry sand below. If there has been heavier rain the sand will become fully saturated with water and ride-ability will be increased greatly with many sandy sections causing only a limited reduction in speed. You may be asking what is the best technique to attack a sandy section? Should I ride fast or slow and what gear should I choose or should I walk? One of the most important skills in sand is the ability to power through the sand in a smooth manner. It is important to maintain consistent smooth pedal strokes and maintain momentum. Do not coast your bike through the sand, as you will slow rapidly and become unbalanced. If you have just punched a control in a sandy section and need to get started again stand on your pedals and use powerful strokes to get your wheel to grip and once you are moving keep the strokes smooth to maintain momentum. Maintaining your balance can be difficult in sand and it is important that you keep your wheel as straight as possible. It is better to use your body weight to steer and maintain direction. Use your hips and shoulders to shift your weight and be light on the handlebars. Attacking a sandy section at speed can be difficult and risky. If the sand is deep your front will sink down very rapidly and you will be lucky to stay on your bike. The simple rule is the faster you go the more weight you need to put to the rear of your bike. When approaching sand keep your body weight to the rear of your bike as this will help to keep your front wheel above the sand. Deep sand is best approached at a lower speed and powerfully pedaled through whereas light sand can be easily crossed at speed keeping your weight on the rear of your bike. Riders often find it best to stay to the edge of the track and avoid the deep sand ruts which will cause your bike to sink down and become stuck. Large tyres are useful as they will help to keep your bike above the sand allowing you to float past. In an area with shallow sand thin tyres are better as they will sink through the thin layer of sand and help you to get better traction from the hard surface below. As soon as your bike sinks down into the sand you will have difficulty maintaining your rate. If you can find a long straight rut made by a vehicle or another bike put your tyres into this and pedal hard. Let your bike follow the rut with minimal steering. Generally although riding in sand is strenuous it is better to power through a sandy section quickly rather than getting off and walking. As you gain confidence and master the art of shifting weight to your back wheels you may find you are able to steer in sand. Steering in sand is an advanced skill. You may find it advantageous to adjust your seat to a lower saddle height and if you have a long saddle move it backwards along the seat rail to help you to sit further back than you would normally. A long wheelbase bike will handle much better in sand than a short wheelbase model.
