SAFRA AVventura trail biking tips (or how not to end up flying over the handlebars)

Written by Cheryl Low

The SAFRA AVventura, scheduled for Sunday, January 15th, is just two weeks away and teams can expect another grueling route and surprises from what is probably the toughest cross-terrain adventure race in Singapore.

Adventure racing has steadily grown in popularity in Singapore and it is one of the fastest growing multi-disciplinary team sports in the world. The most common disciplines of adventure racing are running, trail biking, kayaking, rope ascend, abseiling and sport climbing.

To increase the element of fun and test the problem-solving skills and teamwork of participants, a series of mystery challenges are also incorporated within the race route.

Prior to race day, participants are given minimal information about the race route and the challenges they will encounter. The element of surprise is what makes the race exciting and tests the ability of participants to work as a team to overcome each situation as they unfold.

As teams also have to navigate their own way along the route, good map reading skills and sense of direction often makes a huge difference in their race timing. As many experienced adventure racers will testify, both brains and brawn are just as important.

For those new to adventure racing, we bring you a series tips on some of the key disciplines in this growing sport. Today, we look at trail biking.

Scan The Trail
Always remember that your wheels will usually follow where you look. So if you keep your eyes glued to the ground right in front of your wheels, you’ll probably land up flat on the dirt in no time as well. Look farther and scan your trail 10 to 20 meters ahead so that you have more time to study the terrain, select your best course forward and prepare yourself to tackle any obstacles.

Once you have chosen your line of path, keep your focus on it instead of the rut on the left or the rock on the right. If you focus too much on the rut or rock, it is more likely that you will run into it.

Keep Your Momentum
Momentum is very important in navigating undulating terrain as well as going up and down slopes. In many instances, your bike has the capability to roll or hop over small obstacles easily if you have the right momentum and refrain from braking often. Having a good feel of your bike and its capabilities comes with time and training. Ascending a slope is also much easier with momentum.

Know Tour Brakes
Avoid jamming your brakes as this may either cause your bike to skid on a slippery surface or throw you forward while your bike comes to a sudden halt. Depress your brakes gradually with increasing pressure or lightly engage it intermittently when you need to keep your speed in check.

When going downhill, it also helps to lean your body back to transfer the bulk of your weight to the back wheel so that you lower your centre of gravity, giving more traction to the back wheel which prevents the bike from overturning. And never engage your front brake alone as that will surely send both you and your bike tumbling forward if you are going downhill at high speed.

Climbing
Climbing will probably be your ultimate test of fitness and endurance. Start by practicing on gradual ascents before embarking on a steep slope. Experiment with different gears on various inclines till you get comfortable enough to understand which gear works best on different slopes.

While climbing, lean forward while keeping your back straight. To retain traction, lean on your handlebars and put all your weight on them.

Sometimes if a slope is very steep, it may feel like your front wheels are lifting off the ground. To counter that effect, put your full weight on the handlebars. Some people find it easier to climb when they stand up to pedal as it helps to break up the cycle. If that rocks your boat, remember to switch into a higher gear, and pedal as hard as you can while standing.

It’s all about finding what works best for you. Being a good rider doesn’t happen overnight. Ride as often as you can and with experience, you’ll gain the necessary skills and confidence as you go along.