70 AMB
TRANS PROVENCETIPS FOR RACING BLIND
∙ Now & Next and Trail Scanning, both PMBI
mountain bike coaching terms and what may
seem simple can be a tricky skill to master.
While looking in the now (directly in front of
you) is useful blind racing does require you to
look further ahead to what is coming up Next.
Constantly scanning the trails for lines, obstacles,
Trans Provence arrows, fallen riders, freshly
cut grassy turns... you name it, this skill is an
essential.
∙ Don’t ride at 100%, tone it down and pop your
ego in your backpack/fannypack. It’s a long event
and if you start getting too brave and end up with
a flat or mechanical you will lose more time than
you can make up. Ride smooth, take good lines
and play the long game.
∙ Get a tyre pressure gauge and use it, take big
drops in elevation and your tyre pressures will
drop too. You’re racing blind and are going to be
tired and charging over stuff you didn’t always
mean to, know your pressures or safe range and
keep them that way.
∙ FTFT, Follow the F***ing Trail. With hundreds
of kilometres of trail, bunting is minimal and if its
doesn’t look like the track don’t take it. Keep your
head on a swivel, don’t cut the switchbacks.
∙ Look out for your peers, anyone could make a
mistake and ensuring another rider’s safety is
more important than any race, it could even be
you that needs the help.
While Ash sticks to his guns referring to Trans
Provence as “The Original MTB Rally” it is in
essence mountain biking at its core. I feel lucky
and privileged to have been at the last Trans
Provence, and will have trail riding and camp life
memories for years to come.