The 2023 FNB Wines2Whales SWITCHBACK events are coming in hot at the end of October. The Wines2Whales trails are renowned for being an absolute blast to ride but with that also comes a certain level of challenge. Given that, we’re going to break down the 3 notable types of terrain that you’ll find on the route and how to ride them best because let’s face it, riding is just more fun when you’re doing it properly!
Riding rocky trails at Wines2Whales
First up is Rocky trails! This is the Western Cape and we know how to do rocky stuff well down here! Rocks can be intimidating and make you want to get your weight off the back of your bike and ride tentatively but just like dealing with your mother/father in law, the key is to go in with confidence.
Weight Bias
Get your weight nice and neutral on the bike, get out of the saddle if the gradient is flat or descending and bend your arms a bit to allow the bars to move away from you (negative travel) when need be. Having a slight bend in your knees and relaxed ankles will help you be more supple but is a bit more tiring on the legs. Lock them out to rest where you can and embrace the bend for more suppleness when the terrain gets tricky.
We want to be supple on the bike so that it can move up and down underneath us freely. Focus on keeping your head stable and your core strong paired with those relaxed arms and legs.
Keep the eyes up
Another tip that makes all the difference in technical rocky terrain is to not look at your front wheel but rather keep your eyes up looking about 10m ahead. This will help you prepare for what is next and let your body relax as the terrain passes under your tires. Don’t sweat the small stuff on the trail, your bike will roll over a lot more than you’d think when you relax and focus on what is ahead. Ride like this and you’ll unlock levels of confidence you didn’t know existed!
Rocky climbs at Wines2Whales
If it is a rocky climb, using your dropper post to lower the saddle just a centimetre or two can give you a little more room to move with the bumps in the terrain without compromising your pedal efficiency too much.
You may also find on these rocky climbs that you’re hitting your pedals a lot or not quite getting the power you need to surge through the technical bits or even losing traction on the rear wheel. Shifting up 1 or 2 gears harder can help remedy this but be sure to train that torque beforehand so that your legs get used to the effort (one or two torque intervals per week can help a lot). Soon you’ll be accelerating up those technical climbs like Alan Hatherly unleashed on an XCO course!
Bike Setup for Wines2Whales’ rocky terrain
On the bike setup front. Some wider tires (2.2-2.4 inches) will allow you to run lower tire pressures that allow your wheels to conform better to the terrain. If punctures are a concern for you, look into getting a more robust tire casing or even a lightweight tire insert specific for marathon riding.
We mentioned the dropper post earlier. It is a game changer but you need to actually use it to reap the benefits so practise making use of it during your training rides for those technical descents and even a little on the climbs (as discussed above) so that it becomes 2nd nature! You can thank us later.
Will we see you there?
Alrighty then! Those are our top tips for riding rocky terrain! Don’t get scared, relax and ride with confidence. Your bike will eat up more than you think, especially when you let off the brakes for the key sections!
Wines2Whales have 3 events running from 20-29 October this year and let me tell you, the experience is worth it! The trails are sublime, the views extraordinary and the race villages are more comfortable than your living room (or my living room at least)!
Get all the info you need about the event and nab an entry before they’re gone right here: www.epic-series.com/wines2whales
You can also find more skills resources here to help you to unlock more flow!
We’ll see you there!
