Amateur MTB Marathon: Our Week with Team Syncros Part 1

As part of the final build up to my 24 hour race, Team Syncros manager and racer Rob Lee invited me and my crew to spend a week with the team to give us an insight to what it's like to prepare and compete in these events.

The idea would be to do some skills work with team member and skills coach Clive Forth (MTBSkills.eu), before heading off to Mountain Mayhem to support Rob as crew members in his post retirement return to 24-hour racing. Hopefully my riding would improve a little and we'd have a better idea of the logistics involved in supporting a rider through a 24-hour race.

I like to think I'm a pretty handy rider. I've been at it for over 15 years and while I have no delusions of grandeur about my abilities, I also know that I'm no slouch down a quick trail either. However, without having even seen me, Clive was convinced he could plug some holes in my technique and hopefully eek out a bit more speed with a bit less effort. With nothing to lose I figured I'd see what he could do for me, and it was the perfect excuse to catch up with Rob and finally go for a ride together rather than me interviewing him, photographing him riding or nagging him for his latest blog entry!

We started off casually riding a technical undulating section, myself in front, Clive behind, followed by Rob. Aware that I had a genuinely awesome rider behind me analysing my every pedal stroke, my riding was less than perfect and I was feeling hugely self-conscious in this company! I needn't have worried as Clive is a total professional and we got right down to work.

Clive Forth MTB Skills

Clive talks me through where we can improve and work on my turning technique...

With Clive satisfied that my bike setup and positioning on the bike was good, we turned our attention to turning - something Clive was sure I could unlock some free speed.

Invisible handlebars are where I've been going wrong...

We really need to start coordinating when it comes to eyewear... squirrel!

Multiple turns, let's do some slalom...

We quickly discussed theory before setting up a slalom course. I went through the course a few times applying what Clive had instructed. The first few times were a bit scrappy as I was trying to process everything he wanted me to do, but eventually my runs got faster as I connected everything up. It felt like I was really shifting it and I must have been going almost as quick as Clive by the end. But following him through made me realise just how quick you can potentially pilot and MTB!

Yeah, I'm pretty quick, I got my stuff sorted...

And then Clive goes way faster...

But I got faster after several runs...

Back up for another run, well I'm at least a match for Clive in this riding-slowly-up-a-small-incline-in-a-straight-line lark...

Working on manualling technique can help save energy in the technical sections...

With turning covered, we turned our attention to the manual. The manual or front wheel lift is a useful technique in riding trails quickly and efficiently. My technique wasn't perfect and Clive felt I could save a bit more energy when manualling.

After some technique tweaks the front was popping up with far less effort...

We went through the technique and Clive executed a couple of perfect manuals before it was my turn. Ready to do the mother of all manuals and show Clive that I've got this nailed, I pedalled forward, assumed the position and popped the wheel barely millimetres off the ground. I was caught out by the recent addition of a 90mm stem which I'm trialling for my 24-hour, and this coupled with my full height saddle caused me to perform the world's smallest manual. Slightly embarrassed I regrouped and had a couple of goes with increasing success. Full of excuses I did have a go on Clive's tiny Santa Cruz Blur LT with 40mm stem and it was much easier!

After our session I went off into the woods for a spin by myself to try and put it all together. I was a bit clunky in places trying to remember everything Clive had said while slipping though the narrow Bristol singletrack, but I progressed quickly and was soon riding the slightly greasy trails I know so well quicker than I would normally if they were bone dry - and I felt less tired as well!

Well done Clive, you were right!

Gary Lake - Executive Editor

Gary Lake has been mountain biking for over 15 years now and has had a passion for everything cycle related ever since. He is a CTC-qualified trail leader and wannabe endurance racer.

Gary has always been looking for a way to give something back to the sport. With a successful career in digital media and internet marketing, and with over 10 years' experience in the industry, it was somewhat inevitable that Gary would put these skills to use in something cycle-related.

After a year in the planning and making, in February 2010 Cyclist No.1 was born.