LOW HANGING FRUIT #1
Words: Coach Bradshaw
To best prepare for the Canadian Enduro Series this year, harvest the low hanging fruit.
Sure, a tailored gym program over the winter, a well periodized training plan balancing work and life commitments, and a well tracked nutritional regime is incredibly beneficial. But that’s not the reality for most. And that’s ok. Life, family, work and weather can get in the way of our best laid intentions. Harvesting low hanging fruit certainly isn’t rocket science. It’s about completing the most beneficial, achievable goal possible. The purpose is to complete specific and relevant practice to the demands of a Harper Mountain or Vedder race weekend so we can have a more enjoyable race weekend.
The first piece of low hanging fruit is to complete multiple top to bottom runs of your local trails in your race kit. Not groundbreaking science here, but it’s purposeful practice. When was the last time you rode your bike for more than four minutes down a trail without stopping?
Not stopping to wait for your buddy, not waiting at each trail intersection, truly getting to the bottom of the trail out of breath, hands sore and with brakes and suspension hot. Complete the runs in your full face, goggles and gloves. Will you wear a chest protector? Will you carry a bag? What drink bottle will you use? A successful session should leave you with confidence knowing what to bring to the first practice day, and what you can expect to feel like at the bottom of the first run.
The progression from this is to step up the duration and intensity by repeating the same trail for up to the same amount of descending you’ll be doing at the race weekend. For example at Harper Mountain in 2023 the course had 1,800m of descending across five stages. This might involve multiple laps over a weekend if your local trails are lower in height. The focus is on you, how you’re feeling, how you’re carrying speed out of corners at the top of the trail compared to the bottom. Be conscious of where and how often you are braking. Sure it is a good opportunity to make adjustments in settings to your bike but the biggest focus should be on your own riding technique and feeling.
That’s only one piece of low hanging fruit, and we’ll share more in the next newsletter.
All that low hanging fruit chat being said, it is never too late to hire a coach. If you have the time and resources, invest in yourself by hiring a local skills coach or trainer. The return from some private one on one coaching is huge. To labor on the fruit metaphor one last time, the best tasting and most rewarding fruit is high up, which is made easier to get with some assistance.
Check Out: RideOn MTB Coaching
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