Rider Perspective: Cost vs Benefit at the Czech XCO World Cup
As some would say, "Mont Sainte Anne is the cathedral of XCO Mountain Bike Racing," and I would have to say that the Czech World Cup course is the new benchmark for XCO racing. "A true race track" really describes round #3 of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Series in the Czech Republic. The track was relentless with its multiple, measurable, short ups and downs over the technical terrain which I found myself looking for seconds everywhere.
In downhill they consider the risk vs the reward, and in XCO we are always considering the cost (energy output) vs the benefit. This is why I consider Czech a real race track, because it forces you to make these decisions that can really be the difference between 1st and 2nd.
One of these decisions was which bike do I race? I was on the fence all week whether to ride the Trek Superfly full-suspension or the Superfly hardtail. The full suspension offered energy conservation and a more bullish descending style on the downhills, whereas the hardtail offered pure stiffness and climbing capability on the uphills. Both climbing and descending are very important considerations to take into account while on the Czech course and both bikes do each very well. I needed to be exceptional at everything so I went with the Superfly FS in hopes of being strong on the ups and collecting a few seconds on the descents.
Although I chose the right bike for the race track in Czech, I was stuck on cruise control finishing a #bigshit 18th place! I was climbing alright and I descended okay, with no mistakes, although nothing really clicked like it should have, like it did three weeks prior in Australia.
You know when you are "on" and nothing really matters except crossing that finish line with the best time possible? Well, I just couldn't find that even though I prepared properly, made all the right decisions in the weeks leading into the event. My training was spot on and I raced well from start to finish, but still, the outcome was poor.
It doesn't happen too often, although these are the races I have to remember to measure performance by my own personal output rather then the result outcome. Sometimes we just have an off day and you have to make the best of it. Having a bad race totally sucks but it just makes the good ones twice as rewarding and hopefully I can turn "on" in time for Germany next week.
-Emily Batty
Action shots by Matt Delorme.
www.emilybatty.com
www.trekbikes.com
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Member since Apr 8, 2014
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Emily Batty remains one of the most beautiful women on the pro-circuit and definitely the highlight of all Pinkbike contributors.
I know this comment won't be popular opinion here amongst larger travel trail mongering riders, but there's no legitimate way a FS would outweight a HT for her. There were only a handful of actual drops. Most riders were riding FS for the roots, which a FS would have minimal impact on her weight - certainly not with properly inflated tire pressures.
Heck, if we're arguing HT vs FS in relation to rider weight, a HT is a worse decision most every time because: the lighter the rider, the more easily they will get bounced and bucked out of their saddle with each bump BECAUSE they have lower mass/inertia, with no (properly adjusted) suspension to negate the bump force.
vimeo.com/1640611
So there are lots of reasons walking running in a MTB race that are valid and there are penalties for walking... its called walking your not going fast than the riders especially if you have to remount the bike and clip in. Look at where Pendral had to jump of and walk on the bridges, she didn't do that because she couldn't ride them, but the rider in front of her was having a bad technical day and on the lap before she had caught the ride had fallen and Pendral opted to walk to because getting stuck behind the rider who was in front if they baffed the bridge you have tangled them both up, however the rider made it this time and Pendal had to eat the time for her dimount run remount.
Also "This is unfortunately why I think xc sucks. I am all for the theory of it but in reality it is fitness wins rather than best skills/fitness wins. Should be challenging in skill and this aspect unavoidable"
Seriously did you watch the Mens race.. are you saying the Winner Nino did not have the best skills? He was the fastest descender and was whipping almost every jump, but I guess cause he can also climb the hills that doesn't count for some reason?
Flattering, given how our, um, slightly backward little country compares to Canada (as far as trail-building efforts go). Will hope to see Mme. Batty in Nové Město again. Hopefully sans the #bigshit tag
Totally agree.
Article is essentially: Chose a bike didn't matter which one anyway. Felt ok, placed lower than hoped.
Seriously could do with padding out with more thoughts and insights. Literally included no more info than my sentence above. Favourite parts on the track? Where was time being made or lost? How did team mates do and feel? What would you change for next time? How did it feel riding through the crazed supporters on the climbs? etc etc etc.
I realise the result must have been deflating to Emily but there needs to be more content for a front page article. This was more of a depressed tweet
I really don't understand the point of this piece other than a few pretty pictures.