"Make me the gorilla!"
11.7.2018
Translation: machine translated
Video: Manuel Wenk
Today I'm learning mountain biking. To be more precise: Dave Spielmann from #allaboutmtb is teaching me the basics of MTB. And that includes the gorilla. I'm going to do it a few more times today, but first things first.
I meet Dave Spielmann from #allaboutmtb and the Bike School Engadin in St. Moritz. Dave is a Swiss Cycling Guide expert and instructor. Whenever mountain biking is mentioned in the Engadin, his name is guaranteed to come up.
We set off in the direction of the Bernina/Morteratsch area. There's a new flow trail for beginners there, says Dave. That sounds promising. The last time I was on a mountain bike was about 20 years ago. You can't get much more beginner than that.
The little bike ABC
Bikes have developed rapidly in recent years. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about my sense of balance. So we first stop off at a campsite near Pontresina, where Dave shows me some basic techniques. Turning the bike over, braking with just my index fingers, changing gear and finally the two basic positions on the bike: passive and active position or "the gorilla", as he calls this position. Standing on the pedals, buttocks stretched backwards, straight back, chin over the stem and elbows out. Hú!
My initial findings after this short crash course:
- The bike should move under me, not me moving above the bike
- I want to be a pilot, not a passenger
- Everything always looks so easy on TV
Dave Spielmann "Mister Mountain Bike"
The man who teaches me the basics of mountain biking today grew up in Davos. Dave finally ended up in the Engadin a few years ago via a diversion to Zurich, as he reveals in the interview.
I'm riding up my first trail
I'm a little bit nervous. What can I expect on the trail? I hope I can handle it and don't make a complete gorilla of myself. And above all, I don't want to injure myself. A friend of mine recently took a beginner out biking. Result: broken collarbone. For the beginner, of course.
The fear of injury is gone shortly after Dave and I set off. Reason: pulse 180, the pump is pumping and I'm gasping for air. There's no time for fear. If this is a trail for beginners, I think to myself, how challenging is it for pros? How hard does Nino Schurter have to train to become an Olympic and world champion? Very hard, a lot, for a very long time and again and again. Ok, that sounds more like porn than biking. Must be the hormones having a party in my body at the moment. So back to biking.
We ride a short section of the "Bernina Express". Trail no. 673 has a total length of around 40 kilometres and leads from Samedan over the Bernina Pass into Valposchiavo. The landscape is breathtaking. During the short breaks that we take every now and then, I am overwhelmed by the beauty of nature. No wonder the "Bernina Express" is one of the most popular MTB trails. According to Dave, its GPS coordinates are among the most frequently downloaded GPS data in Switzerland.
My findings after arriving at the highest point of the trail:
- Power is one thing, technique is another
- The constant rhythm changes are killing me
- Hormones are awesome
- Things are rarely as simple as they seem
I'm riding down my first trail
The good news is that I'm at the top. The bad news is that I have to go back down. Well, it's not quite that bad. But I need a short break, something to drink and to take a deep breath. After a few deep breaths and a big swig from the bottle, my pulse is back in a more or less bearable range. And the hormones have also finished their party in the meantime. That's fine, because now I need to concentrate fully.
Roots, stones and small steep bends await me. The onset of rain doesn't make the whole thing any easier and so my fear returns for a moment. "Don't fall, don't fall, don't fall," I kept thinking. Fortunately, I have a coach at my side in Dave Spielmann, who knows exactly what he can expect of me and when I need a short break. After a few minutes, the fear leaves the trail and the fun sets in. It's a cool experience! I do the gorilla, flip the bike over, brake with just my index fingers and almost feel like a real biker from time to time.
My realisations after we reached the bottom:
- Fear is a bad counsellor
- If your position on the bike is right, you're safe
- The more actively you ride, the lower the risk of an accident
- Things are definitely not as simple as they seem
Conclusion
The gorilla is my new favourite animal, Dave Spielmann is a really cool guy, biking is awesome and I'm happy and also a little proud that I mastered the challenge.
Hú!
My equipment
Here are the other Wheeler bikes in the Galaxus range
And next time on "Patrick does sport with ..."
Video producer Manuel Wenk and I are staying in the Engadin and moving on to Silvaplana. There I set myself new challenges. Stand up paddling, SUP for short, and kite surfing on Lake Silvaplana. To be continued ... Follow me into the waters on my author profile.
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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