Summer is here and with it, the arrival of bike season. Gone are the relatively quiet trails of the winter and back are the hundreds of smiling faces, excited to be out in the local woods (or in some cases, visiting) on two wheels.
Of course, with all of this also comes race season and despite the local SORCA Toonie Series having started back in April, the big events have only just begun with the Orecrusher a few weeks back and the Test of Metal, the most prominent cross-country mountain bike race in Squamish, a few weeks away.
The Test is a highly spectated event, with a number of community members and visitors alike getting out to the popular viewpoints to cheer on their friends and family, urging them to keep it going, even so far as to tell them they’re looking good, despite often looking like wet towels hung over an awkwardly shaped bike stand.
You see, most riders during these bigger races are pushing hard — as hard as their physical conditioning will allow — and as a result, often wind up looking a little worse for wear by the time their cheer squad sees them.
Despite being almost unrecognizable by the time racers reach the halfway point of these larger events, the support from the sidelines lifts spirits like only a racer can know. There they are, in their own head, shutting out the pain as best they can and attempting to avoid entering what a number of us call the “spirit world” — a place any racer that has put in a strong effort knows well.
This world sees riders essentially on autopilot, simply going through the motions, thoughtless, but they begin to notice sounds that don’t belong begin to permeate their thoughts.
The noises grow louder and as they do, a shift in focus toward the odd-looking shapes and silhouettes lining the trail begins. These shapes begin to form with depth, colours, clothing, faces, then… Whoomp! The realization that people are yelling and shouting for them to keep going, push it, and other generally supportive outbursts.
At this point a new energy hits the racers, despite not knowing whether it is their fifth or sixth wind; whatever, it’s more than they could have ever imagined having. The cheers spur them on, they take a drink, begin to put down the hammer again and accelerate out of view from the crowd, motivated, inspired, fresh (ish)!
These racers can only hope there are more cheers of support coming and sooner rather than later.
The lift that a bunch of hooting and hollering gives a rider is inexplicable, but it’s real, as any racer that has been on the edge of or into the spirit world can attest. So I urge anyone with any interest in cycling, whether it be road, mountain, racing BMX, your kids or cousins’ nieces nephew are interested in it, or you just want something plain interesting to do for a couple hours… get out into the woods when the Hell of a Series races are on (start with the Test of Metal) and support the racers. It’s more fun than idly standing still as they whoosh by and it lifts their spirits, reminds them not to follow that white light and give all the effort they have to carry on.
Feed stations are a good general place to show support, but if you really want to give the racers a kick, head out with a couple of people, randomly position yourselves in the woods where least expected and go nuts! Shout, scream, even heckle, though perhaps leave that to the front of the pack; the average rider may not take to kindly to it dependant on where in the race you’re giving the gears.
Races in general are incredibly taxing on the body, mind and the soul, and being mentally strong is often more of an advantage than pre-riding the race course until you see it when you close your eyes at night — if the mind breaks, everything falls apart. Cheering people on helps them keep the mind strong and pushing — believe it or not, it is quite enjoyable for those spectating, and gives the whole event a great, positive energy that many will remember for years to come.
A.J. Barlas is an avid Squamish mountain biker with deep roots in the cycling community and a transplant from Down Under. He posts his creative works on his blog at www.straightshotblog.com and is also currently writing for Vital MTB.
